Althouse: "We liked it that the name carried no image of masculinity, that it would free him from all preconceptions and let people see him as unique."

November 11, 2010

"We liked it that the name carried no image of masculinity, that it would free him from all preconceptions and let people see him as unique."

A comment that (supposedly) exemplifies a trend.

143 comments:

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: It's women naming boys. Men used to monopolize naming sons. Now they don't, both because of rising illegitimacy and more gender equality.

Soon, through the magic of passing time and use, the names will be masculine again. See Jayne from Firefly.; 11/11/10, 9:41 PM
Methadras said...: My real name and pseudonym are, I believe unique. However, this trend to de-masculinize males is getting ridiculous and just further illustrates how insidious the feminist movement has allowed males to be devalued, right down to their names. The misandry in this country is outrageous and it is even more proof of how political correctness has been allowed to flourish without nary a challenge to it. The article exemplifies the attitude to want their male children to be unique, but without the 'stain' of masculinity which will do what to them they think? Make them less bullied, make them appear more effeminate with their 'unique' non-masculine name, what? I have several friends name John and I view them all as unique. This sentiment is stupid and I'd like to punch it's author in the face for being so stupid.

Frankly, I wish my parents would have named me Mace, Gladius, Hammer, Stone, or some such overtly masculine name. My name is masculine, but still, those names are cool as fuck.; 11/11/10, 9:42 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: I wrote to Glenn Reynolds about this, yesterday, and he ignored it:

Yes, let's avoid all the masculine names that they admit made this country great, and - in a state of depression, decline, and war - start giving our boys more feminine names. That'll turn out well.

They named this kid Maxfield, so everyone's going to call him "Max" and, one day, he will - not might: will - ask his father, accusingly, why he gave him such a faggy name.

Wasn't Rush talking today about football players named "Chad" crying and hugging? And another football player wearing pink shoes to practice and being surprised he's getting kicked to the curb?

What's wrong with these people? Do they hate their kids? They must because the ass kicking they're going to get - just from the perception of weakness - is going to be vicious.

These "parents" need their heads examined.; 11/11/10, 9:42 PM
madAsHell said...: Could we not call this "People that read the New York Times"?; 11/11/10, 9:46 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/11/10, 9:49 PM
Anonymous said...: I saw this article a couple days ago. Dumbest shit ever. Names should have meaning and they should be tied to history and culture.

Also, the list of popular names given in the article itself absolutely disproves the moronic thesis the authors posits. Jacob? Ethan? Really?; 11/11/10, 9:50 PM
Calypso Facto said...: Will demasculanized names help boys get into college at the same rate as girls?

“Naming your kid Hunter or Breaker is like saying f--k you to the world that invented feminism,”
There was, no shit, a baby born in town a few years ago named Beau Hunter Buckmaster. That's maybe a little too much testosterone-infused to live up to.; 11/11/10, 9:52 PM
Revenant said...: Anyone who thinks of "Joshua" and "Elijah" as "soft-sounding" has clearly never read the Bible.; 11/11/10, 9:53 PM
Known Unknown said...: My son is named Ethan, after two people.

Ethan Allen, not the furniture, but the Revolutionary War hero who led the Green Mountain boys and.

Ethan Edwards, John Wayne's character from The Searchers, who was a Confederate bigot.

Could I honestly get any more masculine?

Unfortunately, as we can see on the list, it's ridiculously popular. He's almost 8, so I was at least on the front edge of the naming wave.; 11/11/10, 9:53 PM
Unknown said...: Having seen the article when Insta highlighted it, I think there's more smoke than fire here. Many of the names are virile Old Testament ones - Jacob (the Duke in The Comancheros), Ethan (the Duke in The Searchers), Joshua (Steve McQueen in Wanted Dead Or Alive), Jasper, or Noah (Webster) - much in use in the 19th Century (Emmett was the first name of Howie Long's character in Broken Arrow).

