While not referring specifically to baby names, Shakespeare stated part of that phrase over 600 hundred years ago and it still rings true today... especially when we name our children.
I've helped my wife choose names for our 8 children; plus numerous animals and toys for our large family.
We have reached into books, TV shows, movies and our family history to find those names that held special meaning. A baby's name is all the hopes and dreams we wish upon our child at their birth.
When you search for that special boy or girl name you could be remembering that favorite family member or keeping that special family name alive and well with each and every new generation.I knew a family where the parents' first and last names started with the letter L. Because of that they made sure that their baby's names started the same way. Some people will have the baby names go alphabetically, or they choose themes like flower names, regions and countries, states and cities, names from holy books, colors, schools and etcetera.
And then there are the special ceremonies for Jewish and interfaith parents...
Baby naming ceremonies for our daughters and sons celebrates the birth their entry into the covenant of the Jewish people. Rabbi A. Frank, an Ordained Reform Rabbi will be honored and blessed to Officiate this special ceremony for Jewish and interfaith parents.
I also loved the scene from "Roots" when Kunta Kinte raised his newborn daughter to the starry night sky, ceremoniously introducing her to the world.
My wife and I never have found out what the sex of our wee little ones were by the ultrasound.
The idea behind not finding out was that my wonderful wife would push harder to get the baby out! Okay... Okay! That's not true. We just wanted to have a natural birth, or should I say, organic birth, as much as possible. Since we were birthing in a hospital, where we actually had very little control, choosing not to find out the sex of the baby at least gave us one little area where they couldn't tell us what to do.
Not knowing which sex the wee little ones were made us find that special girl's name and equally special boy's name. That way we were prepared with the right baby name either way.
Surprisingly the easiest name for us to come up with for the baby has always been the right sex of the baby. If it was a girl's name, that came easiest, we had a girl... if a boy's name came easier, we had a boy.
Celebrities have even gotten into the name game!
These famous parents make-up and find the some of the most unique baby names for their wee little ones.
Gwyneth Paltrow naming her daughter Apple and Rob Morrow naming his daughter Tu Morrow (tomorrow).
It makes you pause and wonder how our children will feel about these unique monikers that we put upon them.
My wife and I have done the same thing with our fifth child, by naming her Niamh (pronounced Neve), and using the Gaelic spelling. But, our daughter likes her name and thinks that the unique spelling is cool!
The actor Bill Murray (Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters) tells a funny story about how his child got the name Homer. I heard this story on a Late Nite Show some years ago. He and his wife had found out that their new baby was going to be a girl. Now, before finding out, Mr. Murray had nicknamed the baby Homer. He had been told, and rightly so, that you should talk, read, and even sing to the baby while it is in the mother's tummy. Mr. Murray still used the name Homer up until the moments before birth, even though he knew the baby was a girl. On the blessed day of the baby's birth, the person helping them with the delivery turned towards Bill and states something like, " Mr. Murray, here is your wonderful new baby BOY! Bill stopped, dumbfounded, looked at this new baby and suddenly yelled, "HOMER?" This new little boy turned his head and looked toward his father. That is how Bill Murray's son got the baby name of Homer.
Here are some more of those crazy names that celebrity parents pull out of their hats:
Blue Angel - The Edge from U2 and Aislinn O'Sullivan Pilot Inspektor - Jason Lee Jazz Domino - Joe Strummer Kal El - Nicholas Cage Moxie Crimefighter - Penn of Penn & Teller Fifi Trixibell - Bob Geldof & Paula Yates Camera - Arthur Ashe & Jeanne Moutoussamy Audio Science - Shannyn Sossamon Seven Sirius - Andre Benjamin & Erykah Badu
I have put up a sampling of the top baby boy names and top baby girl names from 2007, 1997, 1987, 1977, 1967 and 1957 so you can see how baby names have changed over the last 50 years. Here are the top 100 baby boy names. Not to be left-out, the top 100 baby girl names.
2007
1997
1987
Boy
Girl
Boy
Girl
Boy
Girl
Jacob Michael Ethan Joshua Daniel Christopher Anthony William Matthew Andrew
Emily Isabella Emma Ava Madison Sophia Olivia Abigail Hannah Elizabeth
Michael Jacob Matthew Christopher Joshua Nicholas Brandon Andrew Austin Tyler
Emily Jessica Ashley Sarah Hannah Samantha Taylor Alexis Elizabeth Madison
Michael Chistopher Matthew Joshua Davis Andrew Daniel Andrew James Justin
Jessica Ashley Amanda Jennifer Sarah Stephanie Brittany Nicole Heather Elizabeth
1977
1967
1957
Boy
Girl
Boy
Girl
Boy
Girl
Michael Jason Christopher David James Robert John Brian Matthew Joseph
Jennifer Melissa Amy Jessica Heather Angela Michelle Kimberly Amanda Kimberly
Michael David James John Robert William Mark Richard Christopher Brian
Lisa Kimberly Michelle Mary Susan Karen Angela Tammy Melissa Jennifer
Michael James David Robert John William Mark Richard Thomas Steven
Mary Susan Linda Debra Karen Deborah Cynthia Patricia Barbara Donna
In the Victorian era calling cards with your name printed on them was all the rage. Even today we still print our names on cards, but we call them business cards. It's a way for people to network with each other, back in the Victorian age you would introduce yourself to a group by this calling card. You would drop it off at the door and hope that you are found worthy enough.
Your name was your ticket into society. So much was 'made' about the right baby name. How it could either make you the cream or the dregs of society. As a matter of fact, Oscar Wilde, the playwright, made great fun of this in his play... The Importance of being Earnest. The men in the play are all willing to change their names to Ernest to win the hearts of the women they love!
Your name was your ticket into society. So much was 'made' about the right baby name. How it could either make you the cream or the dregs of society. As a matter of fact, Oscar Wilde, the playwright, made great fun of this in his play... The Importance of being Earnest. The men in the play are all willing to change their names to Ernest to win the hearts of the women they love!
