Completely stupid question

ChiccoBeanz · August 2015

I should probably ask the baby name board this, but I'm not, anyhoo....

Why are names like Kaylee and Brynlee considered bad, trendy and made up, a name like Olive is acceptable? I'm genuinely asking, no shade intended.

Hey @DylansCandyBar and @wassuphoes if you're out there... little help please. Thanks

ammnam14 · August 2015

It comes down to opinions.. I think people get annoyed with the spellings. All of the names are cute to me though so who knows.

erikaalzet · August 2015

I find that the shade for those names comes less from how the names sound and more from the "types" of parents and people others typically associate with those names.

Forgive me while I show my bias- which everyone possesses- to illustrate my point. When I hear names like Brynlee or Kaylee, I often think of some of the girls from 16 & Pregnant who have been portrayed as immature, irresponsible, and low-class. They may not be any of those things, but because my association of those kinds of names is with those kind of behaviors, that is what I innately think.

Similar with a name like "Olive," when I might associate the name with something a celebrity might do, and therefore think it was cool because celebrities are cool and name their kids oddball things. We all know celebrities are not always cool, but that is how they are portrayed, so we like those names because of that association.

(Edited to add) this is a simplistic explanation of my point, but serves the purpose.

Granted, most of us (I'm playing nice here) likely do our very best to not judge a name before we meet a person. It's just not always the default.

That was long and may or may not have answered the question.

wassuphoes · August 2015

Personally, a lot of it comes down to the lack of history to those names. Kaylee and Brynlee are portmanteaus (from here on out referred to as smoosh names) invented within the last generation or so. They lack the weight and gravity of other names. It doesn't help that there are more than a dozen variants cluttering the field and making them surprisingly common despite many people who use them claiming that they wanted to use something "unique ".

On a less personal level, plenty of studies have shown a name can have a negative impact on you. Some of that is racial/sex based discrimination ( hiring John over Juan or Jane) but some is attributed to some names being perceived as "lower class " or, ah, let's just say "not as smart". People in general are super judgey, most will make a judgment (first impression ) of a person within seconds of meeting them. Names are no different. Smoosh and other invented names are more likely to be used by younger, lower educated parents, and that prejudice carries over when they grow up.

(Disclaimer, yes I'm well aware there's some double PhD couples who named their kid Kaylee, that's the difference between "more likely" and "all" it should be noted I have not used "all" at all. )

Sorry I don't have more in the way of links and direct references, I'm traveling today and am confined to mobile. FTR, Kaylee first has consistent (though rare) recorded use in the 60s. Brynlee didn't register until 95. Olive has been recorded every year since 1880.

Gingermom15 · August 2015

*Possibly offensive opinions ahead*

I don't care for names like Brynlee, Amberly, Kaylee and such because they sound trashy to me. As PP said, it's something that reminds me of Teen Mom or some other reality show that displays promiscuous behavior. I know very well this is biased and certainly not all people with those names well act in such a manner. I see nothing wrong with other people using them, but would not personally as I prefer names with history. I like them to be classy but that is just my taste. I just don't like made up sounding or two-smooshed together names. I also can't stand original names with made-up spelling (Erykah, Nickol, Katheryine, Izak, Jaxkson).
Have you seen Ted?
https://babynamepondering.blogspot.com/2012/07/teds-trashy-names-list.html?m=1

I don't judge anyone for naming their child something that I personally don't like and would certainly never think different of a parent or child. I know very well not everyone has the same taste or opinions as I.

ETA I don't agree with all the names on Ted's list as being trashy sounding, but definitely the ones what add Lee or Lynn on the end. Heatherlynn, Nickylynn, Crystalynn, etc.

ChiccoBeanz · August 2015

Thanks ladies, I was like boggled by the reactions. As "creative" as I get with names, is choosing one from a foreign language. So I was wondering why these names got such reactions from ppl.

breezypip · August 2015

If those names were spelled with an "EY" at the end instead of "EE" I wouldn't be nearly as turned off (though still not a fan as I like classic names). The double E ending seems incorrect grammatically and appears to be trying too hard to be unique. Combined those things give me the impression you're young and and trying to stand out and/or uneducated. That may be unfair, but it's how it is.

I have a name with multiple pronunciation and spelling options and it can be frustrating to never have anyone say or spell your name right the first time (my name is Briana, but I was named this in the early 80s before the big trend hit). I can only imagine it would be even worse for Brynlee/Brinleigh/Brynlie/etc...

kleshelle · August 2015

I don't have a problem with names spelled differently IF and only if you can pronounce it, and there isn't unnessacary letters in the name. On the other hand, olive isn't a name for me.. Oliver or Olivia is okay... But I wouldn't name a human after food. (Serious question is an olive a vegetable or fruit? I'm assuming vegetable) that name just isn't flattering in my eyes. But more power to the people who like the name, your child not mine.

hummingbird35 · August 2015

@kleshelle olives are a fruit. Think pits that grow into trees

fmraglio · August 2015

The Brynlee one I truly don't understand because it is a long used name in other cultures. DH has a grandpa named Thomas Brinley, though it is is middle name and used masculine, he's 103 years old so I don't understand how people say it's "made up recently."

