BABY NAMES, what are your faves?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by StargazerLily

I can't STAND last names as first names (Parker, Miller, Reid, Ford, etc) and I'm not particularly fond of gender neutral names either.

I'm guessing either you don't live in the South or you're frequently annoyed by the names of lots of boys. I'm not a fan of it for girls, but it seems very normal to me for boys -- if, that is, the last name in question is a family name. I don't see the point otherwise.

We were all about family names. I'm named for a great grandfather. My wife is named for a great aunt. My son's first name is for his grandfather, but he goes by his middle name -- a surname found on both sides of the family (my grandmother's maiden name, my wife's great grandmother's maiden name. My daughter is named for her grandmothers -- one grandmother's first name and the other's maiden name.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm guessing either you don't live in the South or you're frequently annoyed by the names of lots of boys. I'm not a fan of it for girls, but it seems very normal to me for boys -- if, that is, the last name in question is a family name. I don't see the point otherwise.
.

Also very Southern: Maiden/family names as middle names for girls.

Typically accompanied by the first name of Mary.

Example:

Mary Carter Lastname
Mary Lee Lastname
Mary Stallings Lastname

I get a kick out of looking at the bid lists for Auburn, Bama, etc. because it seems that 20% of the pledge class is a Mary ___________.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also very Southern: Maiden/family names as middle names for girls.

Typically accompanied by the first name of Mary.

Example:

Mary Carter Lastname
Mary Lee Lastname
Mary Stallings Lastname

I get a kick out of looking at the bid lists for Auburn, Bama, etc. because it seems that 20% of the pledge class is a Mary ___________.

Very true, and that also seems very normal to me (though the first name could also be something like Anne/Anna, Jane or even (in the case of a cousin of mine) Nancy.

I should have noted this when I was saying it seems odd for girls to go by last names. I was thinking more of the Taylor Swifts of the world.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

I even know a "Liisa" with two i's...in other words, absolutely everything associated with her appears to have been badly edited. No thanks.

I know a Lisa who spells it "Lissa" .. of course everyone pronounces it incorrectly at first. Most people assume it's short for Elissa/Alissa.

Originally Posted by AnotherKD

Aaaaaaaaand that's why I won't put my names on here. We're planning on giving a son, if we ever have one, my mother's maiden last name as his first name. 'Cause we think the name is damn cool. Plus, we love names that have personal meaning.

I grew up living behind 2 brothers whose middle names were each of their grandmothers' maiden names:

John Squire and James Clarkson. I think both flow nicely.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Also very Southern: Maiden/family names as middle names for girls.

Typically accompanied by the first name of Mary.

Example:

Mary Carter Lastname
Mary Lee Lastname
Mary Stallings Lastname

I get a kick out of looking at the bid lists for Auburn, Bama, etc. because it seems that 20% of the pledge class is a Mary ___________.

This surprises me. My mother and I were talking the other day about names from her generation (she's in her mid-50s) that you don't hear very often anymore... e.g. Nancy, Cathy, Brenda, Cindy, and MARY. I find it interesting that there are a lot of people in the south who are still being named that.

My mom's name is also uncommon - Joan. She was THRILLED when we went to this bar down the street from our house and one of the bartenders, who's probably in her mid-twenties, said that her name is also Joan.

My brother and I both have our parents' first names as our middle names. I was named after my grandmother and my aunt (who ended up having 2 sons - hence my mom feeling the need to carry on the name). My second cousin was then given the same name. Interestingly, none of us are/were called the same thing, and only my second cousin goes by our actual given name.

Now... I don't really know if I even want to have kids, but if I do, and I have a girl, I'd probably want to name her Haley. For a boy, I used to love the name Christian... but then a certain guy with that name totally ruined it for me. Haha

Same thing happened with Olivia. Used to love it.. and now, not so much.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

This surprises me. My mother and I were talking the other day about names from her generation (she's in her mid-50s) that you don't hear very often anymore... e.g. Nancy, Cathy, Brenda, Cindy, and MARY. I find it interesting that there are a lot of people in the south who are still being named that.

With names like we're talking about, though, they don't go by "Mary," they go by "Mary _______." So, to go with one of KSUViolet's examples, Mary Carter Lastname would be called Mary Carter by family and friends. You still do find just plain old Marys here and there, but Mary ______ is probably more common.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

With names like we're talking about, though, they don't go by "Mary," they go by "Mary _______." So, to go with one of KSUViolet's examples, Mary Carter Lastname would be called Mary Carter by family and friends. You still do find just plain old Marys here and there, but Mary ______ is probably more common.

Still.. Mary in any way, shape or form isn't common where I am.

Hm.. but Mary Katherine Gallagher is sounding better and better by the minute...

[StargazerLily]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I'm guessing either you don't live in the South or you're frequently annoyed by the names of lots of boys. I'm not a fan of it for girls, but it seems very normal to me for boys -- if, that is, the last name in question is a family name. I don't see the point otherwise.

Quite the opposite. I'm about as southern as they come, but I'm just an oddball in this regard. Yes, I'm frequently annoyed by names of boys around here. That's why I like bible names so much.

I wouldn't have a problem giving a son a family name as middle name, but I sure wouldn't have him go by that name.