all the kids in my child's daycare/preschool/kindergarten are named...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two trends:

1) White flight names (Irish and British names) like Aidan, Liam and Alistar ala Freakonomics
2) Naming kids with what are really last names like Harrison, Jackson, Carson, Morgan, Ryley and Taylor

Both of these drive me nuts.

What the heck do you mean by "white flight"? Why does it drive you nuts? If you want to use a name that indicates your heritage, what's wrong with that?

[Anonymous]

I hear Kira/Kyra/Kiera/etc. a lot for girls' names. As for boys, I've heard way too many unusual names. I don't know why, but I like pretty somewhat unusual names for girls, and traditional well known names for boys. Does anyone else feel this way?
(Btw, I'm not the "white flight" postor, I've never heard that before.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two trends:

1) White flight names (Irish and British names) like Aidan, Liam and Alistar ala Freakonomics
2) Naming kids with what are really last names like Harrison, Jackson, Carson, Morgan, Ryley and Taylor

Both of these drive me nuts.

What the heck do you mean by "white flight"? Why does it drive you nuts? If you want to use a name that indicates your heritage, what's wrong with that?

Harrison Ford
Jackson Brown
Morgan Freeman
Carson Daily
Taylor Dane


??? These names have been used as first names forever.

[Anonymous]

Names I hear everywhere in NW DC:

Ava
Isabella/Bella/Ella
Maya
Mia
Lily
Lucy
Ruby

And beware of the latest name that is about to burst on the scene: Maeve!! Who'd a thunk it? But I know of 4 Maeve's under 6 months of age!

[Anonymous]

Maeve and Lilah were our girl names. I like Maeve from the old movie with Michelle Pfifer, can't remember the name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two trends:

1) White flight names (Irish and British names) like Aidan, Liam and Alistar ala Freakonomics
2) Naming kids with what are really last names like Harrison, Jackson, Carson, Morgan, Ryley and Taylor

Both of these drive me nuts.

What the heck do you mean by "white flight"? Why does it drive you nuts? If you want to use a name that indicates your heritage, what's wrong with that?

Seriously. What does that mean in relation to names? White flight was what happened in the 60s and 70s when a black person moved into a white neighborhood. Whites freaked and moved out. White flight. I'm not getting the connection, unless the poster means suburban or rural (as opposed to whites who live in more racially mixed neighborhoods). Either way, a very ugly connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Names I hear everywhere in NW DC:

Ava
Isabella/Bella/Ella
Maya
Mia
Lily
Lucy
Ruby

And beware of the latest name that is about to burst on the scene: Maeve!! Who'd a thunk it? But I know of 4 Maeve's under 6 months of age!

Agreed. I live in Mont. Co.

Also hear Sophie a lot.

[Anonymous]

I wanted my kids to have unusual names, so I chose family names. But I have to admit that we hedged our bets by giving them traditional middle names. That way if they decide that their name is too unusual, they can go by the middle name, which plenty of my friends did growing up.

As for popular names, In addition to Owens, I am seeing more Olivers.

[Anonymous]

Another trend: less-common Biblical names: e.g. Ezra, Ezekiel/Zeke, Delilah, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two trends:

1) White flight names (Irish and British names) like Aidan, Liam and Alistar ala Freakonomics
2) Naming kids with what are really last names like Harrison, Jackson, Carson, Morgan, Ryley and Taylor

Both of these drive me nuts.

What the heck do you mean by "white flight"? Why does it drive you nuts? If you want to use a name that indicates your heritage, what's wrong with that?

Seriously. What does that mean in relation to names? White flight was what happened in the 60s and 70s when a black person moved into a white neighborhood. Whites freaked and moved out. White flight. I'm not getting the connection, unless the poster means suburban or rural (as opposed to whites who live in more racially mixed neighborhoods). Either way, a very ugly connection.

I don't undersatnd the puzzlement. I think the "white flight" poster means that as names get more widely adopted throughout the population, some people may retreat, consciously or unconsciously, to names that signify "whiteness"--Scots names, e.g.

[Anonymous]

I don't undersatnd the puzzlement. I think the "white flight" poster means that as names get more widely adopted throughout the population, some people may retreat, consciously or unconsciously, to names that signify "whiteness"--Scots names, e.g.

I think you are all over thinking and over analyzing baby names.

[Anonymous]

Sweet! Both the first and middle name of our upcoming daughter have been listed as "ugly" names here.

We picked a name that reflects my husband's culture, and it also happens to be the name of one of my great aunts, which sold my mom but wasn't really a factor. I think it sounds playful, strong, and adventurous. It has several possibilities for a nicknames if our daughter ends up girly or especially serious. The middle name is my grandmother's name, and I was very close to her. It's a single-syllable first name and doesn't match our last name well, otherwise I would have gone with it as a first name.

I'm a Jennifer and HATE it. I didn't like being Jennifer C. growing up (partially b/c I thought my last name was embarrassing too), and nameplates were always sold out in my name. It doesn't even remotely suit me, and I don't think it ages well. I kinda think it sounds dippy, not so professional. And even though my maiden name isn't common at all, I have crossed paths with several other women who had the same first and last name - mix up while applying for college, random people calling me thinking I'm someone else, and I have been hounded by collection agencies looking for another Jennifer C. I moved a lot growing up and knew several different Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Browns, Jennifer Clarks, and Jennifer Smiths.

Based on my own experience, I think there is something to be said for not falling into the trap of naming your kid the no.1 name - assuming you can help it. In my poor parents' defense, they were living overseas when I was born, and until it exploded in popularity, Jennifer hadn't been a common name. They were pretty surprised when they returned to the States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sweet! Both the first and middle name of our upcoming daughter have been listed as "ugly" names here.

We picked a name that reflects my husband's culture, and it also happens to be the name of one of my great aunts, which sold my mom but wasn't really a factor. I think it sounds playful, strong, and adventurous. It has several possibilities for a nicknames if our daughter ends up girly or especially serious. The middle name is my grandmother's name, and I was very close to her. It's a single-syllable first name and doesn't match our last name well, otherwise I would have gone with it as a first name.

I'm a Jennifer and HATE it. I didn't like being Jennifer C. growing up (partially b/c I thought my last name was embarrassing too), and nameplates were always sold out in my name. It doesn't even remotely suit me, and I don't think it ages well. I kinda think it sounds dippy, not so professional. And even though my maiden name isn't common at all, I have crossed paths with several other women who had the same first and last name - mix up while applying for college, random people calling me thinking I'm someone else, and I have been hounded by collection agencies looking for another Jennifer C. I moved a lot growing up and knew several different Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Browns, Jennifer Clarks, and Jennifer Smiths.

Based on my own experience, I think there is something to be said for not falling into the trap of naming your kid the no.1 name - assuming you can help it. In my poor parents' defense, they were living overseas when I was born, and until it exploded in popularity, Jennifer hadn't been a common name. They were pretty surprised when they returned to the States.

I know how you feel. I have a very popular name from a slightly older age group than you. But FWIW, I always thought Jennifer was a pretty name.

[Anonymous]

Charlie, Max and Henry for boys are popular. Also, Elijah, Isaiah, and Ezra (agree with someone else who said more unusual biblical names).

For girls, Claire and Clara. And other, more unusual, older names like Eliza, Eloise, and Beatrix.

[Anonymous]

I don't get this thread. Who cares what other kids are called, other than common interest? Call your kids whatever you want and move on. What am I missing?