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What's in a Name?
The Methods Some Use to Name Their Babies By Charlene Torkelson
Speaking of middle names, some parents include a mother's maiden name as the middle name for a child. Consider Presidents George Walker Bush and John Fitzgerald Kennedy, whose names include family last names. You may even run into those with first names typically associated with a last name such as Smith, Harrison or Taylor. It reminds us of our roots.
Each decade has its share of famous people who influence the popularity of certain names. Entertainers, actors, musicians, sports heroes and even political figures influence parents' choices. Consider Elvis (Presley), Mariah (Carey) and Shania (Twain) as examples. Included in the top 10 most popular names for boys during the 1960s and 70s are John and Robert. Could there be a Kennedy connection there? Possibly.
Some people try to select names so unique that the child is insured no one else will have a duplicate name. Johnny Cash's song "A Boy Named Sue" is a good example of this one. Or consider singer Frank Zappa's son, Dweezil, and daughter, Moon Unit. There were rumors Gwyneth Paltrow's choice of Apple for her daughter brought a suit for trademark infringement by Apple Computers. Do you think the child was named after a computer?
There are many name books and Web sites available for perspective parents who are interested in choosing a name based on its history, cultural background or meaning. For example, the top male name for 2004 according to the Social Security Administration was Jacob, which is a Hebrew name meaning "holder of the heel." And second choice, Michael, also a Hebrew name, means "he who is like God." The idea is to name the child after a characteristic that exemplifies the child's personality such as bravery, strength, courage, kindheartedness, etc.
