What is it for you?

MagPie 1986

For those of you that don't like trendy names, I am wondering what it is exactly that you just don't like.  I am talking names like McKenzie, McKenna, Brynlee, Kaylee, Kylie etc (particularly the made up -ley names).  I'm not a fan either, and my rationale is I think its too much of a "fluff" name.  I like names that, in a sense, evoke a feeling or have a meaning and I feel like there's just no substance to names like that. 

So what is it for you: popularity? cheesy? ???

FYI: This is just my opinion and I'm sorry if it offends you.  Im sure plenty of people don't like the same names as me and that's A-ok.  No offense at all meant by this post...honest. 

salt78

Joy2611:

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

Perfectly said. 

Taylor11

Know someone who just named her daughter Brinley, and I still can't figure that one out...  Yes, I agree they sound made up, for instance, Brynn is nice, but not sure what the 'ley' adds to it??  These names are just the latest 'fad' names, just like in the 80s for me, everyone was crazy over Tiffany, Misty, Stacy, etc etc.  They are just dated, not timeless or classic....  Almost comes off as trying to hard.  I do know a LO named McKenna though, and its adorable b/c it's a family name...

strawberrytree

Joy2611:

For a long time, I talked about trendy names and called them "wafty."  They just lacked any real substance and I felt like they could float away in a breeze.

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

Yes! Lacking substance is exactly how I feel about the made-up/trendy type of names. When my son asks where his name comes from, I'd rather tell him he's named after a knight of King Arthur's court than admit that we just picked some syllables that sounded nice. 

kdjudd

Joy2611:

For a long time, I talked about trendy names and called them "wafty."  They just lacked any real substance and I felt like they could float away in a breeze.

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

I agree with this. I like older and traditional names. I want my children to have names that mean something and stand for someone. 

MagPie 1986

Idani:

For example I just looked at two new resumes that came in for RN's. One is Julie and the other is Jaelynn. I can tell you I automatically read Julie's first.

 

This has a lot to do with it for me, too.  I could just never picture the first female president Bryn.lee Crui.se Lastname (the name that was the inspiration for today's post).  I also think I'm harder on girls names than boys...total double standard, i know.

guilletskichuk

I have to admit that I used to like a few of those names (Brinley, Kylie, and Tenley being a few of them). In fact, I think I still have a few of them on my name list but I'm not serious about them anymore. The more I've spent time on this site, the more I've started to dislike them. They sound cutesy and dated. Mind you, I haven't begun to love other names more because of my dislike of them (for instance, I still don't like most names that I would consider being old lady names).

The other day I saw a personalized license plate that said BRYNLEE and I wanted to vomit a little. Just not into it anymore.

Zimger

I don't like the made up -ley names because they are made up. I prefer names that are not cutesy and that age well.

plutoisaplanet

Joy2611:

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

This, exactly.  Perfectly said.  

raefre

I'm not worried about a name being overly popular (as in overly used) and LO being 1 of 10 in his class, since even the most popular names have less people using them than in the past. Simply, I don't like names that date a person.

Also, the current round of names feel childish (this will probably change once I can start associating adults with these names) and effeminate (at least, effeminate boy names). 

I also don't like names that my MIL suggests (had LO been a girl, MIL wanted us to name her McKenzie...eew).

capulet

Joy2611:

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

Yes.

plunderb

I feel like the -lee and -aden names are the onomastic equivalent of getting the lyrics to a top-40 pop song tattooed on your body. There's always a chance it will become a classic, but it's probably just a fad.

psychgirl33

Joy2611:

For a long time, I talked about trendy names and called them "wafty."  They just lacked any real substance and I felt like they could float away in a breeze.

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

This!  So this!

And also because a lot of them don't sound serious.  I guess I just imagine a lot of the kids with the trendy names growing up to be the dumb frat guy and drunk cheerleaders, not scientists or teachers or doctors.  I think part of the reason is because that was the case for a lot of the people in my generation with trendy names.  When I go to reunions, it seems that the stereotype holds true for the people I went to school with.

giraffe54

I don't hate all trendy names, just ones that sound, as PP stated, 'wafty'. I actually really like McKenna, it's a GP for me. But in general, I think historical significance is honorable and the desire to make each kid a very special snowflake is obnoxious and bad for society.