Maybe for the feminine use, but it's been used masculine for a long time. I think @taysun pointed it out in another thread (sorry if it was someone else) and got bashed for it, but she was totally right. The other names I don't care because it's not my business what people name their kids but some are truly terrible.

monaclemere · August 2015

I agree with all PP about judgements and preconceived notions of people with names like you mentioned.

I think a lot of names like Brynlee, etc don't age well. They're really "cute" for a chubby baby or a toddler, but a 60 year old grandmother named Brynlee? Seems kinda weird.

Cnrwife · August 2015

My daughter's name is Brynnley - I heard it and it just stuck with me. We call her Brynn a lot of the time, and if I had to do it over again I would likely just name her straight Brynn. She wears the name well and we get lots of compliments on it. It might be "trashy" to some of you and "teen mom" like - however I'll stand above those stereotypes of the name, both my husband and I have Master level degrees.

Gingermom15 · August 2015

monaclemere said:
I agree with all PP about judgements and preconceived notions of people with names like you mentioned.

I think a lot of names like Brynlee, etc don't age well. They're really "cute" for a chubby baby or a toddler, but a 60 year old grandmother named Brynlee? Seems kinda weird.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. This is a major reason I would choose classic names over something recently popular. What my boyfriend calls "grandparent names" are usually the names added to my list. Think Naomi, Ruth, Grace etc for girls. We are going with Henry for our son, but we even tossed around Abraham, William, Peter and Adam for a bit. I couldn't name my child something that doesn't sound nice when they're 70 or looks odd on a contract. I simply can't envision a Dr, lawyer or judge named anythinglee, anythinglynn.

edit complete thought.

hummingbird35 · August 2015

@cnrwife I'm sure this was a typo, but *straight... fixing that would improve the message of your post I think

I don't see anything wrong with the name myself, just nms

Cnrwife · August 2015

@VegDumpling - ha thanks! I'm mobile and was using Siri, didn't proof it before hitting post.

missphil · August 2015

Olive may not be a name for some of you in English, but it is a french name- so a name regardless.

kdoak2015 · August 2015

To each their own, I don't really care for others opinions about my baby names. I'll name my child whatever me and DH like and I'll spell it whichever way I want. If someone things the spelling of my name is trashy they can just keep their opinions to themselves.

erikaalzet · August 2015

While this is separate from the purpose of OP's thread:

This is why DH and I have chosen not to publicly share the name until baby girl arrives. I am disinterested in opinions on the name we have selected. I believe the opinions will be non-existent given the meaningful and tame name we have selected, but whenever you share something you open it up for scrutiny. Whether or not you asked for the opinions is a moot point. People love to point that out here on the Bump.

Gingermom15 · August 2015

Sorry if it sounds as though we are scrutinizing a name choice, I don't care what you name your kid and wouldn't give an opinion unless asked. I don't freely throw my opinion around because I don't want someone to take offense if they have a different taste in names.
OP asked a question and I answered honestly.

Gingermom15 · August 2015

erikaalzet said:
While this is separate from the purpose of OP's thread:

This is why DH and I have chosen not to publicly share the name until baby girl arrives. I am disinterested in opinions on the name we have selected. I believe the opinions will be non-existent given the meaningful and tame name we have selected, but whenever you share something you open it up for scrutiny. Whether or not you asked for the opinions is a moot point. People love to point that out here on the Bump.

Opinions can be taken as offensive and harsh, especially when it comes to a name the parents love. We aren't sharing our baby's name with anyone (SO doesn't know I have on here lol) until the baby is born.
I wouldn't give my opinion unless otherwise asked because I know how obnoxious it is to be on the receiving end of someone's opinion when it is uninvited. SO's mother basically told us if we named our baby Henry we must not love him. I wanted to punch her in the face.

ChiccoBeanz · August 2015

I was really just curious about people's reactions to these names. I could care less about opinions on my own child's name. I'm having a boy, so Olive, Brynlee and Kaylee are all just not applicable. Well they wouldn't be applicable if I had a girl on the way either. But I appreciate you ladies coming out to help me understand somethings.

