# Name my baby **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901 "2011-08-16T14:40:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/1 "2011-08-16T14:40:41Z")
I am currently gestating kid number two and could pop at any moment. Or at least I hope so, I really miss seeing my feet, and it would be nice to be able to bend again. Anyway, we don’t know the gender so I have listed both girl and boy names in the poll. So let’s see what the Dope has to say about our options. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/2 "2011-08-16T14:44:38Z")
I’m curious as to the spelling of Choice #1. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/3 "2011-08-16T14:46:49Z")
I love Jillian, but dislike all the others, especially Emmitt. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/4 "2011-08-16T14:47:10Z")
I am pretty sure that’s how my husband wants to spell it. He seems to be traumatized from going through life with a hugely common name and does not want the same fate for our kids. I could be wrong though. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/5 "2011-08-16T14:50:45Z")
> [@Ludy](#): > > I am pretty sure that’s how my husband wants to spell it. He seems to be traumatized from going through life with a hugely common name and does not want the same fate for our kids. I could be wrong though. I can’t see how having a common name would be more traumatic than having an uncommon one, but different strokes for different folks. Sorry, I don’t like any of them. Whatever you end up deciding, though, please, please _please_ don’t pick a common name with a pretentious misspelling like Jennyfur, Daraah, or Brittneigh. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/6 "2011-08-16T14:56:50Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > I can’t see how having a common name would be more traumatic than having an uncommon one, but different strokes for different folks. > > Sorry, I don’t like any of them. Whatever you end up deciding, though, please, please _please_ don’t pick a common name with a pretentious misspelling like Jennyfur, Daraah, or Brittneigh. That is where I put my foot down. There will be no "y"s in stupid places or other trendy crap. I realize that our name choices are not everybodys cuppa tea, and that’s fine. I know people will shake their heads at the names, just like I shake my head at the army of Olivia’s and other hugely popular names. Different tastes and all. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/7 "2011-08-16T14:57:23Z")
You can’t go wrong with a name like Natasha. Very Russian fairytale-ish! ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Time\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/8 "2011-08-16T14:59:30Z")
I know approximately five million Corbins under the age of five (only a slight exaggeration), so I’m not sure that’s going to be very unique. Emmitt just makes me think of a toothless country yokel, but I don’t necessarily hate the sound of it. I do like Natasha. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/9 "2011-08-16T14:59:55Z")
Natasha’s my pick for a girl. I don’t like any of your boy’s names. I think they’re odd without being interesting. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/10 "2011-08-16T15:02:46Z")
> [@Ludy](#): > > I am pretty sure that’s how my husband wants to spell it. He seems to be traumatized from going through life with a hugely common name and does not want the same fate for our kids. I could be wrong though. I’m sorry, but “Emmett” sounds like the child was named after his great grandfather…“Emmitt” sounds like someone can’t spell. Don’t give the poor kid a name where he will have to constantly correct people on how it’s spelled. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/11 "2011-08-16T15:07:48Z")
Okay, upon further reflection, I like Corbin for a boy and Natasha for a girl. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/12 "2011-08-16T15:07:54Z")
I will only support choice #1 if it is spelled Emm **e** tt. People will always, always assume that this is how it’s spelled, and he will have a lifetime of correcting them. Tell your husband, from someone with an uncommon first name and an impossible-to-spell last name, that both sucked, but the spelling issue was by far the bigger pain in the ass. Go as unique as you like, but for the love of all that’s holy, use the most standard spelling. Incidentally, both spellings have seen a [spike in popularity](http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#) in the last few years. Of the top 1000 names, [Emmett](http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=emmett&ms=false&exact=false) was at #684 in 2003, #547 in 2008, and #273 in 2010. [Emmitt](http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=emmitt&ms=false&exact=false) dropped out of the top 1000 entirely in the 60’s, but suddenly in 2010, it came it at #871. I am \*strongly \*pro-Jillian. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/13 "2011-08-16T15:14:50Z")
Why not choose normal, time-tested, but not in vogue names like Peter, Katherine, Richard, Nancy, Andrew, James or Judith? Your kid will have a relatively unique name among the legions of Cadens, Hunters, Jaydens, Dakotas, and all the other dumbass made up names people are naming their children lately, and it’s not something fucked up that will come back to stigmatize him later. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/14 "2011-08-16T15:17:40Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > You can’t go wrong with a name like Natasha. Very Russian fairytale-ish! Also, Russian prostitutes in foreign countries are commonly called Natashas, so it’s got that going for it. ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/15 "2011-08-16T15:20:52Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Why not choose normal, time-tested, but not in vogue names like Peter, Katherine, Richard, Nancy, Andrew, James or Judith? Cecily fits this to me - I know two Cecilys, and I think it’s a lovely name. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/16 "2011-08-16T15:31:02Z")
I disliked Cicely the least. Now Cecelia is a nice name, though. I have a friend with a daughter named Jillian. And son named Zachary. Zach and Jill \>cringe\< ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/17 "2011-08-16T15:33:31Z")
Might I suggest the less cartoonish _Natalia_ in place of _Natasha_? ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/18 "2011-08-16T15:38:10Z")
> [@Time\_Stranger](#): > > I know approximately five million Corbins under the age of five (only a slight exaggeration), so I’m not sure that’s going to be very unique. > > Emmitt just makes me think of a toothless country yokel, but I don’t necessarily hate the sound of it. > > I do like Natasha. Where do you live? In all of Alberta (where I live) there were 28 Corbins born in 2010 and 31 in 2009. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/19 "2011-08-16T15:39:50Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Why not choose normal, time-tested, but not in vogue names like Peter, Katherine, Richard, Nancy, Andrew, James or Judith? Because I don’t like those names. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901/20 "2011-08-16T15:42:18Z")
I was recently reminded of a lovely, lovely girl’s name while watching a movie: Elise. It’s absolutely beautiful, but I don’t know how popular it is. Anyway, another alternate choice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-my-baby/592901.md?page=2)