It never ceases to amaze me when we’re out and about how much of an influence celebrities have on the baby names parents choose for their children.In one particular year, a contestant on one television ‘reality tv’ show can have their name passed on to literally thousands of new babies born in that particular year. This trending effect really does move in real time too!
Celebrity Baby Names
No-one can forget the effect that a certain Australian soap-opera had on baby names too. How many baby girls have been named Kylie since the rise in popularity of Neighbours in the late 1980s?
I was even surprised to find out that even the name Elvis is experiencing a resurgence by slowly but surely rising up the ranks, although I’ve yet to meet many.
Traditional Baby Names and Meanings
At the other end of the scale, there are those parents who devote a great deal of time perusing through baby names and meanings to find a name that they feel best represents the message they want their child to convey. Some are religious, some are of particular ethnic backgrounds and others may be representative of events or key people in history.
Silly Baby Names
There are instances of parents – intentionally or otherwise – giving their children the most silly names, such as Justin Case, Barb Dwyer or Stan Still. Did they realise at the time, or did the penny drop when it was already too late?
An old acquaintance of my Dad was the late Stan Harbour – who happened to have married his lovely wife Pearl in 1938. Who would have guessed eh!
Whatever we name them, does it matter? We’ll still love them and bring them up as individuals with the same vales and the same influences. As long as they don’t resent it, does it really matter anyway?
