Jennifer Griffin - 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time

Workman Publishing New York

For CD, LVD, and JLD

Copyright 2011 by Jennifer Griffin

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproducedmechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopyingwithout written permission of the publisher. Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-0-7611-8128-6

Previously published as Bring Back Beatrice!

Cover design by Janet Vicario

Cover composite: Babies: HaywireMedia/fotolia and hartphotography/fotolia, Frame: Zakharov Evgeniy/fotolia.

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Congratulations! If youve picked up this book, you or someone you love is expecting a baby. There is a lot to do to prepare for your new family members arrival, and one of the most important (and exciting) tasks is to choose your babys name.

Shakespeare famously asked Whats in a name? and suggested that names dont matter (A rose by any other name would smell as sweet). Most of us disagree with him. Names matter immensely. They tell the world in one stroke a lot about you and your family. They can reveal when or where you were born, your religion or culture, and your familys values and hopes for you. They can suggest your parents education level, their passions, and whether theyre traditional or free-spirited. They can help you blend in with the crowd or stand out. Names are powerful stuff .

And names, like so many other things in our lives, follow trends. Names become popular in waves and sometimes we can tell whyan actor or character inspires namesakesand other times it just seems like many parents have had the same idea at the same time. Parents nowadays are more adventurous than ever with the names they give their children. It was only a few decades ago that John and Mary were the top picks, having held their positions for a century or more. Now, the names we choose range from the traditional (Emily; Michael) to the unorthodox (Madison; Logan) and include many trendy picks as well (Kayla; Jayden).

This books title is a nod to all the traditional but underutilized names out there. (It could just as easily have been called Bring Back Barbara!, Where Have All the Ritas Gone?, or I Like Mike!) And its a clarion call to parents to break away from the pack when choosing a name for their child. Although you may find yourself suddenly loving the name Emma, for example, as if it came to you out of the blue, keep in mind that your ardor may be influenced by the names recent surge in popularity. If you find a name you love but thats also outrageously popular, remember that you dont have to follow the crowd (unless you really want to).

In addition to traditional names that make excellent choices today, the book includes the most popular pickswith warnings if I think they may be too popularas well as trendy choices, quirky ideas, and other clever, interesting names. Overall, the books focus is on names that are real: names that will stand the test of time, reflect your values, and bring joy to your child. To that end, I do not hold back when Im concerned that a name has become too widespread or sounds made up. I believe you should be informed when a name that seems traditional (such as Nevaeh, which many people believe related to the Irish name Niamh) is in fact a recent fabrication (Nevaeh is the word Heaven spelled backward). As always, knowledge is power.

Take some time to think about what makes a name appealing to you. In the case of Emma, it might be its old-fashioned charm. So you might consider something similar like Lydia, Amelia, or Beatrice. (I call these the Colonial graveyard names. If you go to an old cemetery anywhere in New England, these are the ladiesalong with Lucy, Abigail, Sophia, Isabelle, Olivia, and Hannahyoull find there.) If the reason you like the name is the sound rather than the effect, then consider Alma, Tessa, or Zara. These have similarly feminine, comforting sounds. Any of these alternative options means that your child will still have a name steeped in tradition, but she will not be one of many in her class.

Some parents dislike traditional names and want to go with something really cool, really different. Like Madison. What a great idea for a girl! Its so unusual that nobody else will have it. Except that many parents are thinking the same thing. And many of them are going to choose Madison as well. In this case, I suggest you heed the Baby Naming Cardinal Rule: You cant go wrong with something traditional, no matter how popular the name becomes. My belief is that you are better off being one of a crowd of Emmas than one of many Madisons. Being one of many Madisons is more difficult because the name is so strong, so unorthodox, and has become so popular, that it is going to fall fast and hard. Trendy names tend to spike and then disappear. So if you learn that the name you love is in vogue, think before you commit to it. And if, after consideration, the name hasnt lost its luster, then proceed with confidence.

TAKE IT FROM A JENNIFER

Years ago, my friend Scott gave me a cartoon by Jack Ziegler that had appeared in The New Yorker in 1980. It was a drawing of a group of children having their nursery school class photo taken. Underneath the picture were the names of the children: Scott, Jennifer, Jennifer, Scott, Jennifer, Jennifer, Scott, and so on.

Maybe you have to be a Jennifer or a Scott to think its funny. But let me tell you, there are a LOT of Jennifers and Scotts around to appreciate the joke. Why? Because Jennifer and Scott were the two most popular names for girls and boys from around 1970 to 1984. I could try to lie about my age, but my name will always give me away. And there are so many Jennifers around that I will never be anybodys only Jennifer. So please think long and hard before you give your child a name that is the most popular in the land.

The call for a return to names like Beatrice is also a nod to provenance. Weve become incredibly sophisticated consumers. We care about the origins of the things in our lives. We buy our organic food from local producers. We know where our T-shirts were made. We drink coffee from fair trade companies. We are very responsible about many of our choices nowadays because we know that they have consequences. We should care at least as much about what we name our children and should know as much about their names as we do about our groceries. You should be able to tell your child exactly why you named him as you did: why the name is special to you; where it comes from; what it means; and what you hope it will bring him. The act should be conscious, deliberate, organic.

If you live green (or at least greener than your parents did), you should name green. The name Beatrice or any other traditional name is like a fine piece of china. I think of names like thisnames with a pastas well-used, well-made, well-loved heirlooms that you can pass down to your child. Trendy, made-up names strike me as the equivalent of Styrofoam cups. They were whipped up recently, en massecarelessly in some casesand wont be around for very long.