Comments on: Hey, baby http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/ History and sexual politics, 1492 to the present Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:09:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Digger http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-2/#comment-317300 Digger Mon, 18 May 2009 22:46:28 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-317300 If you're interested in geeking out on your name (or anyone else's), re: popularity, etc., check out WolframAlpha. Note: Elizabeth is not my real name. http://www45.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=elizabeth If you’re interested in geeking out on your name (or anyone else’s), re: popularity, etc., check out WolframAlpha. Note: Elizabeth is not my real name.

http://www45.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=elizabeth

]]> By: Judith http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-2/#comment-315575 Judith Fri, 15 May 2009 22:41:00 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-315575 I'm a little like you - I wanted a trendy 80s name, but my name, Judith, is fairly classic and I think gives people the impression of professionalism more than Stephie or Jamie or Lisa might. I was named after my aunt, who was born in the 50s when Judith was a popular name. Of course, it's kind of funny to be 24 and all the people with your name are in their 50s and 60s, but I never had to deal with someone in my class having the same name, which was nice. I’m a little like you – I wanted a trendy 80s name, but my name, Judith, is fairly classic and I think gives people the impression of professionalism more than Stephie or Jamie or Lisa might. I was named after my aunt, who was born in the 50s when Judith was a popular name. Of course, it’s kind of funny to be 24 and all the people with your name are in their 50s and 60s, but I never had to deal with someone in my class having the same name, which was nice.

]]> By: mebrett http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-2/#comment-314330 mebrett Wed, 13 May 2009 20:28:52 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314330 I actually like my given name, although the whole thing written out feels somewhat unglamorous. My name ended up making the top ten two years after I was born, and stayed there for a little while, so in high school and college I had to contend with the slew of freshmen who had my name (luckily they often went by a nickname, but it still got confusing). I am so glad I was not named for my great-grandmother (Mary), but both my sister and I intend to use family names when we have kids. Of course, mostly that's for middle names. Not sure if it's a southern thing or just my mother's family, but middle names are always family surnames. I have my great-grandmother's maiden name for a middle name. I actually like my given name, although the whole thing written out feels somewhat unglamorous. My name ended up making the top ten two years after I was born, and stayed there for a little while, so in high school and college I had to contend with the slew of freshmen who had my name (luckily they often went by a nickname, but it still got confusing).

I am so glad I was not named for my great-grandmother (Mary), but both my sister and I intend to use family names when we have kids. Of course, mostly that’s for middle names. Not sure if it’s a southern thing or just my mother’s family, but middle names are always family surnames. I have my great-grandmother’s maiden name for a middle name.

]]> By: Historiann http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314300 Historiann Wed, 13 May 2009 16:08:06 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314300 The word "Cigarette" is very pretty--and it recalls names like Antoinette, Annette, Bernadette, etc., so there is a European Catholic connection. Ah, but I'm just blowin' smoke... The word “Cigarette” is very pretty–and it recalls names like Antoinette, Annette, Bernadette, etc., so there is a European Catholic connection.

Ah, but I’m just blowin’ smoke…

]]> By: Rose http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314288 Rose Wed, 13 May 2009 14:57:49 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314288 Yes, Cigarette ("Ciggy" for short, again, srsly) was the girl. She actually went on to become one of the highest-ranking women in the Navy, though, so apparently her name didn't hold her back any. I suppose after enduring years of taunts about her name, boot camp was nothing. The parents were Romanian emigres, escaping Communist rule. So, the story always was that when they got to the States, they thought the word was pretty, without quite thinking through the implications. Still.... Yes, Cigarette (“Ciggy” for short, again, srsly) was the girl. She actually went on to become one of the highest-ranking women in the Navy, though, so apparently her name didn’t hold her back any. I suppose after enduring years of taunts about her name, boot camp was nothing.

The parents were Romanian emigres, escaping Communist rule. So, the story always was that when they got to the States, they thought the word was pretty, without quite thinking through the implications. Still….

]]> By: Monocle Man http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314283 Monocle Man Wed, 13 May 2009 14:38:49 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314283 I have an unusual middle name. It is vital that I remain anonymous here, so that's all for now. I have an unusual middle name.

It is vital that I remain anonymous here, so that’s all for now.

]]> By: Vance Maverick http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314271 Vance Maverick Wed, 13 May 2009 13:35:44 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314271 (Also, Ron Mueck FTW. Remarkable how much mileage he's gotten out of his horror-movie-makeup background.) (Also, Ron Mueck FTW. Remarkable how much mileage he’s gotten out of his horror-movie-makeup background.)

]]> By: Grandoc http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314193 Grandoc Wed, 13 May 2009 09:42:57 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314193 As a semi-retired pediatrician I could probably write a book on names. When I was given an family Irish surname. the name was almost unheard of. When a child in my practice garnered the same name via authentic family lines we decided that in the future families needed to register with us before they used the name - re spelling and family ancestry. Nobody did and the name is now way up on the list. One mother named her son " Mister" and another liked her first child's name so much that she gave her second son the same name. Both of these choices created chaos in our practice and the schools. Sean and Kaleigh were big in the 90's with multiple creative spellings. Parents were pi---ed if you didn't know the spelling. Br names have been chic recently - Braghman, Brogan, Bragan - " The day care says Braghman has been lethargic" As a semi-retired pediatrician I could probably write a book on names. When I was given an family Irish surname. the name was almost unheard of. When a child in my practice garnered the same name via authentic family lines we decided that in the future families needed to register with us before they used the name – re spelling and family ancestry. Nobody did and the name is now way up on the list. One mother named her son ” Mister” and another liked her first child’s name so much that she gave her second son the same name. Both of these choices created chaos in our practice and the schools. Sean and Kaleigh were big in the 90′s with multiple creative spellings. Parents were pi—ed if you didn’t know the spelling. Br names have been chic recently – Braghman, Brogan, Bragan – ” The day care says Braghman has been lethargic”

]]> By: Vance Maverick http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314091 Vance Maverick Wed, 13 May 2009 04:44:22 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314091 <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/" rel="nofollow">Here's</a> the SSA's page. The HuffPo article adds the "meaning" of each name, that is, an unsourced translation of the supposed original. (Surely a better "meaning" is history of the name's use in relevant communities, but that would be harder.) The SSA gives more information, including historical frequency -- but to visualize that, you really want the <a href="http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager" rel="nofollow">Name Voyager</a>. It's clear that my daughter's name, Rosa, has steadily declined ever since records were kept. (As for myself, I was named after my <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmabk.html" rel="nofollow">great-grandmother</a>.) Here’s the SSA’s page. The HuffPo article adds the “meaning” of each name, that is, an unsourced translation of the supposed original. (Surely a better “meaning” is history of the name’s use in relevant communities, but that would be harder.) The SSA gives more information, including historical frequency — but to visualize that, you really want the Name Voyager. It’s clear that my daughter’s name, Rosa, has steadily declined ever since records were kept.

(As for myself, I was named after my great-grandmother.)

]]> By: Indyanna http://www.historiann.com/2009/05/12/hey-baby/comment-page-1/#comment-314090 Indyanna Wed, 13 May 2009 04:32:21 +0000 http://www.historiann.com/?p=5167#comment-314090 Penny was Sky/s neice, I think, unless I/m forgetting yet another archaic detail. Which was about as far off of patriarchal equilibrium as the network Standards and Operations boyz would allow a script to get back in those days. Penny was Sky/s neice, I think, unless I/m forgetting yet another archaic detail. Which was about as far off of patriarchal equilibrium as the network Standards and Operations boyz would allow a script to get back in those days.

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