Kason, Jayden, or Jax have a certain Orlando Bloom, metrosexual feel to them , but I think the issue seems to be a lot of Anglo-saxon standbys - William or Robert have fallen from fashion.; 11/11/10, 9:57 PM
Unknown said...: The top 10

1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Alexander
5. William
6. Joshua
7. Daniel
8. Jayden
9. Noah
10. Anthony

seven is right. Naming boys Josh, Dan and Alex is some big break from traditional gender-based naming?; 11/11/10, 9:58 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/11/10, 10:00 PM
blake said...: Yeah...Jacob?

Thesis fail.

Jake is not a feminized name.

Neither is Jacob.

Ethan? Ethan Allen already mentioned, how about Ethan Hunt?; 11/11/10, 10:02 PM
former law student said...: Boys are getting Biblical names or saints' names -- how novel. Except for Jayden.; 11/11/10, 10:04 PM
ricpic said...: I wonder how many withit types who named their kid Jacob are mortified when he starts insisting they call him Jake?; 11/11/10, 10:05 PM
DADvocate said...: Maxfield? "free him from all preconceptions"? You gotta be kidding!! It's a dorky name that will invite ridicule for years.

What's wrong with masculinity? Why is it so important that boys will push baby carriages (which myself and my two brothers loved to do with my little sister in it)?

What's so sad about this is that these parents have such a strong preconception of what they want their boy to be while kidding themselves they want to "free him from all preconceptions." Idiots.

I named my sons William (the Conquerer) and Alexander (the Great). Both nice masculine young men now who have both pushed strollers on occasion.

Sixty Grit - Don't forget Gale Sayers, just a slightly masculine pro football player.; 11/11/10, 10:06 PM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/11/10, 10:10 PM
traditionalguy said...: Max is Maximilian which is very Teutonic masculine. They are believing their own propaganda here and trying to get some vague credit for what? The most popular name James is a favorite name from the New Testament. It made 2 disciples names and 1 head of the Jerusalem Church who got his own epistle in the scripture and was called Jesus's brother.; 11/11/10, 10:13 PM
traditionalguy said...: FYI, Jacob is the same name we call James and the French call Jacques.; 11/11/10, 10:16 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: I wonder how many of the dumb red doper diaper baby generation are naming their boys Barack? Their girls Michelle or Nancy? The new celebrity names of the smart cognoscenti set.

My daughter is named Cordelia- from King Lear. She is the daughter who loved her father and won his kingdom back.; 11/11/10, 10:18 PM
Anonymous said...: This article could have been written when I was a kid about Jason and Sean and Aaron. Stupid.; 11/11/10, 10:21 PM
Peter Hoh said...: “Naming your kid Hunter or Breaker is like saying f--k you to the world that invented feminism,” said Richmond. “It’s a desperate cry to hold onto an archaic and useless form of masculinity, whereas naming your kid Robert III after your grandfather who invented the flyswatter and bought the house in Newport is a very different kind of holding onto an outmoded form of masculinity.”

What if your grandfather, who invented the flyswatter and bought the house in Newport, was named Hunter?

I couldn't finish the article. Too much senseless twaddle.; 11/11/10, 10:28 PM
Jenner said...: My son's name is Zack. Zack with a "k" at the end and not that pansy "h"!; 11/11/10, 10:29 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Atticus.

Now that's a badass name.; 11/11/10, 10:30 PM
Anonymous said...: I've always liked Van. I wish I had the balls to name a kid that.; 11/11/10, 10:39 PM
Palladian said...: There was a guy I knew at Yale named Van Stokes. Coolest name ever.; 11/11/10, 10:44 PM
traditionalguy said...: Flash!!! The Matt Ryan's Falcons just put salt on the tail feathers of Joe Flacco's Ravens.; 11/11/10, 10:45 PM
Unknown said...: What a lovely time capsule of 1970s feminism. I love the smell of bras burning in the morning!; 11/11/10, 10:45 PM
Anonymous said...: A few years ago, I ran across a family tree (not mine) where the boys of one generation were named Jedediah, Nehemiah, Hezekiah,
Jeremiah and Freelove. Go figure.

