At the risk of insulting nearly everyone -- including my sister Emily, my mother Isabelle, and the offspring of many dear friends -- let me register my dismay at the Top 10 Girl Names and Boy Names for 2007. Are we getting fancy in America or what? Such tony names we bestow on our little ones. The girls especially, sound like they should be arranging flowers in the manor house, galloping across the moors, or having their bodices ripped open by the legions of Calebs, Ethans and Aidens.
You have to laugh.Think of the Mommies and Daddies trilling at these little ones on the playground. "Now Addison, don't hit Logan. Use your words!" "Ava darling, I think you have a poopy diaper."
Top Girl Names for 2007
- Sophia
- Isabella
- Emma
- Madison
- Ava
- Addison
- Hailey
- Emily
- Kaitlyn
- Olivia
In truth, nothing changes. These pretentious aspirational names remind me of the names my immigrant grandparents (Jacob, Ida, Hanoch, and Dena) gave to their American offspring to shed any trace of Eastern Europe. Consequently, my parents, aunts and uncles are all first generation Jewish Americans sporting Anglo Saxon names. The men are named Melvin, Sidney, Morris, Murray, Bernard and Albert. The women have tony names like Beverly, Sylvia, Selma, Lucille, Eleanor and Blanche.
When's the last time you heard any of those on a baby?
Top 10 Boy Names 2007
- Aiden
- Ethan
- Jacob
- Jayden
- Caleb
- Noah
- Jackson
- Jack
- Logan
- Matthew
Evidently we are raising a generation of bible thumping ranch-hands.
I come from the Nancy, Debbie, Linda, Robin, Marsha, Susan generation on the girl side. And the Scott, Jeffrey, Michael, Mark, Eric, generation on the boy side. These sturdy, all purpose American names have practically disappeared. I was stunned and thrilled to learn that there are two Nancys in my son's high school class. Of course, there are also 2 Gabriels (my kid is one of them), 3 Matthews, numerous girls named Sydney, 4 Alexes of both genders, and many Kates and Sarahs.
Names go in cycles and they're all about our collective psyche.
Joke: It's 2010. Two retired Jewish women are sitting by the pool at Century Village in Florida.
"Did I show you the photo of my new grandson Baruch?"
"Baruch? Your kids named their baby Baruch? I didn't know they were religious."
"Of course they're not religious! He's named for his grandmother Britney, may she rest in peace."
Sadly I like many of those names. If I ever get blessed with a daughter, she will be named Sophia. Then again she will also be named after my 96 year old grandma.
Posted by: nikki | January 03, 2008 at 12:33 PM