Spring, 2006 - MGA
What's in a name?
A cliché? Certainly! But it is meaningful just the same.
Those of us who have brought children into this world, for the most part, spend a lot of time selecting what we think, or hope, will be that perfect name for our children – names that will be respected for all time.
Sometimes we name our children after ourselves. Other times, we decide to name our offspring after their grandparents. Still, other times, couples will decide to honor famous athletes, television or big screen stars.
No matter our motives, the fact of the matter is that our children need a name. Whether people like the choice or not, in most cases, the choice will be for life.
Frank or Freda? Ashley or Anthony? Jim or Jane?
What's in a name?
And, as a society, what are we choosing these days?
Cleveland Evans is a professor at Bellevue University in Nebraska has told us. He is also president of the American Names Society. He keeps up with the trends and monitors the changes and, in cases with the top female names lately, what doesn't change.
The Social Security Administration recently shared the most common list of boys and girls with the Associated Press.
Those who keep up with the trends will find that there is not much of a surprise among baby girls, as Evans indicates:
Emily
Emma
Madison
Abigail
Olivia
Isabella
Hannah
Samantha
Ava
Ashley
Evans says that 'Emily' has topped the list for the last 10 years. Too, the second and third name, Emma and Madison, respectively, did not change from last year's list.
“The whole question was whether Emma was going to beat out Emily this time,” Evans told The Associated Press.
There was a change, though. The name 'Ava' was new to the list at No. 9. The story there is, perhaps, what a huge climb that name made in the last 15 or so years. The SSA rated Ava No. 952 in 1990.
While the top girls' names have not changed in a decade, the boys' list did not have a change again this year. The top three names remain the same, according to the SSA.
And biblical names continue to be prominent:
Jacob
Michael
Joshua
Matthew
Ethan
Andrew
Daniel
Anthony
Christopher
Joseph
'Anthony' was new to the list at No. 8.
And what about pair? What do new-to-be parents decide to do about twins?
According to the SSA:
Jacob with Joshua
Matthew with Michael
Daniel with David
Hope with Faith
So, have fun. Whether you are planning your own family, or you just want to keep up with what is hot, or not, check out these lists. How do your tastes stack up?
And, what's in a name?
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 18
I always said if I ever had another child, I would not give them a middle name, I never wanted one myself. And would name them Dylan. What a cool first name for a girl. Besides the significance that name holds for me for many reasons.
My own name goes back to Hebrew and lily and the fleur de lis and the original Hebrew bloodline of Jesus and Mary M. It also means lotus. Ironically, my middle name is a form of Mary.
Being Irish also, my family, our names mean everything. Would be a cool post to research everyones names. Go to wikipedia . . .
So, they got stuck with Roxanne and Samantha.
Rocky and Sam.
They both hate it.
So I use it.
Love'm both.
Just wanted to say that I love the Rocky & Sam idea, Mark H. If I hadn't already had 2 girls and named them, I may have had to steal that from you! LOL!
The first name of Marc creates a shrewd, aggressive, business nature, intent on personal gain. The desires for independence and financial success have been strong motivating forces from early in your life.
You are capable of logical and analytical thinking along practical business lines, and could excel in financial fields, law, or politics. Your judgment is seldom swayed through your feelings. You have definite executive and leadership abilities, however others may find you to be rather forceful and uncompromising.
More congenial business and personal relationships would result from being more tactful and more aware of the needs of others. If you sacrifice too much for material ambition, there may result a lack of harmony and balance in your personal life.
Your health could suffer through ailments centring in the head. Also, the generative organs could be affected.
Obviously that is not a complete snapshot of who you are. But it does give you enough to evaluate whether you have some of those qualities...
Therefore, my suggestion is no one should choose a name based upon how popular it is when the majority of people choose these names without understanding the influences they are associating to an individual. For example, Emily is not a constructive name for a girl. Neither is Jacob. Both have definite and predictable limitations. I am not saying that anyone with these names is doomed. I am saying that they have much to overcome in the limitations of those names.
The naming of a child is a sacred responsibility. We are creating a mind in doing so, and moulding their overall destiny in life. The principle of name is an esoteric knowledge of many religions. The Bible is filled with name changes leading to spiritual change. In the past, a Jewish Rabbi could change a person's name on their death bed. It sometimes could save them if the discordant name was a contributing cause to the illness. Yes, names can create health weaknesses too....
Try posting some of those popular names in the kabalarians.com website, and you will see how significant a name can be!