# Where did these names come from? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 1999, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277 "1999-10-30T22:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/1 "1999-10-30T22:05:00Z")
I was looking at a list of the top ten girl’s names in the U.S. in 1998 (in _The Top Ten of Everything 2000_ by Russell Ash). Here’s the list: 1. Kaitlyn 2. Emily 3. Sarah 4. Hannah 5. Ashley 6. Brianna 7. Alexis 8. Samantha 9. Taylor 10. Madison Why should these names become popular now? I’m not questioning why some babies might happen to get these names. I’m wondering why these names should happen to become popular right now. Here’s my comment on each of these names: 1. Kaitlyn The Gaelic spelling of the name that has always been anglicized as “Kathleen” before now (and is pronounced in Gaelic closer to Kathleen). Why did this name suddenly come out of nowhere? 2. Emily Are there a lot Emily Dickenson fans out there? This name wasn’t in the top ten in 1988. This name is now also number 2 in the U.K. 3. Sarah Is there a trend toward old-fashioned-sounding names? This name has been longer coming back apparently, since it was number 6 in 1988. 4. Hannah Are there lots of fans of Woody Allen who like the film _Hannah and Her Sisters_? 5. Ashley Fans of _Gone with the Wind_, perhaps? This name was number 1 in 1988. 6. Brianna Where did this name come from? 7. Alexis Fans of the series “Dynasty”? This name wasn’t in the top ten in 1988. 8. Samantha Again, why should this suddenly be popular? 9. Taylor I can’t even think of an adult with this name except the singer Taylor Dane, and she’s not that all-fired popular. 10. Madison The only possible source I can think of for this name is Darryl Hannah’s character in the movie _Splash_. The film wasn’t that popular, was it? It’s also 15 years old. And what’s with the naming of babies after Presidents? Numbers 9 and 10 among boys in 1998 are Tyler and Zachary. At what point did somebody decide that Tyler is a boy’s name and Taylor is a girl’s name? ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/2 "1999-10-30T22:26:00Z")
If I could add an appendix to this list, it would be not a name but a group: traditional Anglo-American surnames being used as girl’s first names. Davis, Piper, Reed, Tanner, etc. are all names for baby girls I have run into recently. These are clearly an age-cohort fad, like Mabel and Gladys for several decades ago and Heather/Jennifer etc. for my generation. And, as a grumpy young man, I have to say the surname-cum-girl’s-name sounds really stupid and trendy to my ears. Just to be fair, I’ll note that it was pretty dopey that, in my high school class of 40-50 students (don’t remember exactly), 3 out of the 20-some-odd girls were named Jennifer. We only had one or two Elizabeths. * * * Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group. - Boris Badenov ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/3 "1999-10-30T22:29:00Z")
By the way, are girls’ names trendier than boys’? I’ve noticed boy-name fads, especially the “M fad” (Matt, Mark, Mike) and the overlapping biblical pattern (incl. John, Joshua, Peter, Paul, etc.), but I’m not convinced these are as cohort-specific, since there are plenty of older Mikes, Pauls etc. Are there any recent boy-naming trends to guard against. * * * Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group. - Boris Badenov ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/4 "1999-10-30T22:49:00Z")
The top ten names for given to boys in 1998 in the U.S. are the following: 1. Michael 2. Jacob 3. Matthew 4. Nicholas 5. Joshua 6. Christopher 7. Brandon 8. Austin 9. Tyler 10. Zachary ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/5 "1999-10-30T22:55:00Z")
Some comedian had a great line about this. Talking about how now, you go to old folks homes and see Maudes, Hildegards, Irenes and Claras, and because of our stupid generation’s naming, in 50 years those same homes will be filled with Kaitlans, Britanys and Ashleys! * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 1999, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/6 "1999-10-30T23:38:00Z")
Boys’ names popularity in the US doesn’t fluctuate much. Michael has been the predominant name throughout much of the 20th century. Occasionally, John or James or Robert has made a run for the top spot, but Michael holds on. I think the popularity of girls’ names varies for societal reasons. Parents want their girls to stand out, to be special in some way. As for boys, just name the kid, feed him and let him fend for himself. None of this line of thought should be confused with anything that reflects thoughtful reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![labradorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@labradorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labradorian)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/7 "1999-10-31T00:06:00Z")
