I don't know what made me think of this, but I have realized recently that there are so many names that are just not being given to the next generation anymore. Growing up, my friends and acquaintances had names like Jeannie, Heather, Tracy, Linda, Wanda, Jane, Erin, and Kathy. I know of absolutely no children with those names.
My aunts and uncles (many of whom are now deceased) had names like Marjorie, Jean, Gwen, David, and Boyd. Again, I know of no children with those names.
However, my paternal grandmother's name was Olive and I know many small Olivias. My maternal grandmother's name was Emma, and again, I know many young Emmas. I'm not sure if I could say the same about the grandfathers: Walter and Milton.
If we wait long enough will those popular names of the 60's and early 70's come back in style? Are names now determined by tv personalities or other form of celebrity? By what were names influenced in the 1920's when my parents were born? Were they more determined by continuing a family name?
I have noticed now that names sometimes have different spelling than the traditional form. Is that a way of making your child unique (or just creating a hassle every time someone tries to spell their name)? I was a firm believer in naming our children something that would suit them at any age. I do wonder about some names that are cute for little ones, but will they seem a bit ridiculous as that person becomes an adult, later in life?
What about you? Is your name still in use or has it gone out of style?
Well, I don't go by my first name because it is one that my parents made up...lol...My one granddaughter was given my name as her middle name... and I was lucky enough to share the name with the famous Lady Diana...but other than that- I don't think it is used much anymore. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteWell now I have all these ideas about what your first name is!! I have a niece who goes by her middle name, and a friend that I work with who also does that. -Jenn
DeleteOh-ps- which reminds me- I think it would be nice if you had your real first name somewhere on your blog-like even your sidebar or as part of your signature. Those that don't visit often might have to call you Coffee! Just sayin'-------lol
ReplyDeleteIt's Jennifer, often Jenn, NEVER Jenny! I've only met one little girl with my name, but there are a lot of us in my age bracket.
DeleteI like my name...now...but when I was a kid, it was always mistaken for Alicia, with that extra "I". I was named after my aunt Alice, but my parents just changed the e to an a instead. That's part of the reason that our kids have really easy to spell/easy to pronounce names! I don't care now if my name is mispronounced, but when I was a kid I hated it!! But as for your original question (sorry, I got off track!) I only know of a few other Alica's, and none of them spell it like I do. Maybe it never was in style? :)
ReplyDeleteSo... is your name pronounced A-lee-sha or A-li-sah? (with a short i sound). Now I'm concerned I'd pronounce it wrong (smile). -Jenn
DeleteIt's pronounced A-li-sah...or better yet...Alisa. How much easier that would've been, to use an S instead of a C! :)
DeleteLet me re-write that. A-lee-sah. :)
DeleteThanks, I actually have wondered how you pronounce your name! Now I'll be saying it slowly, precisely in my mind when I read your blog. -Jenn
DeleteI think some of the names become popular from TV shows or movies or books or whatever the latest favourite celebrity is. Sometimes it's a cultural thing. It's actually kind of nice to see names changing from generation to generation. Makes it so interesting!
ReplyDeleteI once met a little guy named after a hockey player! -Jenn
DeleteNames are interesting...they come to define us and most times we didn't get a choice in the matter.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I never liked my name, it was long and hard to spell. Everyone in school had a cute, short name that ended in an "ie" or "y". However, oddly, my mother-in-law shared the same name. Middle name, too. That was our special bond. :)
Isn't that a nice coincidence, with your mother-in-law. I take it nobody called you "Barbie" then? -Jenn
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was an Olive. My other grandmother was a Margaret. We still use Margaret a lot in our family. My parents were Jean and Jack. No Jeans for ages (except on our legs, haha) but Jack is showing up all over the place again. My name is Karen. Everyone I know with this name is my age. My eldest daughter was Jennifer. Don't see that one in little bits lately. My only son is Stephen. I think that name died out with his generation but it was used quite a bit in my family lines about five generations back. But what goes around, comes around!
ReplyDeleteMy father was named John, but he was raised with a lot of people with Scottish or English backgrounds, so they called him Jack. One of my good friend's is named Karen. -Jenn
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