Surely you see the difference? I don’t even know how to respond to that. If you name your kid a common word that is in common use (Faith, Grace, Chastity, Daisy) that’s different than naming your kid something that is based on a meaning in another language that has been only used as a name traditionally for hundreds…

Yup, I agree with all that. Since it sounds like you’re good at thinking about this, what do you make of the -aiden trend? Kayden, Kaiden, Cayden, Caden, (then the variations- Aiden, Jayden, Layden, Brayden, and all their spellings). To me, it seems like it’s come out of nowhere.

It's weird that you are being so hostile about this. It sounds like we agree entirely. And we weren't talking about YOU but about names in general. Plenty of people DO name their kids embarrassing things (and some name them offensive things though that is way less common).

Yes, you are probably right. He probably wanted to somehow put the spotlight back on the winner but didn't know how to do it. There really isn't anything you can say in a situation like this to undo the damage.

Yes exactly. And also, all those names are pretty- I can see why someone would go for them. I know several boys named Cash and Henry also, but I have not seen the nature names yet nor Dash. Betty- yes. I think it’s been common for a while now to give your child a name that used to be a nickname. I see the following…

You don't need anyone's opinion to name your kid for sure. Certainly not some random person on a message board. None of that changes the fact that your kid will have to walk around in life with the name you give them, for better or for worse. And there is no reason to be insulting.

And btw, I’m not full of shit about this. Anything, when it comes to individuals, is not going to live up to stereotypes. But I taught school for nearly a decade and then subbed for nearly a decade more (and subbing is interesting because you see over a hundred rosters a year) and you definitely start to notice all…

Oh yes, you are right. I didn't word that right. I meant single mom because they had their kids when they were super young and now they are 22 with a kid in kindergarten. I should have said "teen mom" but by the time they get to school, their moms aren't teens anymore so I worded it wrong.

Usually something trendy and cutesy. When I first started teaching, that Brad Pitt movie about the three brothers had just come out. Pitt’s character in that movie was Tristan, and loads of teen moms at that time named their kids Tristan. Another thing is they are more likely to use creative spelling. Jaysen for…

lol- we’re cussing already?

This is a really good post. These are the top names for middle class aspirational white parents who live in mcmansions and frequent Pinterest, I guarantee it. They are NOT the most common names in the whole country. Also, as a name nerd, you probably know about the -ayden names. They don’t show up usually in top 5s…

I disagree with that. I think a general opinion of a name actually matters a bit. I can look at a class roster and tell what sort of class I’m going to have based on the name. I assume it’s the same when people look at resumes. Your child's name can scream "teen mom" or "mcmansion pinterest housewife mom" or "artsy…

Yes, but Nevaeh is still way smater than Neveah which, unfortunately, is pretty common too. “What’s your name?” “Neveah.” “What does that mean?” “It’s heaven misspelled backwards.”

Gotcha. I never saw the last few movies. Like I said, I’m not really a Potter fan. In fact, until just this moment, I had totally forgotten even who Draco was despite the fact that he is a pretty important character. I think I was too old for Potter. I’ve had to read the first two books a couple times to children…

Probably someone got mad about blonde Bond. But then he put on those little blue swimming trunks and we all forgot about his head.

Why would the original lose anything though in any case? The Oz movie is successful in its own right, despite being nothing like the book. What do you mean things that are subversive? I think I’m not following a lot of what you are saying. Oh wait, maybe the midichlorian example is what you mean. I agree with that-…

Totally agree that each of them, as individuals, need to be held responsible for their own actions. But it's also true that we need to look at the bigger picture. Both things can be true at the same time.

Mine was that old Cosby Show joke. There was the riddle about the kid who got into a car wreck and his father was instantly killed and he is rushed to the hospital and the doctor in the ER is like, “can’t operate on him- he’s my son”. How is that possible? I was a kiddo at the time, and I was totally stumped. Maybe…

Dental pain. I go pale just thinking of it.

ha ha! That's right. Poor Rachel wishes she weren't a muggle.