Maxfield sounds like a fine name. Bet he'll end up being called Max. It doesn't "free him from all preconceptions" though. First thing I thought of was Maxfield Parrish. ;-); 11/11/10, 10:47 PM
Anonymous said...: Utter tommyrot! When are we women going to accept the idea that men are not women with balls? Christina Hoff Somers is right: masculinity is hard-wired. This totally asinine effort to change that which is biologically hard-wired is going to leave us with a lot of messed up boys. Jeez! Let men be men, fer cryin' out loud! Civilize them using the time-tested and proven methods of civilizing males—no! dolls don't cut it! Just civilize the boys, teach them about honor and genuine masculinity and leave them the hell alone!; 11/11/10, 10:47 PM
jimbino said...: Freakonomics claimed that there is little cause-and-effect relationship between a name and success in life. I still laugh when I think of their report of a parent who named the kid what was pronounced "shah-TEED" but spelled "shithead."; 11/11/10, 10:50 PM
kip said...: I love all the above comments. It is pretty dumb to think you can mold your kid by its name. From what I am told, the young always win that battle. As the contributors clearly show...gender and force in a name is locked in culture/time. Boy today is girl tomorrow...Tiffany will give way to Breaker or Crunch. Maxfield is an interesting name... Maxfield Parrish, a very collectible and brilliant technical artist/illustrator of the early 20th c. He knew,invented and rocked his color chemistry...do google him- if only for his name. Shel Silverstein wrote A Boy Named Sue and Johnny Cash sang it. "I tell you, life ain't easy for a boy named Sue." Where can you go from there with names? The poem and song are awesome.; 11/11/10, 10:50 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: This may be the dumbest thing I have ever read, and that's a high bar.

Maxfield isn't a masculine name? Really?

Those names on the new top ten list aren't masculine? Could they point out a single name on the list that is feminine or even gender neutral?

Paxton? King? Jax? Not masculine? So girls are going to have those names?

How do you finish writing an article where your thesis is disproved by every example you provide?; 11/11/10, 10:52 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I guess your name isn't masculine unless it is Penis Scrotum Richards.; 11/11/10, 10:53 PM
Anonymous said...: ...Says Freeman Hunt, the person with the coolest name in the history of time.; 11/11/10, 10:53 PM
Anonymous said...: I remember being mildly surprised to find out that the name of the U.S. Navy commander-in-chief who was made to walk the plank for Imperial Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor was Adm. Husband E. Kimmel.

O tempora. O mores.

Word verification: dismsxz. Which I believe is what happened to Adm. Kimmel.; 11/11/10, 10:56 PM
Penny said...: The names are fine. What may not be fine is that we now have people who call themselves "baby name experts".; 11/11/10, 10:57 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: “Among my generation of parents, our nontraditional boys’ names—vaguely androgynous, nonmacho, or just plain unique—reflect our own desire to raise sons who will be as comfortable pushing dolls in strollers as pushing trucks,” said Deborah Siegel, Ph.D.

My first son's name is extremely unique. You will not find it within the top one thousand names.

But we didn't name him that in hopes that he'd love to push a stroller around.; 11/11/10, 10:57 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: ...Says Freeman Hunt, the person with the coolest name in the history of time.

But it's easy to have a cool name when you're the one who put it together. (Maiden name of a relative who requested someone take it plus my last name.); 11/11/10, 10:59 PM
Methadras said...: Freeman Hunt said...

I guess your name isn't masculine unless it is Penis Scrotum Richards.

Who could argue with the masculinity of a name if it were Big Cock McDougal!!! Now that's a mans name.; 11/11/10, 10:59 PM
traditionalguy said...: My son picked his daughter's name of Callan which in Welsh means a cunning warrior. He said she would need to fight in this life since she was born with a Tuberous Sclerosis condition. It is working. And Callan looks and acts as a baby exactly like my son did as a baby.; 11/11/10, 11:00 PM
Peter Hoh said...: I was born in 1962. There were plenty of boys named William, Michael, David, and John. People are still choosing those names for their boys, even as others choose Brandon, Joshua, or Evan.

But the popular girl names from when I was a kid? They've dropped off the map. It seemed that half the girls in my elementary school were named Karen, Nancy, or Susan. Those three names don't appear in this list of the 100 top girl names of 2010.; 11/11/10, 11:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Peter -- Jennifer is gone, too. That was every third girl when I was a kid.

