A friend recently posted a link to a GQ article on Facebook. Being the “name nerd” that I am, of course I wanted to read it.
Here’s the article: The GQ Guide to Naming Your Baby
What are your thoughts?
My name is [name]Amity[/name]. I love my name and it has not held me back on job interviews. I know the general feeling about my name is not good because of the “Amityville Horror” but adults have the tact not to make fun of my name to my face; they usually compliment it especially if they have an idea of what the meaning is.
I take issue with the explanation of #9. Of course, think about your kid and not yourself. Having walked in these shoes, I take issue with the idea that giving children unusual names is selfish. No, I am not fishing for cheap compliments or trying to dazzle anyone with my creativity; I want my children to have a cool, unique name because in my experience, it is a nice icebreaker (for the child and when they are an adult) and I like knowing that if I hear my name, people are referring to me and not any other…[name]Ashley[/name]…in the room, for example.
I would try to avoid #1 but disagree that “inventing” a name is an absolute no-no. [name]True[/name], it is not for the faint-hearted. But if everyone was afraid of failure, there would be no new inventions. I personally enjoy today’s technology so I appreciate the ballsey entrepreneurs and inventors in the past and present. Names also have to start somewhere. You must be able to accept that people may not like the name, and that is one reason why I would use a common, nameberry and other-website market-tested (polled) and generally approved middle name (in case the child hates their unique first name). “You didn’t even run it past a focus group”…yes, yes, I did. Here on Nameberry and on other websites, maybe with family as well. (Maywen is the “invented” name we are considering if anyone is curious)
“That’s a dick move”…I don’t think my parents decision was a “dick move”, I am thankful for my unusual name.
I think you missed what his point was. I don’t think he’s talking about unique names in general. He’s focusing more on the tacky trends of today. Your name is unique, but not “out there” or unheard of. It’s lovely. I think you took it way too personal. I sincerely do not believe he’s pushing only the very traditional, popular names as they’ve been accepted already. My name is a VERY popular name. I hate it because of that. I think there’s plenty of middle ground here. He’s focusing on the bizarre. The Apples. The [name]Moxie[/name] Crimefighers. The Braylynns and Rylees. The Alizzubeths.
[QUOTE=sllah;2002616]I think you missed what his point was. I don’t think he’s talking about unique names in general. He’s focusing more on the tacky trends of today. /[QUOTE]
The reason I gave the detail about my name is because I think people might like the perspective from someone with a unique name. The author’s name is Drew. I feel that I may have a little more perspective on this issue than someone named Drew. I am not fishing for complements and actually agree with most of the rest of the article. I agree that giving unique names is tricky and parents must be very thoughtful if they attempt it.
The reason I gave the detail about my name is because I think people might like the perspective from someone with a unique name. The author’s name is [name]Drew[/name]. I feel that I may have a little more insight on this issue than someone named [name]Drew[/name]. I am not fishing for complements and actually agree with most of the rest of the article (although also disagree that x y and z are ALWAYS bad). I agree that giving unique names is tricky and parents must be very thoughtful if they attempt it.