What’s in a name?
Lesley
Adam
Jennifer
Zach
Kenton
Why do parents choose a
particular name?
According to the 2007 Babycenter’s “Big Baby Name
Survey”
30 % - To Honor a Family Member
26 % - Like How it Sounds
24% - Because it Has a
20 % - The Family Tree/Carry on the
Tradition
How do parents choose a name?
* 64% said their spouse came up with the
name, followed by:
* Relatives
* Websites
* Books
* And an up and coming trend… Hiring a
professional baby-name consultant!
(54% or responders said they would hire a consultant)
What Meaning Should a Name
Have?
• Fifty-Nine percent believe that a child’s
name contributes to his or her success in
life.
• Top priority in the meaning of a name:
Boys
Girls
1. Strength
1. Femininity
2. Individuality
2. Individuality
3. Kindness
Ethnic Background
How important was your ethnic
background in choosing a name?
•77 % Not Important
•17 % Somewhat important (I tried to find
a name that reflected my ethnicity.)
•6 % Essential (My child had to have a name
that reflected my ethnic background.)
First Names. . .
We choose a first name because it
describes the child.
Blanche = white
Adamma = Child of beauty
Ibo, Nigeria (AH-DAHM-MAH)
Calvin
= bald
First Names. . .
We choose a name which is taken
from some event or circumstance
at birth.
•Easter
•June
•Summer
•Atu (born on Saturday)
Fante, Ghana
First Names. . . .
Sometimes names are chosen
based on some hope or aspiration
on the part of the parents
•Hope
•Elizabeth (oath of God)
•Abimbola (born to be
rich) Yoruba, Nigeria
•Inara (ray of light, heaven
sent) Arabic
First Names. . .
Sometimes children are named
after an object
Flowers:
•Holly
•Rose
•Hoa (flower)
Jewels or gems:
•Amber
•Jade
First Names. . .
At times people are given first
names because of the association
or relation to the surname
•Lily White
•Happy Sadd
•Holly Wood (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Henry Ford Carr (Central City, Kentucky)
First Names. . .
Some names are given from error
or ignorance.
•Misspelled names
•Names given to immigrants at
Ellis Island
First Names. . .
Oddities
Jett (John Travolta & Kelly Preston)
Zowie (David Bowie)
Pilot Inspektor (Jason Lee & Beth Riesgraf)
Rumer, Tallulah, Scout (Bruce Willis & Demi
Moore)
First Names. . .
Names can originate as a result of
chance.
•Close your eyes and point to
a word in the Bible
•Use the name of the first person
you meet
•Draw sticks or paper
First Names. . .
We name children in order to honor
another person.
•Parent
•Grandparent
•Friend
•Relative
First Names. . .
We may choose names for children
because we admire a famous person.
•Religious character
•Poet
•Movie Star
First Names. . .
We sometimes choose a first name
because it is “pretty” or seems
harmonious with the last name or
middle name.
•Peggy Sue
•Melody Ann Sandman (Lincoln, Nebraska)
•Mark Clark VanArk (Toledo, Ohio)
•Newton Hooton (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
First Names. . .
People sometimes avoid names because
of stereotypes.
Adolph
Hitler
Judas The disciple who betrayed Jesus.
Bruno
Bully
Fatima
Fat
First Names. . .
We choose some names based on a
geographical location
Arizona
Savanna
Montana
What First Names are Popular?
Top Baby Names of 2007…
Girls
1. Sophia
Boys
1. Aiden
2. Isabella
3. Emma
4. Madison
2. Ethan
3. Jacob
4. Jayden
5. Ava
6. Addison
7. Hailey
5. Caden
6. Noah
7. Jackson
8. Emily
9. Kaitlyn
10. Olivia
8. Jack
9. Logan
10. Matthew
Middle Names…
•How did you parents choose
your middle name?
•How will you choose your
child’s middle name?
Middle Names
Surnames…
Surnames . . .
Some surnames arise from local or
geographical influence.
Where does he/she live?
Where is he/she from?
•Westfield
Surnames. . .
Some family names arise from a
person’s most prominent
peculiarity.
•James Brown
•William Young
Surnames. . .
Last names can originate from an
occupational background - based on
what he/she does or an office held.
•Miller
•Smith
•Bishop
•Sawyer
Surnames. . .
Some surnames are patronymical,
referring to his/her father’s name.
•Johnson
•Anderson
•Tomsdaughter
Surnames. . .
Some surnames are created as an
invention, possibly with invented
spellings.
Sandmann
•Talk to your parent / guardian
tonight to learn stories about
your naming ceremony.
•Come to the library media center
and we’ll find out what the name
experts say about your name.
"Big Baby Name Survey 2007." Babycenter. Jan. 2008. 28 Jan.
2008 <http://www.babycenter.com>.
Norman, Teresa. A World of Baby Names. New York: Berkley
Publishing Group, 1996.
Odd Baby Names. 2006. 28 Jan. 2008 <http://www.oddbaby.com>.
"Odd Names." F2.org. 16 Dec. 2005. 28 Jan. 2008 <http://f2.0rg>.
Smith, Elsdon C. The Story of Our Names. New York: Harper and
Brothers Publishers, 1950.