I grew up with a classic, very common (esp in the 80s) name that has multiple legit spellings, and once in a while I'm annoyed that I always have to spell my name out. Sadly, I did the same to my LO - a classic though not popular name with multiple legit spellings because it had important family significance. I think multiple variations of a name (e.g., Vivian, Vivienne, Viviana) is a reality of living in a multicultural society. However, I don't see why one would purposely saddle a child with an impossible to spell name just to be unique. It's annoying to have to spell it out all. the. time! 

To be honest, I also judge people with weird names all the time. When I see the Briellas and the Kinzzleighs and the Colt Wessons, I assume the parents are egotistical and immature people who put their own fanciful desires ahead of their child's long term well being (not saying it's true, but that's always my gut instinct), or that they are trying to 'force' a personality onto a child instead of letting them develop their own. As a result, there's a part of me that automatically assumes the kids will be either super spoiled brats or majorly effed up adults. 

lovelyday39

Joy2611:

MelRC117:

I know all names at one point in time were "made up" but I just don't like names that sound made up now.  I don't know if people take baby naming as seriously as others do or don't think about their little baby growing up. 

 

I gave a lot of opinions on another board about names in a baby naming thread.  I was told I was being condescending for providing my thoughts and reasons.  Perhaps it was my tone (definitely could've been!) but, uh, no... I don't think the general population takes it as seriously as some on these boards do.  I don't think either group is right or wrong, necessarily, but I do wish people put a little more thought into it.  And hey, at the end of the day if you think Brinley (Brynleeighh?) is THE NAME, then okay.  We can agree to disagree.

I agree and I think the "problem" is that people are focused on naming a "baby" and not a PERSON! We are only a baby for a short time, we have to live with the name given to us until we die!

TheWop

giraffe54:

To be honest, I also judge people with weird names all the time. When I see the Briellas and the Kinzzleighs and the Colt Wessons, I assume the parents are egotistical and immature people who put their own fanciful desires ahead of their child's long term well being (not saying it's true, but that's always my gut instinct), or that they are trying to 'force' a personality onto a child instead of letting them develop their own. As a result, there's a part of me that automatically assumes the kids will be either super spoiled brats or majorly effed up adults. 

Yes!  While I know it's not 100% true, it's the first thing that comes to my mind. 

doremi29

I tend to lean away from trendy names and yet DS is a Mason.  The popularity/trendiness of it sorta snuck up on us after we had decided on it. It doesn't bother me at all.  As a teacher, the names that tend to have multiples in my classes are traditional names like Jacob, Matthew, Sarah, etc. 

The reason I tend to lean away from trendy names, especially for girls is that I think they often sound "cutesy" and that's nms. 

MagPie 1986

Estwd2:

I'm just an occasional lurker here, but I thought I'd chime in because DD's name is one of the trendy names you listed - McKenna. Don't worry; I'm not offended that people on this board often refer to her name as "McTrendy." LOL

Just to give the opposite view, I completely understand that some people want their children's name to have some kind of family or historical significance. Or a tried and true name that has an awesome meaning. We chose what we thought sounded nice. I personally don't think naming a child absolutely has to take on more significance beyond that. Many people want it to mean something in their family and I think that's great. I just don't share that desire.

I am also not bothered by most of the arguments that people use against her name. For example,

- "It's trendy and there will be too many McKennas" - Meh. I went to elementary school with 4 Jessicas. They were all best friends and thought it was awesome they shared the same name. It's a 50/50 shot your kid will be bothered by this.

-  "There's no significance behind it" - That doesn't matter to me. My name was chosen at random and I am not bothered by that. Again, I think there's a 50/50 chance my kid will care.

- "It's a surname" -  Yup, but so were a lot of now common first names at one point. This doesn't bother me.