That's probably the funniest thing about the article. Left unsaid is the fleeting and ever-changing nature of female naming conventions.

I always wanted to name my daughter Mary -- the old standby -- or Doris, after my favorite aunt and a perfectly fleeting name that was once popular and is now remarkably out of favor. But I got no daughters, only masculine boys.; 11/11/10, 11:06 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Also, last I checked, James and Patrick have been popular names forever, and both have the ultimate in gender neutral nicknames.

So the entire thesis, that names aren't masculine now and no popular names were gender neutral before, is bogus.; 11/11/10, 11:07 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Sarah was the female name of choice for girls my age.; 11/11/10, 11:09 PM
Beth said...: Rush is complaining about football players not being masculine enough? He should go kick some football player ass and show that Chad guy what's what.; 11/11/10, 11:10 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Really, it's not the names, but the parent's attitudes that grate. They're determined to raise girls no matter what they've got. They're brainwashed and silly.

I've got a friend whose step-son has one of these "new" names and he's now a target - can barely go to school because the other kids have smelled his weakness. His mom's a total lib (and totally unreasonable) without a clue how to manage what's happening to her son. I told them to teach him to fight and tell him to - and force him to go to school - but all that did was get them made at me, the token conservative in their lives. They'd rather have him be the campus weirdo, treated like Marty McFly.

That kid's got a long road to walk before he'll ever get any peace.; 11/11/10, 11:27 PM
jamboree said...: Gotta stick up for "Chad". My second grade crush was named Chad. He was the first guy I ever thought was HOT. Blonde, yes, but definitely all boy.

And before you ask, yes, I really did think that way in second grade. I'm not just being facetious. I doubt I had the words, but the impulse behind the words was there.

I don't know about "Max" which sounds quirky, but maybe the Moms are just naming them things they thought were be a good cool guy's name.

Anyway, I hated my name (female), but I grew into it and now I love it.; 11/11/10, 11:33 PM
David said...: 1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Alexander
5. William
6. Joshua
7. Daniel
8. Jayden
9. Noah
10. Anthony

Mostly Old Testament, Old Greek, Old Roman.

With the possible exception of Alexander, King David would have kicked their asses. David was a Man-King Bad Boy.

WTF Jayden?

And where does Hay-Sus fit in to all this?; 11/11/10, 11:35 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Jesus is number 79.

Angel comes in at 36.; 11/11/10, 11:39 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Perhaps the most attractive woman I ever worked with was nicknamed "Mac."

M, A, and C were her initials. She got the "C," and then the nickname, when she got married.

I clipped a headline from the Onion as an homage to her: "Hot Rock and Roll Chick Totally Married."; 11/11/10, 11:43 PM
Peter Hoh said...: And it would totally rock my world if Mac from Datacomp was lurking on these threads.; 11/11/10, 11:44 PM
Palladian said...: "Gotta stick up for "Chad". My second grade crush was named Chad. He was the first guy I ever thought was HOT. Blonde, yes, but definitely all boy."

The first boy I remember having a crush on, in first grade, was named Lance.

Yeah, I've been drawn to long, hard, thrusting, penetrating things for a very long time.; 11/12/10, 12:11 AM
Alex said...: No wonder Jeremy is so angry at the world. Everyone named Jeremy gets their ass kicked in school.; 11/12/10, 12:21 AM
bagoh20 said...: Get me my gun. I'm pissed now.; 11/12/10, 12:48 AM
Methadras said...: Now we know why the name Eugene doesn't exist anymore.; 11/12/10, 12:57 AM
jr565 said...: They should name him Big Richard Dick Johnson; 11/12/10, 1:02 AM
Anonymous said...: Harry Big Richard Dick Johnson; 11/12/10, 1:03 AM
Coldstream said...: With the kid doomed to go by "Max" he's been set up with one of the most masculine names ever.

