I’ve recently felt like a Baby Name Wizard…I spend my entire day with children. Sure, I teach 2-5 year olds, but I also work at a location where on any given day I encounter dozens of infants. This gives me a lot of exposure to names, and what the naming trends are–at least in the pacific northwest. I do a lot of data entry too, so day in and day out I’m entering dozens of baby names into our database. While typing in the name “Huckleberry” for a two-year-old boy I couldn’t help but point out the egregious choice by the boy’s parents to my co-workers. Can you imagine young Huckleberry trying to score with the ladies in college? Oh sure, he’ll go by “Huck” and that’s a fine nickname, but COME ON, eventually he’ll have to tell the love of his life his Mom gave him the unmanly title of Huckleberry…like in Hound or Finn it’s cute in literature or cartoon but not in person. I was voted down by co-workers, who thought the name was kinda cute–the nickname especially. I argued that this was worse then the baby I met last week with the first name of “Scooter.” (C’mon, you have to feel the pain on that one).
Because I spend so much time with children I have an insight into what names people think are rare but are actually becoming popular: “Max” is a great example of this. Most noted in literature as the protagonist of “Where The Wild Things Are,” I’ve met several little young boys by the name of “Max.” Enough that I feel like I should warn those who want to use what was once a very original name into something else: “Max” is starting to get played out. “Julian” is another example of this…so is “Riley,” for a girl.
I’m not talking about the usual abuse of ‘old’ names like “Emma,” “Emily,” “Hannah,” and “Ethan.” I still shudder when I think of all the little “Madisons” I taught five years ago who are now represented as Madison H. and Madison R. in their first grade classrooms. Now the common doubles I have in classes are “Sophie” or “Sophia,” I currently teach four girls with this name–three are in the same class! I have also run into a quite a lot of two-year-old girls named “Ellie,” “Ellis,” or “Ella.” And let’s not forget the huge “Mia,” “Maya,” trend. Or “Chloe…”
For boys, I think it’s a little easier…sure there are the old standbys of “Jacob,” “Alexander,” and yes, a ton of little “Sams.” But no little “Tylers” and very few “Ryans.”
I’ve met two babies named “Atticus,” already which is unfortunate for more then one reason.
There are many names that are adorable for babies, but will probably be difficult to grow into and present as adults. “Clarabel,” “Daisy,” and “Toby” are good examples of the youthful naming trend. Really terrible renditions of states and capitols are still used like “Indyanna” (baby went by ‘Indy’ for short). ‘Indy’s’ sister went by Tea, but you have to imagine a flick over the ‘e’ so it was pronounced Tay-ah. When entering her into the system, I couldn’t figure out how to add the little flick (kinda like now)…so the child will forever be known as Tea (and cookies).

C’mon people, sometimes you just have to be careful. Giving a kid a name is such a huge, huge deal–I would imagine since I’ve never done it. I love my name, it’s shaped who I am. I would be entirely different if my parent’s had named me ‘Huckleberry’–or ‘Tara’ which was their second choice, (or ‘Gina’ which was their third baby name and consequently taken by my sister).