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Naming your baby
Newsday ^ | 6/26/06 | Pat Burson

Posted on 06/27/2006 10:33:31 AM PDT by qam1

Many parents, especially celebrities, are choosing distinctive names or spellings to make their children stand out

Choosing a name for your newborn requires a certain level of sober reflection, contemplation and introspection.

Expectant parents consult relatives and friends, leaf through scores of books and scour the Internet for just the right handle to reflect their little cherub's shining personality, obvious brilliance and unquestionable character.

So it makes you wonder what the recent spate of Hollywood celebrity parents were thinking - or drinking - when they chose such distinctive names, to put it kindly, for their high-profile offspring. That goes for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who named their daughter Shiloh, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, who named their girl Suri.

Sure, we've had a chuckle at some and scratched our heads over others, but before you go calling your sons Dilbert after your favorite cartoon character or christening your daughters Brangelina because you adore Couple-of-the-Moment Pitt and Jolie, give it some thought, baby and parenting experts say.

Like all parents, celebrities see their children as extensions of themselves and choose names that reflect their tastes and values, says Babytalk magazine senior editor Christina Vercelletto.

"What's driving this is this whole sort of Gen-X competitive parenting trend," Vercelletto says. "Parents who are now in their 30s, they have their children, and they feel that from birth it's practically a competition. You want your child to stand out. We live in a competitive society, and you don't want your child to blend into the woodwork."

"Names are really brands," says Rachel Weingarten, a branding and trends expert and the president of GTK Marketing Group in Brooklyn.

Take Brangelina's baby, Shiloh. "You're saying we have turned this into a money-maker from birth,"

"It's this whole, 'Look at me' kind of thing."

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: genx; lemonjello; orangejello; stupidbabynames
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To: MissEdie

I was joking.


321 posted on 06/27/2006 5:45:16 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: martin_fierro

Out of all the kids,Diva Muffie got Frank's snoz.I always had the hots for Moonie girl,though.Thought she looked sweet in National Lampoon's Europeon Vacation.


322 posted on 06/27/2006 5:45:39 PM PDT by Uncle Meat
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To: Screamname

I heard that was happening.


323 posted on 06/27/2006 5:47:23 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: ElTiante

I don't believe in the Pope


324 posted on 06/27/2006 5:48:21 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: bwteim; Constitution Day

Thanks for the ping! We are going through it again with a scheduled C-section on July 20th for our 2nd (another boy), and coming up with a name has been a big pain in the butt.


325 posted on 06/27/2006 5:50:39 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: qam1

lol.


326 posted on 06/27/2006 5:50:40 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: annie laurie

I think just to do one up on all these egomaniacs is name my next kid "Supreme God and ruler of all being, space time, and dimension"


327 posted on 06/27/2006 5:57:18 PM PDT by Screamname (Is your terror group depressed? Call 1-800-Demo-crats.....We give hope!)
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To: qam1
Kids detest odd names, and other kids make fun of them. Can't parents think????
328 posted on 06/27/2006 5:58:48 PM PDT by ladyinred (The NYTimes, hang 'em high!)
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To: elc
- Neave -

OK, how is it pronounced, "neeve"? And maybe you will know this one: one of my favorite authors is Maeve Binchy. Please tell me how to pronounce Maeve!

329 posted on 06/27/2006 6:04:09 PM PDT by T Minus Four (Laughing out loud, out loud, out loud, out loud, out loud!!)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Hey, I knew an "Immaculata Concepcion," too! I wish I could post her last name, but that wouldn't be polite.

Suffice it to say that it was an Italian name that referenced a large bovine animal.

She was a tall and stunningly beautiful girl, liked by both boys and us girls, and was NEVER teased about her name. Everybody called her "Mackey."

Regards,

PS: Best names I've ever come across personally: Doctor Positive and his brother, Tau Ceti. Still won't post the last name, but it was the same as an 18th century president's.


330 posted on 06/27/2006 6:24:34 PM PDT by VermiciousKnid
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To: VermiciousKnid

How about Onesiphorus, Epaphroditus, and Narcissus Marsh? The latter was Archbishop of Dublin back in the 17th century.


331 posted on 06/27/2006 6:32:58 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: rwrcpa1

But he believes in you.


332 posted on 06/27/2006 6:33:37 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: doberville

A huge chunk of the boy's names in use today started out as surnames, but I agree, unless the surname in question is commonly considered a first name, like Lee or Stewart, stick with your own family.

It just looks silly if you name your child McClendon or Atkinson if you aren't related to any.

Though I think patronymics are an interesting idea for resurgence as first names. If you are named Thomas, you name your kid Thompson. Or Walter names his son Watts. John - Jenkins. At least the names mean something to the child's heritage.


333 posted on 06/27/2006 6:38:41 PM PDT by stands2reason (ANAGRAM for the day: Socialist twaddle == Tact is disallowed)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Ack! Now THAT'S a mouthful!

Those poor kids...

Regards,


PS: BTW, my own kids are named William Charles and John David. I have names picked out for my next 17 kids, too, but alas, have had no more...(#1 on the Girl's list: Mary Catherine -- I NEVER meet any baby Marys anymore).


334 posted on 06/27/2006 6:39:49 PM PDT by VermiciousKnid
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To: T Minus Four

Pronunciations of Niamh (Neave) & Maeve here (also has buttons you can click to hear the names spoken by a native Irishman, Frank McCourt):

http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-i-m.html

http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html


335 posted on 06/27/2006 6:40:54 PM PDT by annie laurie (All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost)
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To: Screamname

I rather like "Moxie," for a girl, at least as a nick-name.


336 posted on 06/27/2006 6:41:01 PM PDT by Gumlegs
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To: qam1

I don't like gender neutral names, period.


337 posted on 06/27/2006 6:42:37 PM PDT by LibertarianInExile ('Is' and 'amnesty' both have clear, plain meanings. Are Billy Jeff, Pence, McQueeg & Bush related?)
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To: qam1

No more "Cameron" please! No more "Parker." AND NO MORE GENDER NEUTRAL NAMES!


338 posted on 06/27/2006 6:43:49 PM PDT by Clemenza (The CFR ate my bilderburgers! Time to call for a trilateral commission to investigate!)
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To: VermiciousKnid

Well, you know that England is the natural home of the oddball name.


339 posted on 06/27/2006 6:44:44 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother ((Ministrix of Ye Chase, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment)))
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To: Gumlegs

It's also a soda ;-)

http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html


340 posted on 06/27/2006 6:45:57 PM PDT by annie laurie (All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost)
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