For example, can one do better than Staff Sgt Max Fightmaster?

http://tinyurl.com/6oaoez; 11/12/10, 1:14 AM
Coldstream said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/12/10, 1:14 AM
Anonymous said...: Max is a ridiculously masculine name. Who is badder-ass than Mad Max? (The first one, not the crap with Tina Turner...); 11/12/10, 1:17 AM
William said...: Names are more predictive than you might imagine. I read somewhere that a statistically high number of people named Dennis go on to become dentists.; 11/12/10, 1:24 AM
Anonymous said...: I have also noticed that guys named Snoop and MC seem to become rap artists with some frequency.; 11/12/10, 1:29 AM
William said...: By the same principle, I bet a lot of kids named Maximilan end up rich.; 11/12/10, 1:33 AM
PatHMV said...: Apparently, some people believe that being gay is an in-born trait, not susceptible of being changed by any force known to man, but being masculine is purely a matter of nurture and socialization.; 11/12/10, 1:53 AM
bagoh20 said...: Some people named Hussein end President of the United States. Now that is some crazy shit.; 11/12/10, 1:58 AM
Methadras said...: PatHMV said...

Apparently, some people believe that being gay is an in-born trait, not susceptible of being changed by any force known to man, but being masculine is purely a matter of nurture and socialization.

You bring up a good point. Behold the type of (non)masculine:

http://gawker.com/5472263/a-handy-guide-to-all-gay-men

All contrived. All of it.; 11/12/10, 2:30 AM
Methadras said...: It doesn't list all the flavors, but it's enough to get started.; 11/12/10, 2:39 AM
Fred Drinkwater said...: A guy in my (1972) highschool was named, I kid you not, Guy Jett.; 11/12/10, 3:06 AM
Methadras said...: Fred Drinkwater said...

A guy in my (1972) highschool was named, I kid you not, Guy Jett.

Nice.; 11/12/10, 3:24 AM
The Scythian said...: I think it's really crazy that young upper middle class parents genuinely believe that they're intelligent enough to socially engineer their children via the names they give them.

The degree of self-importance necessary for that kind of thinking is totally alien to me.; 11/12/10, 3:35 AM
Anonymous said...: Things change, always :); 11/12/10, 3:37 AM
The Scythian said...: I hereby coin the term "dipshiterati" to refer to people like those quoted in the article.

Example of the term's use:

"The dipshiterati give their kids really dumb names specifically to challenge gender stereotypes."; 11/12/10, 3:40 AM
tim maguire said...: What amuses me so much about this story of gender neutral names is that the kid's name is "Max"--one of the most masculine names on the menu.; 11/12/10, 4:58 AM
ddh said...: “Among my generation of parents, our nontraditional boys’ names—vaguely androgynous, nonmacho, or just plain unique—reflect our own desire to raise sons who will be as comfortable pushing dolls in strollers as pushing trucks,” said Deborah Siegel, Ph.D., author of Sisterhood, Interrupted and founding partner of SheWrites, whose 1-year-old son is named Teo. “But what I wonder is this: Will a boy by a different name really be that much more sweet?"

I bet Dr. Siegel et al. never heard Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue," preferably the Folsom Prison version.; 11/12/10, 5:09 AM
AllenS said...: Dweezil Zappa; 11/12/10, 5:18 AM
Lisa said...: My four year old is who he is. His name means strength but this list considers it less than masculine. He likes superheroes and pink pants.

He's empathetic and impulsive. Pushing to get a toy in one minute and hugging in apology the next when he realizes he upset someone.

He's a great kid and I (in my highly biased opinion) think he will be a great man.

Anyone concerned that his Old Testament* yet somehow feminine name will emasculate him is an idiot.

