The results are in for 2009. From the press release of the Social Security Administration:

With 69 baby Baracks born in 2009, Barack continues to move up the list to number 1,993 from 2,424 in 2008, and 12,535 in 2007, but still lags well behind First Dog Bo at 782.

I would expect that to increase with each passing year.

http://www.ssa.gov/presso...009-pr.htm

"Isabella Reigns as New Queen of Baby Names"

That's kind of cool....do you suppose that name has become popular because today's young parents are big fans of Christopher Columbus's patron, or because they are fans of Neil Young's classic 1975 song "Ambulance Blues"?

Oh Isabella,
Proud Isabella,
They tore you down and
plowed you under
You're only real
with your makeup on
How could I see you
and stay too long?

All along the Navajo Trail,
Burn-outs stub their toes
on garbage pails
Waitresses are crying
in the rain
Will their boyfriends
pass this way again?

I hate to rain on your parade Gunnar, but the rise to the top was due to the Twilight Saga. The female lead's name is Isabella (Bella). Nothing too profound.

Those poor children. I forsee a higher than average number of cutters in that population.

When I was in college, a friend told me that her younger sister had just named her daughter "Mindy" after the character in "Mork and Mindy." Yikes.

A few years ago, when Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, was on the tube, lots of kids were named after her. Problem was, her name was Micheala, which is pronounced Ma-KAY-la. Either out of ignorance over the correct spelling or to make sure that their child's name was prounced Ma-KAY-la rather than Mikel-ah, lots of weird spelling of Micheala emerged. My personal favorite was M'Kayla. Seriously. With an apostrophe.

That is very sad news, Denise....so the answer to my question is, "Today's young parents are morans."

Doesn't the apostrophe mean you're supposed to make some sort of clicking noise with your tongue?

I went to school with a girl named Corolla. Of course, she was born before the car came around but that didn't help her in college.

I think that people who name their child made-up names or common names with odd spellings are just selfish. They aren't thinking of the child at all. If they want to name their kids Bodacia and Brayden they should at least make it the middle name so it's easily hidden. Some people are trying to find an uncommon name so that their child will be the only one in his peer group with that name but often they pick a name from the media or elsewhere that wasn't common for them but becomes common because everyone else does the same thing. My daughter knows at least 3 McKaylas.

As someone with a name from a popular children's book I've had my share of comments about having a made-up name. I usually inform them that my name is actually found on several British census records from the 18th and 19th centuries. Fortunately it's just a nickname and I like it fine.

Are there any folks with uncommon names out there who'd like to weigh in on this discussion?

Are there any folks with uncommon names out there who'd like to weigh in on this discussion?

My husband's name is Murrey. He is sensitive to the frequent misspellings, usually Murray or Murry, but he hides it well. It is my feeling that if you are going to correspond with someone (obviously in writing, as you cannot tell the difference verbally), you should take the time to learn the proper spelling of the name of the person you are addressing. It seems like common courtesy to me, as nothing is more representative of a person than their name.

But what do I know? I have one of the most basic names out there. However, my name is frequently spelled Dennis, and more than once new tellers at our bank have read our deposit tickets and called me Dennis and my husband Mary. We've decided Dennis and Mary are our crime-fighting alter egos.

On a related note, for whatever reason, when typing my own name, I find it is very easy to miss fully striking the "i" key. I have not decided whether or not this is a Freudian slip of some kind.

[This message has been edited by Denise Selk (7/28/2010)]

[This message has been edited by Denise Selk (7/28/2010)]

Because "Bridger" isn't unique enough... my parents added an "i" which you're supposed to pretend doesn't exist when you pronounce my name. Oh well.

Funny story - my son, (whose middle name, like mine, is "Bridgier") was on a lacrosse team a couple of years ago with a boy whose middle name was "Bridger", and another boy whose first name was "Bridger" - with myself that was largest collection of "Bridg(i)*er"s I'd ever encountered. I'm sure this is no big deal for the Johns and Bills of the world, but it was a little odd for me.

And what would you call a collection of Bridgers anyways? A Badger? A Beneficence? My vote is for "A Brobdingnag"

My name is common enough to be ranked between 500 and 600 for the last 10 years or so, so I can't comment on this discussion.

I suffered though endless abuse as a kid being "a boy with a girl's name" ... or the "Dick Tracy" jokes. Not as bad as the Johnny Cash song 'A Boy Named Sue' though.

Now, of course, the country music stars named Tracy have done a lot to legitimize the name, and it doesn't happen as much, although I still hear the hesitation on the phone when speaking to someone for the first time. They generally are not expecting a male voice.

