Baby Names

The results of the "Most Popular Baby Names of 2007" have been released and the outcome looks much like those found in previous years:

Girls:
Emily
Isabella
Emma
Ava
Madison
Sophia
Olivia
Abigail
Hannah
Elizabeth

Boys:
Jacob
Michael
Ethan
Joshua
Daniel
Christopher
Anthony
William
Matthew
Andrew

Much like the web site devoted to the Worst Names, I think a list should be generated of the most unusual names (aka What were their parents thinking?). I once read an article that examined the recent trend in unusual baby names, especially when it comes to girls. The authority consulted suggested that parents often feel the need to choose outlandish names to make sure their child stands out from the pack. A extra special name somehow equates to an extra special child. These need for recognition may also account for the wacky names often chosen by celebrities (that or a little thing called reality that so many of them have departed from).

During a trip to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, I overheard a mother call to her son, "Abacus".

Not only is this an unusual /awful/ unusual name, it certainly puts quite a bit of unnecessary pressure on the kid to do well in math. And what happens when the kid fails Calculus (derivatives still give me nightmares)? The pressure of fulfilling your namesake, coupled with the certain bullying the little guy will be enduring on the playground should be enough to make the parents rethink their need to pick a "special" name.

If you have chosen an off-the-wall name for your child and would like to defend it, feel free to do so in the comments section. Also, share any other wacky names you've come across and maybe we can create a top ten list of our own.....

Also, cracked.com has come up with a far better list of strange baby names, with Pilot Inspektor ranked at only #19th! I guess you can't argue with names like Blanket, Audio Science, and Tu Morrow....

Check it out at:

http://www.cracked.com/article_15765_20-most-bizarre-celebrity-baby-names.html