*Actually the term Old Testament is offensive but I don't think most of the readers would have understood the reference had I said traditional Hebrew name.; 11/12/10, 5:49 AM
The Dude said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/12/10, 6:03 AM
TML said...: Clearly naming "industry" posers need to adopt the MST3K method of manly naming algorithms. Stump Hugelarge. Done and done.

http://mst3k.wikia.com/wiki/12_to_the_Moon

Cliff Beefpile
Sledge Riprock
Tank Concrete
Bronc Drywall
Stump Hugelarge
Chunk Pylon
Chunk Manmusk.
Ron Codpiece
Sledge Fisthammer.
Clint Stompheader.
Chuck Hardslab
Chunk Ironchest; 11/12/10, 6:29 AM
tim maguire said...: Lisa, the traditional Hebrew name (which most or all of us would, in fact, recognize) is offensive. It is the Old Testament.; 11/12/10, 6:30 AM
AllenS said...: Ben Dover, famous physician.; 11/12/10, 6:31 AM
MC said...: My first boy will be called Long Cock Johnson.

Fuck yeah.; 11/12/10, 6:47 AM
kjbe said...: ripic, my nephew's given name is Jacob and his parents ( and the rest of us) call him Jake. What's your point?; 11/12/10, 7:15 AM
Anonymous said...: The writer and the subjects of this story are horrible assholes.

That about sums it up.; 11/12/10, 7:18 AM
Kit Pollard said...: I can't believe the article doesn't mention that three of the ten fastest rising names come from the Twilight books (Jasper, Emmett and Cullen).

Somehow I doubt most moms (and it is definitely moms) who name their kids Emmett are doing so in search of a "non-gendered ideal." Yes, they're feminized vampires, but they're still vampires.

I find naming trends so interesting, but think that Laura Wattenberg (http://www.babynamewizard.com/blog)does a much better job theorizing about what names mean than the author of this article does. Plus, Wattenberg has created a cool tool (the NameVoyager) that charts name popularity over time.; 11/12/10, 7:21 AM
DADvocate said...: Jesus is number 79.

In Spanish Jesus is pronounced "Hey, Zeus." Makes you think, doesn't it?

Max is pretty damn masculine but he'll be hiding the "field" part until he's out of college.

Apparently, some people believe that being gay is an in-born trait, not susceptible of being changed by any force known to man, but being masculine is purely a matter of nurture and socialization.

Well said. I'm keeping this one in my memory bank.

Most masculine name ever? Clint Eastwood.; 11/12/10, 7:29 AM
KCFleming said...: In grade school I knew a kid named Michael Hundt. Mike for short.

At morning roll call the teacher would say Mike Hundt, and we would all mutter Your what?

One of the many things I am going to hell for. But really, what were his parents thinking?

Turns out, he voted for Obama.; 11/12/10, 7:32 AM
KCFleming said...: If they are intent on avoiding preconceptions and want to see their young nontraditional vegan male as unique, why not name him:

Percival
Fergilicious
Diabetes (sounds Greek)
Wombat
Pussy
Riboflavin
Mr. Mxyzptlk
Smoketoomuch
Poontang
Homohammed
Thong
Femmebot
Sorbitol
G-spot
Seepage
Queef
Latrine
Stiletto
Boner
Harlequin
42DoubleD?

I mean, ferchrissakes, is that the best they can do?; 11/12/10, 7:43 AM
DADvocate said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/12/10, 7:53 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Apparently, some people believe that being gay is an in-born trait, not susceptible of being changed by any force known to man, but being masculine is purely a matter of nurture and socialization.

Yep:

Blind to everything they do - and gratuitously insulting to every man they encounter.

Pogo,

Diabetes (sounds Greek)

First laugh of the day - thanks!; 11/12/10, 7:58 AM
erictrimmer said...: Two sons, Max Franklin and Zeke Benjamin. If we have another son, I'd like him to be Benjamin Franklin but my wife won't go for it.

Max was a compromise. I wanted Maximilian, like the evil red robot in The Black Hole. But my wife convinced me to go with Max, like "Mad Max."

I still want a son named Samson, but I don't think that's going to happen.

WV: pansi; 11/12/10, 8:09 AM
Fernandinande said...: Choosing a kid's name to impress your friends is less expensive than most status-seeking activities, but also far lamer.; 11/12/10, 8:13 AM
campy said...: We went retro when we named our daughters back in the 80s. The older one is Susan and her sister is Darlene.; 11/12/10, 8:22 AM
Anonymous said...: How is it possible that we're talking about weird names here on Althouse and it hasn't turned into a Sarah Palin thread?; 11/12/10, 8:26 AM
Fred4Pres said...: Why not name him "Kick Me"? Same result.; 11/12/10, 8:28 AM
TMink said...: What's in a name? That which we call a man by any other name would be as dangerous.

