Very funny article about a psychology professor in Nebraska who analyzed the names of 4 million babies born in the U.S. in 2000, who "discovered" a trend: parents name their babies after products. Babies named after cars (Chevy, Camry, Chevelle, Celica, or Dodge), or vacation spots (girls named Disney), or luxury goods (girls named Cartier, Nautica, or Catera). Or vodka (girls named Skyy) and drugs (Darvon). Some names appear to work for both boys and girls (Armani and Evian). And some are just strange (Buckshot and Timberland). And with twins, you can pair up the creative names - like the parents of Camry and Lexus.
Why the explosion of unusual names? Blame it on cable TV; a "names researcher" at the University of Pittsburgh does. The incredible diversity of choices people have, as opposed to a generation ago: 200 cable channels instead of 3 network ones, or a movie-plex with 12 screens instead of a single-screen theater. So it follows naturally that parents want to have more choices in naming their children. Riiiight. Not better choices, or original ones. Just the opportunity to name their children after cars, shoe companies, and vodka.
And, of course, it's not all that new a trend, as the article points out: the popular names Tiffany and Chanel came from the store and perfume, and television left its mark in popularizing Ashley as a girl's name. But where's the fun in an article making fun of people's names unless you can claim that it's news?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment