Opinion: What's in a name? More than you think

A Camaro being the name of a car, to name your child after one would qualify you as a Foxworthy redneck. A child named Camaro might endure a lifetime of teasing. Then again, it could catch on.

Psychologists tell us a name can affect a child’s self concept. Your name more or less defines you.

The amount of time expectant parents spend trying to decide what to name their babies can be time well-spent. Since the sex of babies can be known long before birth, parents no longer have to make a list of male and female names. But the choice may still be difficult.

Many parents-to-be in the 1980s turned to the book “Beyond Jennifer, Jason, Madison and Montana,” by Pamela Satran. Because fashionable names then aren’t necessarily fashionable now, Satran will soon release “The Baby Name Bible.”

Top names

Popular names can come and go. For instance, the 1930s was the only time Shirley appears on the top 10 list of most popular female American names. Shirley Temple was then a popular star. Parents flocked to name their baby girls after the precious child.

Popularity for the name faded when Temple grew up.

Lists of the 100 most popular male and female names by decade are compiled by the Social Security Administration, dating back to the 1880s. Until fairly recently, there was little change among the most popular names.

For instance, John and Mary were consistently among the most popular for a long time. John was within the top three most-used male names in the 1880s–

1980s; Mary was the most popular in the 1880s–1950s.

In the 1960s, Mary fell to second place, behind Lisa. Mary never again has appeared in the top 10.

Michael topped the list in the 1960s–1990s and was nudged into second place by Jacob in 2000. Jessica was the most popular female name during the 1990s. Like Shirley in the 1930s, Jessica never appeared in the top 10 before or after the 1990s.

The most popular names in America today are Emily and Jacob.

Long-term consequences

What’s in a name? Apparently, quite a bit. If a boy’s name has a macho ring to it, and the girl’s name matches a notion of feminism, self-concepts might get a boost. Of course, a lot depends on how kids at the moment define macho and feminine.

Parents beware: A name for a child sounding cute in preschool may not serve the kid well in high school.

Selecting popular names might be good, unless so many others have the names that kids lose their individuality.

But unique names can be too unique.

According to a Colorado Springs Gazette article, some celebrities have gone beyond the fringe to find names that are, well, unique.

Julia Roberts named one of her twins Hazel; nothing wrong with that. The other is named Phinnaeus.

Actor Rob Morrow named his daughter Tu Morrow.

Do you think either might undergo some teasing in school?

Musician Frank Zappa plumbed new depths of parental nincompoopery by naming his four children Moon Unit, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan, Dweezil and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen (I may have just stripped the gears in my spell check). And you think you don’t like your name?

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports a name nugget not associated with an off-the-wall celebrity: Nevaeh – heaven spelled backwards – has risen within the top 100 names faster than any other.

What’s next – Sedah?

I’m thinking Camaro might not be a redneck name after all.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.[[In-content Ad]]