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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: hispanarepublicana

Sounds great, especially since that's my Alma Mater.


201 posted on 06/27/2006 1:04:38 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: HIDEK6

Did they call him "Stonewall".


202 posted on 06/27/2006 1:05:23 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: leda

My wife works in a hospital and she asks people to spell Smith. You never know.


203 posted on 06/27/2006 1:06:13 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: qam1; HangFire; feinswinesuksass
I think Shiloh is a pretty name. (It was Paltrow's Apple, and Roberts' Hazel that I thought -- Oh, my.)

Anyway, considering what I named my three, I have no room to talk. So I won't.

= )

204 posted on 06/27/2006 1:08:22 PM PDT by AnnaZ (Victory at all costs-in spite of all terror-however long and hard the road may be-for survival)
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To: Andonius_99

And her twin sister Vageena.


205 posted on 06/27/2006 1:09:10 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: agooga

Sirevlon. Nuff said.


206 posted on 06/27/2006 1:10:12 PM PDT by ichabod1 (Let us not flinch from identifying liberalism as the opposition party to God.)
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To: hispanarepublicana

I dated a girl named "Margeret Wong" in college for a long time. Dead serious.

But ultimately, she was the wong one for me.


207 posted on 06/27/2006 1:11:32 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: rwrcpa1

The Matthew's Gospel scares me, not his name. Matthew wrote a very stern Gospel, it’s full of fiery furnaces and the like. Luke’s has the most miracles there’s a lot more of Jesus forgiving people and lot less of Jesus talking about lakes of fire.

I also like Peter (the saint) because he’s one of the most human saints, having fallen of the wagon so to speak. Paul and Matthew are converts and they’re a bit much with the zealotry.


208 posted on 06/27/2006 1:12:08 PM PDT by ElTiante
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To: Screamname

"Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, who named their girl Suri..
As in surrogate?"

No, as in "sure. . . Tom is the father."


209 posted on 06/27/2006 1:12:20 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: ElTiante

"Paul and Matthew are converts and they’re a bit much with the zealotry."

So was Peter, if you think about it. Indeed, probably all the apostles.


210 posted on 06/27/2006 1:14:08 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: rwrcpa1
Reminds me of that joke where the indian brave asks the chief how he comes up with names of the children in the tribe.

Why do you ask? Two dogs f@#$&^%?

211 posted on 06/27/2006 1:15:12 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Europe and the rest of the world can have the World Cup; the USA just settle for World Domination.)
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To: qam1

I'd love to know the origin of the name, "Lancaster." I named my first Son this after the old priest in, "The Exorcist."

We call him, "Lance."


212 posted on 06/27/2006 1:15:20 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Roll your own cigarettes! You'll save $$$ and smoke less!(Magnetic bumper stickers-click my name)
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To: rwrcpa1
oh i agree there's nothing wrong with making sure the spelling
is correct. how awful it would be to have their names permanently
misspelled on their birth certificates.

the question just struck me funny since it would be tough for
me to imagine any other "creative" ways to spell our kids names.
213 posted on 06/27/2006 1:15:39 PM PDT by leda (Life is always what you make it!)
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To: Constitution Day

As does every other fan of "24"!


214 posted on 06/27/2006 1:15:59 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: mockingbyrd

Isn't it mandatory for a "Fiona" to be redheaded? LOL

My Sara is a redhead also. All grown up and married now.


215 posted on 06/27/2006 1:18:02 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: rwrcpa1

Yeah, well. Her face always looks like it's pinched up to me.

I have watched the show before but am not a huge fan... It's entertaining, but I find it stretches credulity.

BTW, my wife & I named our daughter that before the show ever aired. :)
She was born in 2000.


216 posted on 06/27/2006 1:20:58 PM PDT by Constitution Day (Down with Half-Assery!)
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To: fredhead

How about F.G. lastname?


217 posted on 06/27/2006 1:21:06 PM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: qam1

Bump for later...


218 posted on 06/27/2006 1:21:22 PM PDT by Chief Inspector Clouseau
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To: qam1
Write down the names of all of the child's aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and old, established family friends.

Pick from this list.
219 posted on 06/27/2006 1:21:50 PM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up two (2) seats in the Senate and four (4) seats in the House in 2006)
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To: Coyoterex

Pretty:

I have
Mia Rose
Giovanna Grace


220 posted on 06/27/2006 1:23:48 PM PDT by angcat ("IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, PLEASE, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM !")
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