I like the “Justice” rule for naming babies. Try throwing a “Mr. Justice” or “Madame Justice” in front of the proposed name: Madame Justice Tyffany Petersen If it looks or sounds funny, back off. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/8 "1999-10-31T01:47:00Z")
Popularity of names changes simply because parents decide that certain names sound good. And it isn’t particulary odd that a name like “Madison” might come from a fifteen-year-old movie. “Linda” originated in the film HOLIDAY in the 1930s, and “Pamela” can be traced to a novel dating from 1740. In fact, I think it’s fairly certain “Madison” did originally come from SPLASH, since the creation of the name was supposed to be humorous (from a street sign on Madison Avenue). Of course, people don’t just choose the name because of the movie; they choose the name because someone they know was named after the character in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/9 "1999-10-31T01:57:00Z")
**labradorian** What a great test! I’m going to make my (pregnant) sister put her baby’s chosen name through that test. Funny thing is, I was thinking about a combination of trendy girl’s names - First Middle and Last. E.g. Davis Taylor Jones. So everyone would think your daughter was a law firm. * * * Nothing I write about any person or group should be applied to a larger group. - Boris Badenov ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/10 "1999-10-31T02:32:00Z")
I have three nieces, all under 5 years old. Hannah, Ashley, and Georgia. _sigh_ * * * “Vyvyan! Where did you get that Howitzer?” “…I found it.” [The Legend Of PigeonMan](http://www.hotkey.net.au/~guanolad/pigeonman/) - updates every Wed & Sat ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/11 "1999-10-31T03:03:00Z")
I have two nieces under 5 named: Blaise and Sloane. I’d say that kind of naming of females originated in feminist quarters. You know how women are: They can’t think of anything original. OUCHCHCHCHCH! I wouldn’t claim boys are just given any old name and told to get on with it. They’re, more than girls, named after relatives, so their names don’t shift nearly so much. Trying to think back to my grammar-school days, I recall only Mitzi, Barbara, Rose, Greta (These were all pretty (the first 3 Chinese-American).) I think there was also a Margaret. I can’t remember any girls’ names from junior high and high school. These were in Oakland, CA, except for the last year of high school. Oakland (Fremont Hi) was lethal, as it is today, but it was raw. I didn’t try to be very social (and you didn’t even need a trench coat back then). There were always more Roberts/Bobs then, though, than there were of any other name. Ray(mond) (Don’t think he ever got into either the Bible or the movies, but I understand “Everyone Loves Raymond” these days. Yeah, I know, but _ **I’m** _ not the one who took this thread away from the girls.) ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/12 "1999-10-31T03:06:00Z")
Actually, (I didn’t want to say it, but) make those \*\*\*grand-\*\*\*nieces. Ray ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/13 "1999-10-31T04:18:00Z")
My cousins, ranging in age from oldest (12) to youngest (both nearly 4), are as follows: Alexander Evan Shannon Olivia Logan Izabella All except the last are perfectly normal names that age well. Even the last would have been decent except for the fact that it’s spelled so heinously. I tried for months to talk my aunt out of that, to no avail. I named my cousin Shannon, who is now nine, and she’s still the only one in her class. There are, however, three girls named McKenna in her elementary school, so perhaps it’s just the area. I think Olivia wasn’t a very popular name when my cousin got it, but it’s getting to be that way now. I’ve noticed a resurgence in dainty, feminine names as well as those unisex last-names-as-first-names for girls. I think one of the more popular names this year for girls is Grace, and that also explains Olivia, Sarah, and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/14 "1999-10-31T05:08:00Z")
OK, but why the alternate spellings ? Is there a reason to avoid proper transliterations ? For example: Izabella ? the z doesn’t figure in any Latinate root for that name (no disrespect intended towards the lil’un, BTW). Britany with 1 “n” ? Tyfany ? not to mention the usual nonsense like Sade/Sharday - or Bob, spelled Mb’aughnt… Or, “Alexis”, which is a Russian male name. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/15 "1999-10-31T05:24:00Z")
