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31 January 2007

Offspring: →[More:]Had sort of a mixed day today.
Thought I’d cheer myself up by thinking of names for my prospective children…

I’m veering towards Jibran if it’s a boy, and Mishaal if it’s a girl, even though it’s a male name as well; I’ve heard it being used otherwise, and it sounds good too.

post by: hadjiboy at: 12:49 | 25 comments

my imaginary child is named Zoe, which means "life" in greek, unfortunately, our last name begins with "Z" so it's a damn good thing our imaginary child is only imaginary.

posted by taz 31 January | 13:22

I listed names in jrossi4r's thread a whiles back. I'm bummed, looking at the USA popular baby names for 2005, that there are some of my favorites (Ava, Daniel) on there. I don't wanna name any putative podespawn a name that half their class will have.

**remembers a class full of Jennifers and Sarahs; never had anyone in the school with the same first name**

posted by gaspode 31 January | 13:30

'pode, that list made me sad. for the last seven years or so i've been planning to name any son i have "jacob." gah.

posted by brina 31 January | 13:34

Aw, sorry brina. Maybe if you're hanging off a few years, trends will change (although they don't as much for boys, I think).

posted by gaspode 31 January | 13:39

I've lobbied for "Freedom" (boy or girl) for years now, but Mrs. tr33 will have none of it.

posted by tr33hggr 31 January | 14:16

Recently, I've wanted to name my kids "Jason" and "Melissa", after these characters.

posted by muddgirl 31 January | 14:20

OMG I love Home Movies!

posted by tr33hggr 31 January | 14:24

I want to name our next daughter Elisabeth, it's the Swiss army knife of names.

One thing I caution people about whenever this discussion comes up it to pay attention to your future kid's initials. Though mine don't spell a word they compose a string that makes me sound like a wannabe rap star. Embarrassing to the point I now use a stylized symbol based on my initials instead.

posted by Mitheral 31 January | 14:38

If my wife and I ever have a boy he will be named Philo. On my end it's after Philo T. Farnsworth, on her end, it's after a greek saint. I think it's mildly weird enough to fit in with the "unique" name trend of the present, and normal enough to not be too weird.

Our first girl will be named Awesomina (I may not have my wife's backing on this one).

posted by drezdn 31 January | 14:53

I would seriously name a boy Ulysses or Weller, but I fully expect to be overruled on that score. So instead, my go-to boy name is James -- the name of my best friend in high school, my favorite author, and one of the sweetest kids I ever babysat (who's now about 18 years old and six feet tall).

for girls, I like old-fashioned names: Nora, Lily, Tessa, Rose, Elizabeth.

posted by scody 31 January | 15:21

I also would like to name one of my children Edison, but made the mistake of wasting the name on my cat. Though Edisons seem to be trouble makers.

To get around the Edison-child-name-embargo, I tried to suggest we name our daughter Lady Edison, but she wouldn't go for that either.

posted by drezdn 31 January | 15:35

The easiest way around this problem is to not have kids. I only wish I'd thought of that 20 years ago.

posted by dg 31 January | 17:21

Though mine don't spell a word they compose a string that makes me sound like a wannabe rap star.

LL Cool Mitheral?

Our firstborn's name is swiftly approaching Top Ten status, which breaks my heart. Her name wasn't even top 50 back when we gave it to her. If I had known it would become so popular, I'd have named her something else.

And we still haven't firmly decided on potential names for the critter in my gut yet. Nothing sounds right. It may be a game day decision.

posted by jrossi4r 31 January | 17:28

Gotta keep 'em separated.

posted by weretable and the undead chairs 31 January | 17:35

Another vote for Elisabeth with Fern as her middle name (family name and my middle name). Boys are harder.

Ah well, doesn't matter - no kids for me.

posted by deborah 31 January | 18:06

I always loved Kayla for a girl, with Rae as a middle name. Or Veronica. But I had two boys. My ex husband had his heart set on John James for our first (we had no idea of the sex of either of our kids until they were born). The longer my pregnancy went, the less I liked that name. Well, on the delivery table, holding my new son, the nurse asked what I was going to name him. Out of my mouth popped "Kevin Gregory". My ex was a bit stunned, but agreed, as long as he got to name the next kid. That ones' name was chosen on the was to the hospital, but until I signed his birth certificate, I still wavered. Now I love his name - Philip Michael.
If either had been a girl...Emma or Emily. My ex wouldn't go for Kayla.

posted by redvixen 31 January | 19:45

I always planned to name my first daughter (if I ever have one) Isabella - Izzy for short - after my grandfather Izzy. But I recently discovered that Isabella is actually a really popular name now. Who'da thunk it? I had figured that one was pretty safely in the realm of uncommon.

posted by amro 31 January | 20:15

I always loved the name Caroline. Caroline was our definite girl name. But, we didn't have girls so we chose William (Will) and Adam.

posted by LoriFLA 31 January | 21:35

I really wanted to name our child "Fenway" if it was a boy. Yes, I am that much of a Sox fan. My wife was very glad we had a girl.

My brother wants to name any prospective boy he may have "Iverson", but his wife is dead-set against it (he's not even a big fan of the basketball player).

posted by Rock Steady 31 January | 21:59

Oh, and the good news for fans of the popular names is that the top ten no longer accounts for close to the percentage of all names it once did (for girls especially). Emma, Emily and Madison accounted for about 3% of all girls born in 2005, while Jennifer, Amy and Heather accounted for almost 8% of all female names in 1975, and a whopping 10% of girls born in 1945 were named Mary, Linda, or Barbara.

posted by Rock Steady 31 January | 22:06

Although boys are catching up (15% -> 10% -> 3.5% for top 3 in those same years). OK I'm done.

posted by Rock Steady 31 January | 22:08

OK, not yet -- those names are beautiful, Hadjiboy. I think Mishaal (pron. me-SHAL?) is a great alternative to Michelle.

posted by Rock Steady 31 January | 22:11

Thanks Rock! I like them too (it's pronounced as Me-shaal though, if I'm not mistaken).

posted by hadjiboy 31 January | 23:10

If I have a daughter, I want to name her Hero after the character in Much Ado About Nothing.

posted by mullacc 01 February | 00:38

I've always liked the j-n names for boys...Justin, Jordan, Jonathan, Julian although the mention of the most common one has recently instilled the desire to vomit. Also Lior.

For girls, I like Saskia, Anastasia, Roxanne, Iona,Sorcha...all this is hypothetical since I don't want kids.

Wasn't Misha'al the name of the Saudi princess who tried to escape with the love of her life and was beheaded?

posted by brujita 01 February | 03:01

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