- "People will laugh at her resume and not take her seriously" -  I can see this with some really off-the-wall names, but let's say my kid is a super genius who is being recruited by the NSA, do you really think they're going to pause and say "But wait, her name's McKenna???" I just don't see her particular name fitting into this category of resume joke. Plus if the fear on this board of an entire generation of kids born with terrible names is true, then she'll be a McKenna applying for jobs amidst Bentleys and Braydons. I think she'll be fine.

Are there more? Probably, I'll gladly listen. Sorry to post such a long reply. Just thought I'd give you the opposite view, even though you didn't ask.  

I am glad I got the other side of the story! Thank you for providing your viewpoint in a non-defensive, logical manner...haha. 

jterpbride

Along with many reasons stated above, I honestly don't really like how most of them sound. They often come off as clunky to me with extra letters or just immature sounding as others have noted.

I don't care whether there is any significance to the name, I'm all about how it rolls off the tongue and how easy it will be for him or her to deal with for the rest of his or her life.

Smootchy

Other than the fact I can't pronounce half of them. And the fact people try too hard to be unique when in fact if everyone goes so far out to be different, they end up being the same anyway. If that makes sense.
Also, I like a name with a meaning behind it. A name that means something. If you google the name and meaning comes up empty, it's probably an empty name.

bearfootz

The weird spellings really bother me.  I don't mind swapping an "ie" in place of a "y" at the end of a name - but some of the creative spellings just look bad and make me feel bad for the kid.

I also want a name that has some meaning to it - whether it be a family name, or a historical person/place/etc.  And I think it's important to picture how the name will grow with the child. There are some names that are adorable for little girls - but I'd like to picture if 30 years from now that name will look good on the name plaque for the CEO office. 

katie6/26/04

I don't think trendy names age well in most cases and they are often more cutesy.  I like classic names because they often sound fine for a child and good on a professional person. They have more "substance" and meaning for me. Some names like Aiden and Emma may be considered trendy now because of their popularity, but I like them because of their classic feel.

caramia582

When I hear about a name that is really common/popular (in my area names like Emma, Olivia, Jacob, etc) there is a bit of a yawn factor for me, like, they couldn't come up with anything else?  And even though this is not true in most cases, I almost feel like it's laziness in a way...

Edit: Well. after reading the responses I realize that this is actually about newer trendy names and not popular trendy names.  Sorry, It's been a stressful day... 

Jaytee501

I don't like of-the-minute sounding names; I like long-standing classics. Classics sound elegant and/or strong to me and I'm drawn to them.

I think. as OP said, the super trendy names "lack substance."

Eko14

Joy2611:

For a long time, I talked about trendy names and called them "wafty."nbsp; They just lacked any real substance and I felt like they could float away in a breeze.Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.nbsp; I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.nbsp; These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.nbsp; I don't want some modern creation that will be timestamped and fall out of favor in a few years.nbsp; I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.nbsp; Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

Exactly this.

jupiterthecat

Joy2611:

For a long time, I talked about trendy names and called them "wafty."  They just lacked any real substance and I felt like they could float away in a breeze.

Now that I'm here, I dislike them even more because they lack any history.  I want my child to share a name with a great person or have a name that comes from way back when.  These names are tried and true and tie us to our past.  I don't want some modern creation that will be time-stamped and fall out of favor in a few years.  I want him to share names with kings, artisans, great thinkers, scientists, and regular people who lived and breathed across all time.  Perhaps that's odd, but that's me.

All this precisely. Well aid.

Plus, there's just a general lack of sophistication to many of these names. Particularly baffling to me is the Mc-trend. Why would anyone want their child to sound like a cheeseburger?  

naybird

giraffe54:

To be honest, I also judge people with weird names all the time. When I see the Briellas and the Kinzzleighs and the Colt Wessons, I assume the parents are egotistical and immature people who put their own fanciful desires ahead of their child's long term well being (not saying it's true, but that's always my gut instinct), or that they are trying to 'force' a personality onto a child instead of letting them develop their own. As a result, there's a part of me that automatically assumes the kids will be either super spoiled brats or majorly effed up adults. 

I totally agree with this!

BrandiGreen

I think they sound madeup. They also will be so dated in 20 years when the kid grows up.