Here in the South there is a persistient trend of naming girls after their Mother’s Madien name–Shelby is the classic example, and Kelly is another good one. On wierd spellings–my redneck sister-in-law had a daughter about a year ago and named her Angelique. We didn’t love it, but it was OK, except that they, in a move of striking brilliance, spelled it Angelic. I’d like to think that they were trying to be trendy, but honest to god, I think the problem was that they are semi-illeterate. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/16 "1999-10-31T06:25:00Z")
I am somewhat fascinated with the trends in names, and what prompts them. In my day, “Heather” was really big. I tire of parents who want to be trendy, or who want to name their kids something “different”. (“Different” usually turns out to be the same name half the other parents come up with too…) Another thing that was really big when I was a kid (and perhaps still is?) is for the girls to alter the spelling of their name. My friend Debera became “Debi”, Tammy became “Tami” and so on. My given name, Jacqueline, might have been changed to (ugh) “Jaki” or “Jacki” or some such other nauseating spelling, but even at age 10, I had better sense than that. (Besides, when one is blessed with having a glorious “Q” in her name, why get rid of it?!?) This messing around with names annoys me. (I personally think many of these parents are inspired by the names used on Soap Operas, but maybe that’s just me.) I personally wish people would stop trying so hard to reinvent the wheel when they name their kids. Name the kid some nice, serviceable name, nothing too weird, or too common. Or, better yet, name the kid after a dead relative. That always works. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@Zulu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulu)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/17 "1999-10-31T06:12:00Z")
> [@](#): > > This messing around with names annoys me. (I personally think many of these parents are inspired by the names used on Soap Operas, but maybe that’s just me.) It’s always been pretty easy to tell what soap a mother watches around here. I always read the Stork Report in the paper, and I’ve seen Samantha Bradi, Austin Ried, Erica Cayne, and a set of twins named Luke and Laura. I think the trendy spellings are just people trying to be different or cute. Ashleigh, Madisyn, Karleigh, Alysheea, Jenifer, Taylyr, Wen-D, Staycee, (yep, I’ve seen all of these). I feel sorry for these kids–they’re going to through life having their named misspelled on everything. I knew a girl whose mother was really into spiritual stuff, horoscopes, zodiacs. The stars said that her child’s name had to be exactly 7 letters if the child was to go through life smoothly with good fortune. She’d had her heart set on Michelle, though. Instead of just dropping an L, good ol’ mom decided to spell it ‘Michael’ but it’s still pronouced as Michelle. She always gets listed as a male now, and it’s a real pain having to go in and explain it. She wants to get it changed to ‘Michelle’ as soon as she’s able, if she can get mom’s blessing. Zu ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/18 "1999-10-31T08:28:00Z")
Ugh. Not one of the “top ten” names will ever appear in my personal “top one-hundred-thousand.” I named my son Bowen and I am happy to say that I don’t foresee him ever having to tack his last initial on so as to avoid confusion with all the other Bowens in class. His name works well with “The Justice Rule”, happily. 🙂 Here’s hoping I can pull another such name out of thin air when I deliver Baby #2. * * * “ChrisCTP-…the sweetheart of the SDMB…” --Diane Chris’ Homepage: [Domestic Bliss](http://www2.crosswinds.net/~domesticbliss/) ---
**Author:** ![AuraSeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AuraSeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuraSeer)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/19 "1999-10-31T09:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Here’s hoping I can pull another such name out of thin air… So then, you’re gonna name your second kid “hydrogen”? ---
**Author:** ![Momotaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Momotaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Momotaro)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 1999, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277/20 "1999-10-31T11:37:00Z")
In Québec there’s a slew of Jeans (John) and Philippes. No kidding, three of my best friends are called Jean, Philippe, and Jean-Philippe. We have the compound name thing going on too, so it can be pretty hilarious. When I call out “Jean Philippe” people aren’t sure to how many people I’m calling. * * * Only humans commit inhuman acts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-these-names-come-from/11277.md?page=2)