What

1
Whats in a name?
Lesley
Adam
Zach
Jennifer
Kenton
2
Why do parents choose a particular name?
According to the 2007 Babycenters Big Baby Name
Survey 30 - To Honor a Family Member 26 -
Like How it Sounds 24 - Because it Has a 20
- The Family Tree/Carry on the
Tradition
3
How do parents choose a name?

• 64 said their spouse came up with the
• name, followed by
• Relatives
• Websites
• Books
• And an up and coming trend Hiring a
• professional baby-name consultant!
• (54 or responders said they would hire a
  consultant)

4
What Meaning Should a Name Have?

• Fifty-Nine percent believe that a childs name
  contributes to his or her success in life.
• Top priority in the meaning of a name

Boys Girls
1. Strength 1. Femininity
2. Individuality 2. Individuality
3. Kindness
5
Ethnic Background
How important was your ethnic background in
choosing a name?

• 77 Not Important
• 17 Somewhat important (I tried to find a name
  that reflected my ethnicity.)
• 6 Essential (My child had to have a name that
  reflected my ethnic background.)

6
First Names. . .
We choose a first name because it describes the
child.
Blanche
white

Adamma

Child of beauty
Ibo, Nigeria (AH-DAHM-MAH)
Calvin
bald

7
First Names. . .
We choose a name which is taken from some event
or circumstance at birth.

• Easter

• June

• Summer

• Atu (born on Saturday) Fante, Ghana

8
First Names. . . .
Sometimes names are chosen based on some hope or
aspiration on the part of the parents

• Hope

• Elizabeth (oath of God)

• Abimbola (born to be rich) Yoruba, Nigeria

• Inara (ray of light, heaven sent) Arabic

9
First Names. . .
Sometimes children are named after an object
Flowers

• Holly

• Rose

• Hoa (flower)

Jewels or gems

• Amber

• Jade

10
First Names. . .
At times people are given first names because of
the association or relation to the surname

• Lily White

• Happy Sadd
• Holly Wood (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Henry Ford Carr (Central City, Kentucky)

11
First Names. . .
Some names are given from error or ignorance.

• Misspelled names

• Names given to immigrants at
• Ellis Island

12
First Names. . .
Oddities
Jett (John Travolta Kelly Preston) Zowie (David
Bowie) Pilot Inspektor (Jason Lee Beth
Riesgraf) Rumer, Tallulah, Scout (Bruce Willis
Demi
Moore)
13
First Names. . .
Names can originate as a result of chance.

• Close your eyes and point to a word in the Bible

• Use the name of the first person you meet

• Draw sticks or paper

14
First Names. . .
We name children in order to honor another person.

• Parent

• Grandparent

• Friend

• Relative

15
First Names. . .
We may choose names for children because we
admire a famous person.

• Religious character

• Poet

• Movie Star

16
First Names. . .
We sometimes choose a first name because it is
pretty or seems harmonious with the last name
or middle name.

• Peggy Sue

• Melody Ann Sandman (Lincoln, Nebraska)
• Mark Clark VanArk (Toledo, Ohio)
• Newton Hooton (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

17
First Names. . .
People sometimes avoid names because of
stereotypes.
Adolph
Hitler
Judas
The disciple who betrayed Jesus.
Bruno
Bully
Fatima
Fat
18
First Names. . .
We choose some names based on a geographical
location
Arizona
Savanna
Montana
19
What First Names are Popular?

• Top Baby Names of 2007

Girls Boys
1. Sophia 1. Aiden
2. Isabella 2. Ethan
3. Emma 3. Jacob
4. Madison 4. Jayden
5. Ava 5. Caden
6. Addison 6. Noah
7. Hailey 7. Jackson
8. Emily 8. Jack
9. Kaitlyn 9. Logan
10. Olivia 10. Matthew
20
How did you get your first name?
21
Middle Names

• How did you parents choose your middle name?
• How will you choose your childs middle name?

22
Middle Names
23
Surnames
The origin of surnames. . .
24
Surnames . . .
Some surnames arise from local or geographical
influence.
Where does he/she live?
Where is he/she from?

• Westfield

25
Surnames. . .
Some family names arise from a persons most
prominent peculiarity.

• James Brown

• William Young

26
Surnames. . .
Last names can originate from an occupational
background - based on what he/she does or an
office held.

• Miller
• Smith
• Bishop
• Sawyer

27
Surnames. . .
Some surnames are patronymical, referring to
his/her fathers name.

• Johnson

• Anderson

• Tomsdaughter

28
Surnames. . .
Some surnames are created as an invention,
possibly with invented spellings.
Sandmann
29
How did your surname originate?
30
Ways to find out. . .

• Talk to your parent / guardian tonight to learn
  stories about your naming ceremony.

• Come to the library media center and well find
  out what the name experts say about your name.

31
Works Cited
"Big Baby Name Survey 2007." Babycenter. Jan.
2008. 28 Jan. 2008 lthttp//www.babycenter.comgt.
Norman, Teresa. A World of Baby Names. New
York Berkley Publishing Group, 1996. Odd Baby
Names. 2006. 28 Jan. 2008 lthttp//www.oddbaby.comgt
. "Odd Names." F2.org. 16 Dec. 2005. 28 Jan.
2008 lthttp//f2.0rggt. Smith, Elsdon C. The
Story of Our Names. New York Harper and
Brothers Publishers, 1950.