If I ever have a son, I'm naming him Elkanah. It's pronounced L K NAH

I have been in love with this name since I watched the North and South (with Patrick Swayze). It is a real name, and it used to be normal. I don't think it will negatively effect my child. People can call him "el". Then he can have cool nicknames like "el diablo" or "el camino."

Oh yeah.

Well, I figured I'd chime in here...

My name is Shiloh. I was named after the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil War. I had 2 great grandfathers that fought in that battle, on opposing sides. I've always loved having a very uncommon name and I've only met one other.

My side of the family has several unusual names. I have a cousin name Rugger (not Ruger), and nephews named Terek and Tripp.

Growing up, I loved that I could never find my name on keychains, bracelets, bike license plates, etc. I'm always looking for odd names for future kiddos as I loved being set apart from my peers because of my name. But, that's just me.

As someone with an odd name, just remember, if you give your kid and odd name, it will NEVER be spelled or pronounced correctly. EVER. I have learned to live with it and also explaining to all and sundry that it is an old family name and what it means. If you want a kid whose name is never pronounced or spelled correctly and that child is always explaining "Mom named me after a character on a tv show," go for it. Just don't be surprised if you kid spends the rest of his life known as "Bud."

My daughters name is Avi! She used to say why didn't you just name me Abby or Abigail. But she is unique and now likes it!

I think Smiley just proved my point.

My husband has a middle name that is generally considered a girl's name, although it originally wasn't. It's a family name that both his grandfathers had. I suppose I'll get into trouble now.

[This message has been edited by Wendy Wilson (7/28/2010)]

I can't help but still want to call you "GVC's wife."

...now that's an original name.

Not in Utah.

here goes with parents getting all unique and thinking they are doing their kid a real solid in the creativity department. i am christen and i have three sisters, courtney, caitlynn, and carleigh. our names all begin with c and have eight letters. neato huh?! i am frequently called christian, or if i'm lucky i'll get a christine (at least the gender is correct here!) forget about having a stranger spell my name, i'll tell a restaurant my name, the hostess will say, 'k-r-i-s-t-i-n' usually, i'll reply, 'sure'. if said hostess is sharp, the sarcasm in my reply will be caught and they will inquire as to the proper spelling, i'll whip it out slowly, and typically the mind has been blown. courtney is lucky, they had the required eight letters, no funk in the spelling. caitlynn, has a y and an extra n, but aside from misspellings you read it and get how it is said. carleigh, poor number 4. she says she frequently gets 'ca-lay-lee' and no one ever attempts to spell it correctly.

the jist of this; please spell your kids names in the most normal fashion. although 'boring' they'll secretly be thankful. my parents run rate is only 25%. had i really been thinking when i got married and had the opportunity i'd have changed my name to something like lauren.

Try the veal.

Are there any folks with uncommon names out there who'd like to weigh in on this discussion?

hmmm...you know, I LOVE my father, but I've certainly had my moments when I've hated him for naming me Shumon...or Shu for short.

Why was I named that? Because my father is from Iraq, and Shumon is a somewhat common name there...as much so as "Mike" or Dave" is here in the states. It's the Assyrian version of the name "Simon", which also happens to be on my birth certificate in parenthesis...but Shumon is the name that stuck.

What do I like about the name? Uniqueness. If anyone is talking about "Shumon" or "Shu", everyone pretty-much knows it's me.

What don't I like? Well, up until a few years ago, the countless number of strange looks, "Huh?" responses, wise cracks such as "you smell like a shoe", "you eat shoe fly pie", "shoo, shoo, go away", "don't your parents love you?" and the like...none of which bothers me much anymore.

I thank the Lord I'm not named Barack, though...I mean, that's just flat-out child abuse!

[This message has been edited by Shu (7/28/2010)]

I have a common name, Jennifer, which I hated growing up because there were always so many with that name everywhere. I love unique names. I named my son Lyric because my husband and his side of the family are Musicians. Lyric loves his name. I also have nieces and nephews with unique names such as Phoenix, Cayden, Zydane, Aspen, and Anastasia. I also have friends who named their kids Kennedy, Taylor, Cole, and Jayden to name a few. All these kids love their names and get good responses and have not been teased. My mom told me that she once knew a lady who named her daughter TweetyBird. That would be the kind of name to feel sorry for someone, not a name like Brayden.

"I've got a package here for Asswipe Johnson..."

I look forward to naming my first born "Big", second born "Noahbig".

