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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: T Minus Four

Neeve is correct. Everyone asks if its like the actress Neve Campbell, but hers is pronounced "Nev"

And Maeve is with a long "a" - like May


381 posted on 06/28/2006 4:35:56 AM PDT by elc
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To: LibertarianInExile
Right, like some wacky Boomers didn't stick their kids with names like Space Moonbeam...

______________________________

Who did that?

382 posted on 06/28/2006 5:09:32 AM PDT by wtc911 (You can't get there from here)
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To: stands2reason
Well, 'patronymics' is a grand idea, as you've noticed. And, it's been tried in Wales, as you noticed.

The Welsh named their children ap John (Jones); ap Richard (Richards); ap William (Williams)with the result being LOTS of Jones et al with euphonious and VERY common names!

383 posted on 06/28/2006 5:11:29 AM PDT by doberville
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To: AnAmericanMother

Oh God! I guess I'm lucky with the name I got saddled with!


384 posted on 06/28/2006 5:37:57 AM PDT by miss marmelstein (T)
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To: rwrcpa1
I'll bet she's a cutie!

Definitely!
I love her to pieces.

Here she is a few weeks ago.
A thunderstorm scared her and she wanted to come sit in the living room with me.

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

385 posted on 06/28/2006 5:46:15 AM PDT by Constitution Day (Down with Half-Assery!)
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To: rwrcpa1

A girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!


386 posted on 06/28/2006 6:34:32 AM PDT by 4catsinmaryland
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To: agooga

Hey, that reminds me........anybody know what ever happened to Mark Lemonjello, major league pitcher? He was in Houston for a time and I think ended up somewhere in New York. That name has stuck with me all these years. :)


387 posted on 06/28/2006 6:37:59 AM PDT by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: Phantom Lord

Wow, I didn't know that, PL!

CONGRATS!

Guess this means I need to get busy.


388 posted on 06/28/2006 7:08:20 AM PDT by Constitution Day (Down with Half-Assery!)
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To: qam1
I know a 3 different couples who named their daughter Morgan because they liked the rum

Or were created under the influence thereof? ;)

389 posted on 06/28/2006 7:09:20 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (The Left created, embraces and feeds "The Culture of Hate." Make it part of the political lexicon!)
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To: mariabush

I didnt say he was a redneck & he prefers MJ. lol


390 posted on 06/28/2006 7:18:54 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways Guero » with a floating, shifting, ever changing persona....)
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Comment #391 Removed by Moderator

To: LubyGee

"I just knew he would say "Winston" at least once. "

My daughter's name is Rachel Erin. I was completely shocked when our pastor, during Rachel's dedication ceremony, called her Rachel 'Urine'.


392 posted on 06/28/2006 9:06:47 AM PDT by imskylark
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To: AnAmericanMother

Riiiiggggggghhhhhttttt


393 posted on 06/28/2006 9:12:43 AM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: Vision
My first born male... Rush Hudson ####

At first I thought it said Rock Hudson

394 posted on 06/28/2006 9:22:37 AM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: Yaelle

Bet they never thought of that!


395 posted on 06/28/2006 9:24:12 AM PDT by rwrcpa1 (April 15. Let's make it just another day.)
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To: Gefreiter
If I'd walked into an elementary school in 1996 and called for "Tyler", I think all of the kids would've turned around.

And in '86, Jessica or Jason would have had the same result.

396 posted on 06/28/2006 9:25:32 AM PDT by Allegra (I'm Schizophrenic. No, I'm Not. Yes, I Am. No, I'm NOT. Are TOO. Am NOT.)
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To: brewcrew
Nobody names their son Roy anymore.

I caught a lizard and kept him as a pet for a couple of days when I was about nine years old.

I named him Roy. I just thought it was a cool name for a cool lizard.

397 posted on 06/28/2006 9:27:24 AM PDT by Allegra (I'm Schizophrenic. No, I'm Not. Yes, I Am. No, I'm NOT. Are TOO. Am NOT.)
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To: Allegra

"Steve" would've been cool, too.


398 posted on 06/28/2006 9:56:45 AM PDT by Gefreiter ("Are you drinking 1% because you think you're fat?")
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To: Allegra
Funny that you mention your pet lizard. My friends pet Savannah Monitor died monday and his name was Mac Dre. (no, I'm not a fan of his)
399 posted on 06/28/2006 10:24:05 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways Guero » with a floating, shifting, ever changing persona....)
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To: Yaelle

Shallow Pitt.

And if you choose to give your sons the middle name of "Wayne", they will most surely have a good chance to be famous for something in their future. And famous doesn't always mean good!


400 posted on 06/28/2006 10:40:17 AM PDT by billygoatgruff
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