September 28, 2003
NAMES, NAMES
When The Bride and I named our elder daughter Emily in 1987 we were looking for a nice, old-fashioned name. Nothing trendy, no last name as first name (although we had toyed with the idea of calling her by her middle name, Kendrick, The Bride's maiden name. I killed that). I didn't want my girl to have a trendy name. Or a yuppie-assed, pretentious name. Just a nice, normal, but not obsolete name (Maude, anyone?)
So imagine my disgust when I visited a Census website that proclaims Emily has been the Number 1 most popular name for girls since 1996. EVERY YEAR. That's eight years in a row. How could I have known? Emily was off the radar screen when she was born. The 24th most popular name in the 80's.
Now the poor dear is in danger of having an entire Stepford phalanx of Emilys, all ten years younger than she, marching across the landscape like the dutiful broomsticks with the buckets of water in The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
I didn't wish this on her. I did not want her to become one of a legion of Jennifers (sorry!) or Brittany Nicoles (sorry!) dotting the landscape. I wanted to differentiate her without being a vainglorious boomer shit. Apparently I failed.
Of course, The Bride wanted to name her Kimberleigh, after me. After patiently explaining how I'd fought like a cornered badger my whole life to prove mine was a masculine name, and this would be a capitulation, she relented.
Now I wonder if she was right.
Our oldest daughter's name is Heather...she hates that name and we found out everyone at her age now is called by that name. Shoulda stuck with Savannah instead...oh, well.
Posted by: Laura at September 29, 2003 8:44 AMYou have the link to the Census site?
Posted by: sama at September 29, 2003 9:26 AMMiranda wasn't wildly popular when I picked my daughter's name. Guess what? I run into Mirandas all the damn time now.
Stupid unoriginal people.......copying MY idea.
Posted by: Da Goddess at September 29, 2003 1:00 PMThat bit of news is actually a huge relief rather than a source of dismay. I thought that some name like CAMPBELL or WALKER was the #1 girl's name this year. I'm sure Emily is thankful that you named her something that is a first name instead of a surname.
Posted by: sugarmama at September 29, 2003 4:30 PMWhy do people insist on naming their children for subdivisions; "Hampton", "Peyton". I even heard an East Cobb toddler being called "Churchill" from across the McD's playground. Yes. Fortitude, courage, WWII and all that. But what about when little Churchill is getting chased home from school, dodging pine cones every day because his fellow 4th graders don't dig the historical allusion? Repeat after me new moms and dads--"It's not about me" "It's not about me"
Posted by: Rankin' Rob at September 30, 2003 9:47 AMYup. Is this a narcissistic culture or what?
Bunch of boomers who have the highest standard of living in the history of the planet wanting more, more, more.
More attention. Everyone who can't get their own tv show gets a therapist, and even a lot of them are still miserable.
Bob Hope just died. Can you imagine Bob Hope going to a therapist to deal with his guilt and angst? Shit no. Bob didn't feel guilty. He did something. He traveled overseas and took America to our troops. Every life has its ups and downs, but I believe Bob enjoyed his ups.
More money. One car isn't enough. How can the guy across the street afford that Benz? I must be underpaid. It's discrimination, that's what it is.
More services. Somehow, a prescription drug benefit for seniors became a foregone conclusion during the 2000 elecction cycle. The Democrats propsed it, and the Republican candidate didn't oppose it, he has simply been haggling over terms.
75% of the targeted class have no need for this program. Ted Kennedy's projection is $400 million over 10 years, but since it's my money, and not his that he's talking about that means it will be upward of a trillion. What drugs will be covered, and does that include drugs that are still just a gleam in their creators' eye? Why a drug benefit and not also a more comprehensive services benefit? We all deserve it.
The naming of children to reflect the parent's whim is just another manifestation of our self-absorbed society. Kim, you should have had the right to file a court action to name your parents. What's good for the goose, right? You could have gotten a court order renaming them Laverne and Shirley. or Harry and Tonto. Ranger and Scout.
ultracet tablet
Posted by: ultracet tablet at February 28, 2005 5:05 PM