About that Nevaeh name...

MDmama519

It just popped up on my Facebook feed.

Navaeh.

I'm like "oh..typo" so I look some more. Uhhh no. Navaeh. It's not even Heaven spelled backwards at this point.

Why God why? 

Johlise

I have a friend who's little girl has this name. She hadn't even realized that most people would assume it was "heaven" spelled backwards. Even though they spell it NeveAh. She simply choose the name because she liked it.

MDmama519

Johlise:

I have a friend who's little girl has this name. She hadn't even realized that most people would assume it was "heaven" spelled backwards. Even though they spell it NeveAh. She simply choose the name because she liked it.

How are they pronouncing it? 

gisa886

Kinda like Neveyah. The point. You missed it

Johlise

MDmama519:

Johlise:

I have a friend who's little girl has this name. She hadn't even realized that most people would assume it was "heaven" spelled backwards. Even though they spell it NeveAh. She simply choose the name because she liked it.

How are they pronouncing it? 

Ne (e as in egg), ve - as in day, and ah- as in the uh in hungry.

Hope that makes sense...

cuppaco

I admit, I am a name snob.  And prefer really old fashioned traditional names.  I hate 99.8% of the new trendy names and spellings, and the idea of naming children after cities (whether or not they were conceived there).  The other 0.2% I think are clever, but that doesn't make them a good name for a person. 

There have in the past several years, many studies discussing the link between SES (socio-economic status) and names, specifically low SES and naming trends.  See here

Due to my job in child welfare, I see almost every "you-neek" name and spelling out there.  Some people should get hamsters and get all the creative naming out of their system prior to naming actual children (who WILL grow up into adults with *hopefully* real jobs).

JFH2010

cuppaco:

There have in the past several years, many studies discussing the link between SES (socio-economic status) and names, specifically low SES and naming trends.  See here

Luckily, I plan to have children smart enough to succeed EVEN THOUGH I don't plan to name them Katherine or Samuel. Strange but true.

I think the name snobbishness gets really out of hand. You're welcome to prefer "classic" names, but the reality is that you're using the research to back up your personal taste. If your kids are smart and have access to opportunities, they will succeed.

cuppaco

JFH2010:

cuppaco:

There have in the past several years, many studies discussing the link between SES (socio-economic status) and names, specifically low SES and naming trends.  See here

Luckily, I plan to have children smart enough to succeed EVEN THOUGH I don't plan to name them Katherine or Samuel. Strange but true.

I think the name snobbishness gets really out of hand. You're welcome to prefer "classic" names, but the reality is that you're using the research to back up your personal taste. If your kids are smart and have access to opportunities, they will succeed.

My name choice is a family name from DH's family and my side of the family - the SES list had nothing to do with it (although the (C)atherine part was coincidental).  My name (neither first nor middle) is no where on that list.

The research is not my personal taste.  Google SES and baby names, and there are dozens of scientific articles analyzing the connection between the two.  And *honestly* in my job (involving removal of children from parents who abuse/neglect/abandon their children - 99% who are low SES) I've never removed a Katherine or Samuel - but the majority of children involved have these misspelled, trendy and otherwise made-up names.  So, my personal experience with hundreds of children seems to follow the research.

It is also interesting to note, that in some countries, the parents' proposed name for the child can be vetoed by the government - and one of the reasons they can "overrule" the baby's proposed name if it is "weird", "not obviously pronounceable" or it is "not suitable as a name".  [If you are interested in some really strict naming laws look into Denmark - there is a list of approved names and spellings that parents get to choose from, with no creative spellings.  If you want to name a baby something different, there is a costly submission and review process.]

From Freakonomics: The data show that, on average, a person with a unique name does have a worse life outcome than a person with a classic/traditional name. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator?but not a cause?of his life path.

 

JFH2010

cuppaco:

JFH2010:

cuppaco:

There have in the past several years, many studies discussing the link between SES (socio-economic status) and names, specifically low SES and naming trends.  See here

Luckily, I plan to have children smart enough to succeed EVEN THOUGH I don't plan to name them Katherine or Samuel. Strange but true.

