Blogger mom Samantha, from 'Walking Outside in Slippers,' told us about the considerations new parents might want to take into account when choosing a name for their children. Sometimes, the perfect name you had all planned out for years and years might not end up being the one you end up choosing. After all, you have to pick something together with your partner, not alone.
"I played dolls with my friends when I was little, and had names for the dolls that I fully intended to name my actual human children one day. I pretty much stuck to the plan into adulthood, but hadn’t realized that my husband would reject all of my choices. Goodbye, 'Felicity.' The reality of choosing a name is more complicated than some of us realize because you need to consider how your partner will feel about your choices," she shared her thoughts with Bored Panda.
In that case, you might want to consider somehow incorporating a family name or picking a person you'd like to pay tribute to. Though that raises a pretty good question, as to which grandparent should the baby be named after. Have we mentioned that choosing a baby name is tough?
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Then we have to remember the fact that not all names are 'valid': some perfectly fine names might remind us of people who have wronged us in the past. "There are bad associations we have due to people we have known through the years that can limit our name options. All of this comes before we even open up the discussion to more unusual names and possible teasing," Samantha, from 'Walking Outside in Slippers,' noted just how big of a challenge it really is for parents.
"I personally believe no one should be teased for their name, but the reality is that a very unusual name choice could be setting up our kids for teasing despite our best intentions. An easy-to-say name will also be simpler for teachers, coaches, and friends to pronounce correctly. That said, I believe we should teach our kids to take the time to learn to correctly pronounce names, especially from different cultures and languages. Because we never want to seem like we’re making fun of someone’s culture or language," Samantha shared.
There's no excuse for bullying, but the sad reality is that it can happen for any reason. "I think it’s so important that we as parents believe our children when they tell us they’re being bullied," Samantha said. "Then we can thank our kids for coming to us with their issue, reassure them it’s not their fault, and address it immediately. Most likely that will include talking to the school."
Meanwhile, fostering a sense of pride in one's identity is something that parents can definitely help their kids with. However, it is easier for some rather than others. "I’m fortunate that my children have strong senses of self and are confident. I try to compliment them often for their positive behavior traits, such as being kind and honest. I encourage them in pursuing their passions and hobbies. And I try to avoid focusing too much on their looks or weight. Most importantly, I try to avoid suggesting that they worry what others think about them," the mom told Bored Panda about how she approaches this important issue.
The ‘That Name Is Bad And You Should Feel Bad’ Facebook group is a private collective that has been around for over three years. This November, they’ll be celebrating their fourth birthday. Anyone wishing to join the group has to answer a few simple questions so the administrators and moderators can filter out anyone who’s likely to cause trouble. After all, the point of the group is to gently roast others, not to go overboard.
The team behind the Facebook group sees itself as leftists who try not to embody the worst side of ‘Leftbook.’ There’s absolutely no room for abuse or rudeness here. “No racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, SWERF nonsense, etc. Reverse racism is not a thing. Cultural appropriation is. These aren’t up for debate,” the folks behind the page write.
What’s more, the mods and admins stress that if someone makes a post about their own child’s name on the private group, they’re essentially making it “fair game for a roast.” However, this “does not apply to legitimate, non-English names.” In other words, read the rules before posting in order to avoid any misconceptions.
What’s more, the Facebook group is very big on privacy and protecting people’s information. When posting something, make sure to censor any private information that could lead to someone getting identified. That means no stalking, no creeping, and generally just being a polite person.
The team also makes it clear whose names you should never ever mock. “No mocking member names or the names of the injured, recently deceased, missing, sick, etc. It’s in bad taste and we will not hesitate to boot you. Mocking sex worker names also gets you the boot,” they explain.
There’s also pretty much no tolerance for those who criticize parenting choices, exude “aggressive childfree vibes, and are being “generally insufferable.”
It’s not a sin to want a unique name for your child. After all, they’re the apple of your eye, and you want the world to know just how special they are to you. But at the end of the day, a name is something that you have to live with. And even though kids might bully one another for even the smallest, most insignificant reasons, you also shouldn’t give them any additional ammunition by going super weird with your naming ideas.
Naming conventions do change over time. What was popular half a century ago might sound strange now. Similarly, the most popular names right now might raise a lot of eyebrows if given to someone born a century from now.
According to the BBC, in the UK, the most popular girls’ names in 2022 are Lily, Sophia, Olivia, Amelia, Ava, Isla, Freya, Aria, Ivy, and Mia. The most in-vogue boys’ names are Muhammad, Noah, Jack, Theo, Oliver, George, Ethan, Oscar, and Arthur.
Meanwhile, according to The Bump, the top girls’ names in the US this year are Olivia, Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, Ava, Sophia, Isabella, Mia, Evelyn, and Harper. The top boys’ names are Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah, James, William, Benjamin, Lucas, Henry, and Theodore. These are all pretty much safe bets if you don’t want to stand out from the crowd.