Just fear of masculinity.

Trey; 11/12/10, 8:34 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Gaylord. There's a name you don't see much any more.

We know a guy, an older guy, named Gay Johnson.; 11/12/10, 8:36 AM
Anonymous said...: raise those sons in ways that are consistent with the name’s meaning of “gentle chief” (as Middlemiss says she has): attending the Unitarian Church, not playing with guns,

Good luck with that guns thing. I have seen a four year old boy turn a Barbie into a gun.; 11/12/10, 8:37 AM
MadisonMan said...: said Deborah Siegel, Ph.D.

How is her PhD relevant to the topic?

Poser alert. I will bet the topic has the word social or studies.; 11/12/10, 8:40 AM
KCFleming said...: @Class factotum
"I have seen a four year old boy turn a Barbie into a gun."

Ha! A "no toy guns in my house" neighbor was horrified when my oldest boy, also around four, made a piece of toast into a gun.

Ever notice that boys do great gun sound effects, that elude most girls?; 11/12/10, 8:42 AM
Joan said...: Kit Pollard, I made that same observation on the comment thread over there yesterday. Struck me immediately upon seeing the list. Then again, I have an adolescent daughter, so I'm in the demographic that would recognize such a thing. It totally cracked me up.

And if you didn't know, Jayden is what Britney Spears named one of her sons. Celebrities wield enormous influence on baby-naming, especially when babies of very young mothers.; 11/12/10, 8:49 AM
Third Coast said...: For older football fans, Steve Stonebreaker, middle linebacker.; 11/12/10, 8:51 AM
Drew said...: Top 25 Masculine Names:

1. Slab Bulkhead
2. Bridge Largemeat
3. Punt Speedchunk
4. Butch Deadlift
5. Hold Bigflank
6. Splint Chesthair
7. Flint Ironstag
8. Bolt Vanderhuge
9. Thick McRunfast
10. Blast Hardcheese
11. Buff Drinklots
12. Crunch Slamchest
13. Fist Rockbone
14. Stump Beefnaught
15. Smash Lampjaw
16. Punch Rockgroin
17. Buck Plankchest
18. Stump Junkman
19. Dirk Hardpec
20. Rip Steakface
21. Slate Slabrock
22. Crud Bonemeal
23. Brick Hardmeat
24. Rip Slagcheek
25. Punch Sideiron; 11/12/10, 8:51 AM
X said...: nobody names their kids Longshanks anymore. sad.; 11/12/10, 8:52 AM
dbp said...: ET1492 said...
Max was a compromise. I wanted Maximilian, like the evil red robot in The Black Hole. But my wife convinced me to go with Max, like "Mad Max."

Reminds me of the fight over our 3rd daughter: I wanted Jemmima but the wife wouldn't budge, so we settled on Jemma. We were well aware that the traditional spelling of Jemma is Gemma, but the G way seems too likely to be mispronounced.

We had Calvin picked-out as a son's name, but never had a boy. We toyed with Kelvin, which we though was both cool and hot at the same time, but he would probably be called Calvin all the time anyway.; 11/12/10, 8:55 AM
kjbe said...: When we were looking at names, we went with family names, so the popular name list was not considered. That said, my husband personally eliminated his father-in-law's name, George.

I love the over-macho of my youngest nephew's name, Jack Mitchell. I guess my bro-in-law didn't get the memo. I have visions of an English, WWII fighter pilot...; 11/12/10, 8:55 AM
oleh said...: Look far enoguh back in history and many of these allegedly amasculine gentle names were carried by rapists and pillagers. Seems that this story is more a tale about the ahistorical quality of the perpetual American revolution, and less a story on how things are changing.

As the biys grow up the hostorical baggage of these names will be dug up again.; 11/12/10, 9:00 AM
KCFleming said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/12/10, 9:04 AM
KCFleming said...: "We toyed with Kelvin..."

