Names by Linda Stowe
I have a name that identifies me with a certain era. Most of us do. The Internet may not have been a thing when we were born, but somehow the word got around about which were the most popular baby names. That’s why names seem to travel together in time.
My grandmother was born in 1894. Her name was Ethel, and she had friends with names like Opal and Bertha. My mother was born in 1916. Her name was Anna, and she had friends with names like Mildred and Evelyn. I was born in 1944 and I had friends with names like Nancy and Judith. You don’t hear those names often anymore but when you do, you have an idea how old that person might be.
When I was born, Linda was in the top three girl baby names. In every class I had in school there was always at least one other Linda, so when the teacher called out that name at least two heads would pop up. I used to hate that, being one of the pack. Even Lynda Hofacker, whose mother probably thought she was being clever by using a different spelling, was lumped in with the rest of us. It was confusing. I was glad when I reached adulthood and could have a separate identity but, alas, my age continues to haunt me because as I sit in the doctor’s waiting room it is almost a certainty that there will be at least two heads pop up when the nurse calls out “Linda.”
Most new parents do not share their baby names for fear that others will copy them. My great grandchildren are named Magnolia and Carter, both names I had never thought to name a baby, but I have no doubt that there are other little Magnolias and Carters out there. Some parents give their children unusual names to make their child stand out. Unfortunately, when others hear about the name, they jump on the bandwagon. The name Chase was not a common child’s name until the 1970s but once it caught on it grew like wildfire, peaking in 2009. Today most people named Chase are in the 35-44 age group.
Elon Musk, whose own name is rather unique, named three of his thirteen children X Æ A-Xii , Exa Dark Sideræl, and Techno Mechanicus. It’s not likely these kids will encounter their namesakes any time soon. If you want to go a different route, you can name your baby the most popular first name in the world: Muhammad.
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Polly here.
Once again, Linda covers it all. The names of us.
My name, Polly, may have been popular at some point in history. But it was not popular during my birth year or youth. I’ve never met another Polly. I know of some Polly people who are famous. But not many. I’m glad for that.
But there is more to our names. While our name alone doesn’t define who we are, it can influence both how others perceive us and how we see ourselves.
Names can shape the way we navigate the world, our identities, and sometimes even the opportunities available to us.
There is a lot in a name, it seems.
Names by Linda Stowe
