feedback for "Jabberwocky: Elvis, Justice, Ace"

1. Um, you're not really serious about the Jesus thing, are you? You are aware that it is one of the most common Hispanic-American names, right? And that it isn't pronounced "Jesus"?
   

   posted by : crankymama on 11/1/2007 at 2:03 AM Flag For Abuse

2. "The data makes no mention of race, but certain names — such as the 2006 female top ten: Emily, Emma, Madison, Isabella, Ava, Abigail, Olivia, Hannah, Sophia and Samantha — would seem to indicate there are still plenty of white people in America."
   
   It sounds like you're unfortunately making the assumption that minority parents don't give their kids "normal" names. Why do you allude to these top 10 names being reserved for white families?
   
   

   posted by : kajrdj on 11/1/2007 at 1:41 PM Flag For Abuse

3. I love the name Ace.
   

   posted by : gibson on 11/1/2007 at 3:39 PM Flag For Abuse

4. Well, that was interesting. I went to the site--my daughter's name (at least, the spelling we use, which is the Greek version) was in the top 100 from 1974-2002, and it has been dropping in popularity every year since then (it's currently #144).   My name (Alayne--Irish Gaelic in origin) has never been in the top 1000. Ever. The closest version (Elaine) hasn't been in the top 100 since 1956.   I do agree that the writer is making some racist, classist assumptions...   I'll be checking this list the next time I get preggo, because although I don't want a baby named Apple, I also do not want today's equivalent of Jennifer (there were 13 in my hs class).

   posted by : katydidmama on 11/1/2007 at 4:37 PM Flag For Abuse

5. kajrdj  -   Does the author actually think only white people name their kids "normal" names? John, Michael and Mary and Jennifer--we didn't need the data to tell us how normal those are or how universal they are across ethnic lines.   But the other list is stereotypical of suburban white people, and sometimes stereotypes are funny. I'm not sure all these names would be on my list, but surely Emma and Madison!          

   posted by : DeeEss on 11/1/2007 at 5:06 PM Flag For Abuse

6. I liked the author's honesty! Quite a few of those names are actually Latino names, used well before white suburban moms latched on to them: Olivia, Isabella (Queen of Spain who sent Columbus off...helloooo) and Sophia (present Queen of Spain)...Samantha and Emma have been common for the past 20 years in Latin America. Nothing to do with moms in suburb influence. And the author's somewhat right...most Latinos wouldn't name their children Hannah, Abigail or Madison. Though beautiful names, Anna is phonetically easier to pronounce...and Madison...well, I still don't get that one in English...Of course...there are always exceptions.

   posted by : letvs on 11/2/2007 at 2:56 AM Flag For Abuse

7. OHMIGOD if you want to read some hilarious commentary on atrocious baby names: http://notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/index.html
   
   Also, on the "race" of baby names, the book Freakonomics has a great chapter on names, and how the "high class" names (Alexis, Tiffany, etc) eventually cycle down in socioeconomic status.
   
   My daughter's name has been creeping up in popularity, to 489!
   
   woo!
   
   

   posted by : jenseju on 11/5/2007 at 12:06 PM Flag For Abuse

8. Ah but the white people do also love them some bizarro names. In Utah. If you feel like an additional chuckle on this baby name thing, do check out today's post at Crabmommy@Cookie magazine:
   
   Utahna: Baby's Got a Bad, Bad Name:
   
   http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/crabmommy/2007/11/utahna-babys-go.html
   
   Kal-El would feel right at home in Salt Lake City, where he could have playdates with MemRee, Zant'l and Nauvoo. But kids, be nice to Morona! Name-calling isn't nice!
   
   
   

   posted by : crabmommy on 11/12/2007 at 11:55 AM Flag For Abuse