What's in a name?

[maryellen]

The circumstances were tragic (a young man shot) . . . but check out the name:

“A similar description of the shooting was given by Precious Blood, 16, who said she heard about 10 shots fired.”

[nomummytummy]

OK so I heard an interview on the radio about choosing names. Basically the most popular 5 (i think that's right) names in the 60s & 70s were given to about 60% of kids. Now the most popular names are given to less than 10% each year.

So these guys researched how kids with unusual names turned out as adults. The found a correlation between unusual - hard to pronounce, spell or just unusual - names and depression as adults and suicide. They also found that people with the most common (boring!) names typically earnt more than those with unusual names.

So two good reasons to choose more mainstream names in my book.

[Mr. Bloom]

So two good reasons to choose more mainstream names in my book.

THERE! I'm vindicated in my cynicism!

[Aggie_Ama]

I read this thread and constantly wonder what people would say about what DH and I want to name a boy. We love the name Axel. Not from Guns N Roses, try the Tour de France!! Of course I told a co-worker and she immediately told me how horrible the name was. We still have it as our number one name when we have a kiddo.

[Trekhawk]

I read this thread and constantly wonder what people would say about what DH and I want to name a boy. We love the name Axel. Not from Guns N Roses, try the Tour de France!! Of course I told a co-worker and she immediately told me how horrible the name was. We still have it as our number one name when we have a kiddo.

I think that is a great name - Eddy obviously thought so too.

I actually like unusual names but not ones that are so unusual that they are weird. Precious Blood WTF!!!

My three boys all have unusual names by Australian standards but they are definitely not weird.

[kelownagirl]

Axel can be a cute name...

[Aggie_Ama]

Ahhh...KG that is where it came from! Back in 2004 I watched the Tour the first time with DH. I have always had a fascination with names, so you can imagine how intrigued I was at the riders names. Those Basque riders really amuse me with the names because they are so uncommon! Anyway, I saw/heard of Axel for the first time and decided it is a cool name despite people my age wanting to insinuate I must have been a big GNR fan. I always clarify that is actually Axl.

Now back to the weird names- Precious Blood?!?!

[shootingstar]

I have a boring 1 syllable name from the 1950's when the name was more popular. I was born in 1959.

When you say hi to me, it sounds like hygiene. When you say hi to my partner, it sounds like hijack.

No kiddin'.

I do have a lovely middle name...in Chinese...which embarrassed me as a kid. It was so ethnic-sounding to me. Until I learned of its the English translation: "orchid". My first name in Chinese means, "precious" or "highly treasured". I am the eldest in my family so not surprising I was given this name. It bears no relationship to my English first name.

Orchid is a common flower traditional Chinese name for girls. Like rose or lily is for English/UK cultures.

I most strongly advise parents explain to their child about the meaning of their name, particularily if it is non-English language based. A child needs to be proud of their name.

[Aggie_Ama]

I am fond of having a name with meaning. Mine does not, it was popular at the time and my mom found it beautiful. My middle name is her middle name (or was now it is my maiden name) but she just used it because it went with Amanda. My brother was named after two boys in her pre-school she was teaching. Not that they were her favorites, she just liked their names. Oddly his middle name is my father's but that is not why my parents picked it initially!

My niece is named after my husband, I think it is such a sweet tribute. He and his brother are extremely close and if we are to have a boy his middle name will be after my brother in law.

[shootingstar]

I have a boring 1 syllable name from the 1950's when the name was more popular. I was born in 1959.

When you say hi to me, it sounds like hygiene. When you say hi to my partner, it sounds like hijack.

No kiddin'.

I do have a lovely middle name...in Chinese...which embarrassed me as a kid. It was so ethnic-sounding to me. Until I learned of its the English translation: "orchid". My first name in Chinese means, "precious" or "highly treasured". I am the eldest in my family so not surprising I was given this name. It bears no relationship to my English first name.

Orchid is a common flower traditional Chinese name for girls. Like rose or lily is for English/UK cultures.

I most strongly advise parents explain to their child about the meaning of their name, particularily if it is non-English language based. A child needs to be proud of their name.

and the next sister after myself, her lst Chinese name translates as Twilight or Dusk. so with her middle name translation is Twilight Orchid.

Another sister gave birth to her lst child, a daughter 2 months ago. My sister dithered over whether or not she wanted to give the child (that is half-Chinese) a Chinese middle name.

She consulted my father..who does have a more poetic soul than my mother..
So the girl is Ella, middle name is Mei (as pronounced "May). "Mei" means beautiful in Chinese.

By the way, the colloquial name for the U.S. by the older generation of Chinese immigrants is Mei Gok..or beautiful country. It must have the Gold Rush dreams...or something.