LeggoxMyxPreggo · August 2015

My husband's friend recently asked if we picked out any names (haven't found out the gender yet) and after I told him for a boy we were thinking of Eli, his response was "Gonna give him the middle name "Book of" ?" and legitimately LAUGHED. pre-pregnancy I had a really bad temper; you can imagine the response I gave him amped up on hormones.

Every time I hear the name Olive, I think of Olive Oil from pop-eye and the little girl from Little Miss Sunshine.

I grew up in a white-minority urban area so while I didn't come across any Brynlee's (never see such a thing in my life) I have met a few rather odd concoctions. Those people usually hid their own embarrassment with nasty attitudes though.

My husband (jamaican/cuban) refuses to have a "black" name for our child, or anything that has a bunch of weird letters attached to it. He associates it with illiteracy (can't really blame him) and that sticks with you for a long time. Employers judge, and he doesn't want our child to be a resume thrown in the trash at first glance.

My aunt was named something funky, and changed her name when she turned 18. Even now only one or two people really know her first name.

cedixon2 · August 2015

If we were going to have a boy, DH wanted to name him Cornelius or Marcelus. Maybe those are ancient or very outdated. It's hard to choose a name and it's 'proper' spelling and expect people to like your choice. I did name one of my daughters Cailley and I love that name. It fits her type A personality to a tee.

hummingbird35 · August 2015

Has anyone seen idiocracy? Some of these names call it to mind. "Back to you, Velveeta."

ChiccoBeanz · August 2015

Lol velveeta....now I want that @vegdumpling

mrs14678 · August 2015

cedixon2 said:
If we were going to have a boy, DH wanted to name him Cornelius or Marcelus. Maybe those are ancient or very outdated. It's hard to choose a name and it's 'proper' spelling and expect people to like your choice. I did name one of my daughters Cailley and I love that name. It fits her type A personality to a tee.

My hubby likes Cornelius if we have a second son, but I'm not too sure - I was worried about potential teasing nicknames.... It's nice to see another person like the name!

As far as the OP's names mentioned.... I used to teach pre-K ballet at a ritzy daycare, and a bunch of the rotten little girls had names like that, so I think of rich brats with names like that, rather than the teen mom-trashy types. Haha!

LauraSmarterSpam · August 2015

Agree with pps. Names like Brynlee and Kaylee I see as white trash or hick names. Growing up in a white trash/hick "city", these are the names of many of my school friends and their children today. Granted Houston is full of truck driving hicks, but the surrounding country towns is where I typically hear these names. Names like Olive or Olivia, I would typically hear in the city where either hipsters or upper class people live.

That's just how it is! Most of the time, people don't like a name because they know someone with that name who is just plain awful.

DrillSergeantCat · August 2015

I think the problem with Brinlee and Kaylee etc is what @breezypip said about her name. Briana was so trendy that she didn't need to say she was an 80's baby, I already knew from her name. Same with Brinlee and Kaylee in 30 years, it will be dated. Olive, though, is one of my top picks for a girl. Throw shade if you want. I don't care.

satindawl83 · August 2015

Side thought -- every time I hear Brinlee, I think of Chumlee from the show Pawn Stars.

Carry on.

Whovian84 · August 2015

I grew up in a pretty redneck area in the midwest and I'm sorry but every time I hear names with the -lee/-lei or -lynn ending I just have a visceral reaction because they seem so white trash. Even though I like the name Olive, I see where you're going. Names like that (Apple, North, etc) can often seem like the parents are just trying too hard to be unique out of fear of being mainstream; so, the focus is more on their lives than their child's.

Gingermom15 · August 2015

ChiccoBeanz said:
Lol velveeta....now I want that @vegdumpling

VegDumpling said:
Has anyone seen idiocracy? Some of these names call it to mind. "Back to you, Velveeta."

Vehlvytuh for uniqueness purposes, of course.

groovylocks · August 2015

Kaylee and Brynlee ARE made up names. Olive has been a name for over 100 years. And yes, it WAS a made up name around the turn of the century. But it has withstood the test of time. Something Kaylee and Brynlee have not had a chance to do yet.

In my opinion, and this is just my opinion, a name ending in ee kind of makes me think of a nitwit or a redneck or maybe a stripper. Because taste. To me and with my upbringing, it seems undignified.

That being said, they're not the worst thing you can do to a child. It's not like you're naming her MoonUnit (Sorry Zappa... it's gotta be said) and most parents won't side-eye them. It's just the snobbier amongst us (a category in which i am well aware i belong, don't worry..) are going to make some snap assumptions about parents who give their kids names we feel are cheap, even though it's not very nice of us.

Plus. I want you to picture an 80 year old woman named Brynlee. Or a top scientist at NASA named Brynlee. Or a poet named Brynlee. Or a CTO of Apple named Brynlee. I promise, you can't do it with a straight face.

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