Great honk, Christen. If it annoys you that much when people get your name wrong then spell it for them at the beginning. It's not fair to get mad at someone for assuming the standard spelling of Kristin. Your's isn't.


Can't wait to see Phoenix, Aspen, and Anastasia on the stripper pole.

Wendy, Why turn something different and beautiful into ugliness? It's people like you that I teach my kids not to be like. Those names have been in our family for generations. Phoenix was named after her great great grandpa, Parker Phoenix. Anastasia is on my husbands side of the family who are Hispanics and is popular down South here although not as much up North, and was named after her Aunt who had died of Leukemia as a child. There are many different traditions and ways of life from family to family. People should be more open minded, respectful, accepting, and appreciate people without being judgemental.

I don't think Wendy was being judgmental. She was just commenting on your family's frequent use of stripper names. Nothing wrong with stripper names. I happen to be a huge fan of strippers.

Interestingly enough, the name of the lead stripper at old Helena strip club which closed many years ago was Shiloh. Shiloh still tends bar at one of the casinos here in town.

My name is Brady Allen Stone. When I was young there was nobody named Brady. Not now. Brady Bunch Jokes? Ya, I have heard them all. I have a sister named Amber Celeste and another named Regger Lee. Regger was supposed to be a boy with the name Reginald, however, when she became a girl the word Regger popped out of my mom's mouth and she cursed or graced my sister for the rest of her life depending on how you look at it.
I named my daughters and I am very proud of their names. Abigail (Abby) Morgan and Maggie Labree.

jlyn...I agree. And I think those names are beautiful.

I got teased a couple times growing up, but it never bothered me. My lifetime best friend actually named her dog Shiloh. And I've heard references to the book about a dog named Shiloh. My mom bought me that book for my birthday one year. She said she thought it was about the town, not a dog...but I think she did it as a joke.

I love my mother's reasoning for my name. Her theory and I quote, "I wanted to give you a first name that was common and easily spelled because I knew you were going to spend the rest of your life having to spell your last name (Gamrath) for people!" Ummmm, okay mom, thanks. I got married and ditched "Gamrath" for "Gunther" which most people spell easily, other than those pesky people that want to add an extra "e". HOWEVER, to this day I am still spelling "Gwen" for almost everyone I give my name to because it is NOT spelled...Qwen, Quinn or even Quen. A "Q"??? Really??? I'm okay with it though. I took out my frustration on my daughter whom I named Kaleigh (Kay-lee) of which there are a hundred different spellings and most people see it and pronounce (Cal-lee). Guess I should have added a "y". Whoops, sorry sis...it's only for the rest of your life!

wendy, i don't get mad, not even annoyed. if i spell it for someone, slowly even, it is typically misspelled anyhow. i have even been questioned if i am correct in the spelling of my own name. (other sisters have also had this happen to them.) i find now with an average, popular last name, that is the far easier route!

i'll tell a restaurant my name, the hostess will say, 'k-r-i-s-t-i-n' usually, i'll reply, 'sure'. if said hostess is sharp, the sarcasm in my reply will be caught and they will inquire as to the proper spelling

Oh, sorry Christen. The above part of your reply seemed a little snippy to me. Guess that's the problem with this type of communication.

There was much conflict from my in-laws when I named my son Kahlon (Kay-lon). I had the named picked out since I was a child. My grandpas name was Mahlon, dads name is Gaylon and now for 3rd generation I have a Kahlon! So fits him though. I think no matter how unusual or common of a name you pick out...your child will grow into it...somebody will criticize somewhere...so do what you want to do!

And if your kid doesn't like their name, that is what nicknames are for!

One last complaint. People who give cute baby names not realizing that "Ricki" is going to grow up to be a six foot four two hundred pound criminal lawyer and will want a "real" name for business cards and the like. Oh, and check initials. Alan Scott Stein was grateful his parents realized the mistake before it hit the birth certificate and he became Scott Alan.

Ok, so assume Kahlon is fine with his name. Great. But I would never have pronounced his name Kay-lon. "Kah" is pronounced "caw". This kid will forever have to correct people's pronunciation of his name. Why not spell it Kaylon instead and at least give folks a fighting chance at getting it right?

Didn't the Kaylons destroy Caprica?

Remember "fish" is spelled "ghoti" if you use the "gh" from "laughter", the "o" from "women", and the "ti" from "action".

That's what I want to be called from now on--- ghoti.

Either that, or Crapduck.


CD

If I ever have a son, I'm naming him Elkanah. It's pronounced L K NAH big grin

Over my dead body you are.