[driftless]

Reading the names of the newlyborn in my local paper is a sure-fire laugh -getter for me. Here's a hint for new parents: weird first names do not give a child instant personality. That comes from within.

[glory]

That's it--you pinned it. People are trying to infuse an instant personality on the child with a name. I do believe that you are right, they picture what they think a Madison or Dakota will be like and they are hoping that name will give the child an infusion of that hope they have for him/her. Unfortunately, when people invision this child, they don't see past the age of 5 or so or they wouldn't even consider some of the names I've seen listed on this thread.