The 6 Kinds of Baby Name News
The stories that keep us coming back
News media love a baby name story. After all, everyone has a name, and you don’t have to dig very deep to find that everyone has opinions on them.
Slow news week? Ask people what they think about the name Barry going extinct, and see what happens. (Not a random example — I chatted about this on BBC Radio Sussex recently, around the 12 minute mark.)
Baby name news stories tend to fit into a few broad categories. Trust me, I’ve read a lot. Which kind do you like best?
Wild Naming Stories
I love a name with a story behind it. Often it’s heartwarming, about a child named after a beloved family member or dedicated medical staff.
Sometimes it’s a bit more novel, like babies named after the pub where they were born, or the soccer player who just scored, or even a lampshade. Or just for the craic of it: I’ve just read a piece from earlier this year about a boy named Teddy. Last name Bacon. Middle name… Smokey. Delicious.
That Name is Banned!
Nothing makes news like controversial baby names versus the law.
Sometimes the news is that names are banned — like the annual list of rejected names in New Zealand, where it is illegal to have a name that sounds like a title, number, or anything offensive. Last year’s offenders included Prince, Justice, and Notoriety.
Or it can make headlines when a name has been wrongly rejected. Recently, a Brazilian couple were told they couldn’t name their son Piyé (after the first Black Egyptian Pharaoh), because it sounded like the ballet move plié. Luckily, sense prevailed and this decision was overturned.
And earlier this year, we had a little run of British officials questioning whether they could issue passports to children named Khaleesi and Skywalker.
Then there are the even more provocative names that are allowed. Whether you like it or not, in many countries you can legally name you baby anything, including Lucifer.
Starbaby Names
When a mega-star reveals their baby’s name, it makes headlines no matter what they’re called, whether it’s something outside the box like Cardinal (Cameron Diaz), or commonplace like Jack (Justin Bieber… ok, ok, Blues is a notable middle name).
Below the top tier, public figures have to work a bit harder to have newsworthy baby names. Some recent standouts for me have been:
Poetry Lucia and Locket Romance, Francesca Farago and Jesse Sullivan’s fantastically whimsical twin names.
Ice hockey forward Conor Garland, who loves sharks, naming his son Quinton after Quint, the shark hunter in Jaws.
Stevie Sky, Wicked director Jon Chu’s new daughter, who was named after various Steves, Stevens and Stevies her parents admire, and the beautiful sunrise just before she was born.
New Top Baby Names
It’s music to my ears when a country or area announces their latest popularity rankings. You just know the headlines will be any/all of the following:
Old-fashioned names are making a comeback!
Parents are using crazy modern names!
Parents are naming their babies after pop culture figures!
These names are going extinct!
All of which have an element of truth. But beyond the sweeping stories, and once the dust has settled on the new Top 10, come to Nameberry for more nuanced, detailed dives into what the stats can tell us. Not to mention predictions of the next big trends, another favorite news topic.
Heads up to British name data lovers: the England and Wales 2023 statistics are due out this Thursday, 5th December!
Cool Data Analysis
Ok, we’re not the only ones nerding out on names. I love it when data scientists really get into the nitty gritty of name analysis. Like this fascinating study of how people of different names are most likely to vote. (Or, now, have voted.) Or this one, on why certain sound patterns in names appeal to us.
Reddit Drama
In the last few years, by far the most common name “stories” on news sites have been taken from Redditors, whether they’re asking if it’s ok to use a name, reporting on unusual names spotted in the wild, or wondering if they’re being the a**hole in a naming situation. Often they’re family clashes — accusations of name theft, or partners failing to agree. Sometimes there’s conflict with total strangers.
I’ve got to admit, my life is too short to enter the rabbithole of Reddit, but it’s fascinating to get these glimpses into real-life name issues. If that’s you too, I highly recommend name expert Abby Sandel’s responses to Reddit questions.
On Nameberry this week…
Our top names for December🎄
It’s not to late to get your Thanksgiving Name 🦃
Rustic Revolutionary? Biblical Opulence? It can only be names that blend styles🥣
Is it ok to use June for a baby born in June? ☀️