I think the name snobbishness gets really out of hand. You're welcome to prefer "classic" names, but the reality is that you're using the research to back up your personal taste. If your kids are smart and have access to opportunities, they will succeed.

From Freakonomics: The data show that, on average, a person with a unique name does have a worse life outcome than a person with a classic/traditional name. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator?but not a cause?of his life path.

 

That was exactly my point. Poverty results in negative outcomes, naming does not - it's a confounding variable. Therefore the research does NOT indicate that names influence life outcomes, so your presentation of the research here is simply backing up your personal taste using a spurious scientific premise. If poor people start using classic names, boy, will you be in trouble!

Also, FWIW, I didn't know your name choice was Catherine, I only used it because it was in the article. 

pensparade

DD has a 3 year old in her swim class named Nevaeh. I thought it was bad til I was working one day (Welfare Dept) and met a Neveah. Ugh.

cuppaco

JFH2010:

cuppaco:

JFH2010:

cuppaco:

There have in the past several years, many studies discussing the link between SES (socio-economic status) and names, specifically low SES and naming trends.  See here

Luckily, I plan to have children smart enough to succeed EVEN THOUGH I don't plan to name them Katherine or Samuel. Strange but true.

I think the name snobbishness gets really out of hand. You're welcome to prefer "classic" names, but the reality is that you're using the research to back up your personal taste. If your kids are smart and have access to opportunities, they will succeed.

From Freakonomics: The data show that, on average, a person with a unique name does have a worse life outcome than a person with a classic/traditional name. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator?but not a cause?of his life path.

 

That was exactly my point. Poverty results in negative outcomes, naming does not - it's a confounding variable. Therefore the research does NOT indicate that names influence life outcomes, so your presentation of the research here is simply backing up your personal taste using a spurious scientific premise. If poor people start using classic names, boy, will you be in trouble!

Also, FWIW, I didn't know your name choice was Catherine, I only used it because it was in the article. 

The research also supports that formerly high SES names, like Robert, Amber, and there was another one mentioned but I forgot what it was from reading last night, are now considered poor outcome/low SES due to trickle down.  (I think it is mentioned in that MSNBC.com article cited above).  So, yeah, I know that too.

And several of these studies were done regarding the perception of teachers;.  I think you are missing that it is both actual low SES and the perception of low SES affecting the outcome.

HannahO28

I don't think naming influences socio-economic status. Socio-economic status influences naming.

Catherines aren't generally successful in life because they were named Catherine. They're successful because successful people choose the name Catherine. And successful people are likely to breed more successful people.

And the name Nevaeh isn't going to magically create poor people just because it's a stupid name. Poor people tend to like it, and it's likely that their children will remain in the same status.

Surely there's exceptions to this rule. It's a huge generalization. But I still think it's mostly true

wwnbw

I've only seen the name Nevaeh on.....MAURY! Never IRL.

mamabear0813

More than anything, I want to know WHY it is that those with a lower SES would choose the names? That is what I want to know. Is it an education issue? Is it an exposure to cultures issue? 

I have a cousin who's two daughters (by two women) are Skyy and Nevaeh. (I'm pretty sure it's spelled "right"). They are relatively educated. They've got high school diplomas, but they were average to below average students. But they are DEFINITELY poor. He works in a Cracker barrel kitchen. I mean, they make ends meet, but they are poor. They're nice. And they're smart (common sense and such). And they work hard. I just wonder what the connection is.  

 

Tambcat

I seriously thought that Nevaeh was an urban legend for the longest time. I still haven't encountered one in real life, and I don't think I've ever seen one on tv either.

SKWCM80

This is the main reason why I insisted that lo not be a jr. DH has a name that might be associated a low SES, however he has been very successful.

I don't think lo's name will have any impact on how successful he is, but I don't want anyone to have preconceived notions about him because of his name. Lo's first name will be Alexander and his mn will be J's first name, and he can choose to go by his middle name when he's older. Who knows, in 25 years Alexander may be associated with a low SES.