A name has to last us a lifetime. Its importance can't be stressed enough. It gives people their first impression of you as an individual and often says a lot about the family you come from. Children are often named after their fathers or Mothers. Sometimes children are named after other family members, friends, or even famous people. The current trends in naming babies seem to be the more outlandish the better. Or is it? Celebrities have hit the news naming their kids everything from Apple to Wolfgang. But has society followed their trend?

Fifty years ago the most popular 3 names for boys were Michael, David, and James. The 3 most popular girls names were Mary, Susan, and Linda, nothing outlandish. Good names that had meaning and you weren't afraid of telling anyone your name for fear of them making fun of you. You didn't have a nick name because you didn't need one. I mean really, if your name was something weird wouldn't you do your best to develop a nickname for yourself?

Thankfully, the celebrity naming trend isn't prevailing. Last year the 3 most popular boys names were Jacob, Michael, and Ethan. The 3 most popular girls names were Emma, Isabella, and Anthony, and again, nothing outlandish. These are all good names that have great meanings. Nothing you have to explain when you introduce yourself., because I'm sure when Apple gets older everywhere she goes that name is going to need an explanation. I can here the others shouting now, "You're a fruit." And she'll explain, "I was named for...", and filling out applications? "We need your real name." again, "I was named for..."

Not that explaining names can't be nice. "I was named after my father." sounds good. Even made up names aren't bad. "My Dad's name is Dan and my Mother's is Lana, so they combined them to name me Dana." A name does last a lifetime so remember that when you name your baby. Give them something with meaning. And if they have to explain what it means or why they have that name, make it an explanation they don't mind sharing.

Search over 10,000+ baby boys names, as well as find more of my work all at FindMyBabyName.

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