While waiting to testify against a juvenile miscreant in court the other day, I heard the mother of another young defendant waiting for his time on the dock to arrive complain to her friend that the prosecutor who called his name kept pronouncing it "Kelvin" when it was really "KelVON".

KelVON seemed to be a frequent flyer at juvi court, so maybe she thought they'd quit making that mistake. She didn't seem as concerned that he was in court again, as much as that when they pronounce him guilty, they should pronounce it correctly.; 11/12/10, 9:06 AM
Drew said...: Had we had any boys, at least one of them (perhaps both!) would have been named Titus Andrew. My wife wasn't exactly thrilled, but since the other option was August Wilhelm (or Wilhelm August) she relented.

However, both were girls and both given properly feminine, non-trendy names.

So I'm thinking that I need a couple hunting dogs.; 11/12/10, 9:11 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: There is a businessman (trucking company) in our area who has the first name of Shirley. Not only that he is a Shirley Jr. Two generations of men named Shirley.

It is actually a family name and was historically a male name. Now "Shirley" has morphed into a female name.

And people want to make fun of the Palins for naming their children: Track, Trip, Bristol, Willow, Piper.

Seems like they are on the leading edge of trendiness. Hmmmm?; 11/12/10, 9:26 AM
Patrick said...: Coached a co-ed kids' soccer team over the summer. One kid was named Jayden. It took half of the season for me to figure out Jayden's gender. He had the whole deal: long hair, lefty mom who wouldn't even let the poor kid cross the street (at an age where that should certainly be possible), and who would come running at the first sign of the slightest hint at discomfort. The kid may well turn out just fine, but he's not likely to be "the man's man" without some intervention. Probably should have played football.; 11/12/10, 9:27 AM
MadisonMan said...: When we named the son, about a week later we realized that we should have named him something else, because he just seemed more like that second name than the moniker we saddled him with.

Oh well. He survives.

How come no one is named Five anymore?; 11/12/10, 9:40 AM
TML said...: Third Coast, who was the dude from Boeing? Harry Stonecipher?; 11/12/10, 9:47 AM
Drew said...: And people want to make fun of the Palins for naming their children: Track, Trip, Bristol, Willow, Piper.

Seems like they are on the leading edge of trendiness. Hmmmm?

You know if they were Kennedys, Track, Trip, and Trig would have been at the top of the 2009 Most Popular Boy Names list.; 11/12/10, 9:51 AM
Largo said...: Remington Steele.; 11/12/10, 9:52 AM
Drew said...: How come no one is named Five anymore?

If you really wanted to masculinitize that, you could call him "DefCon Five!" (Although I suppose "DefCon One" would be even more masculine.); 11/12/10, 10:04 AM
TMink said...: I was in a band called Buck Private and his Guitar Army.

Trey; 11/12/10, 10:06 AM
Michael said...: We just has a baby boy and named him Grayson. Sounds manly to me, but I'm not sure I know all the nuances.

His middle name is Ford which is even better.

Grayson Ford is uber-manly.; 11/12/10, 10:13 AM
Shanna said...: When we were looking at names, we went with family names, so the popular name list was not considered.

I like family names best too. My brother is named after my grandmothers (or is it great grandmothers?) maiden name and I have a cousin who is named after his mothers maiden name. (sadly, my maiden name would not work in this capacity).

This article is stupid, though. No mention of all the naming girls guy names? That seems to happen a lot more than the reverse.; 11/12/10, 10:14 AM
madAsHell said...: I was acquainted with a fellow named Clarence Earl McAdams. He called himself Earl.

One time, he asked his mother, "Why did you name me Clarence?"

His mother responded, "We named you after your uncle."

"Oh..."

"Wait a minute!!" Earl proclaimed. "I don't have an uncle named Clarence!!"

His mother replied, "Yes, you do. You know Uncle Bud!!"

True story.; 11/12/10, 10:20 AM
Paddy O said...: Palladian,

Your crush on Lance reminds me Homer Simpson's tirade:
http://www.kweer.com/homer/brucelancejulien.wav; 11/12/10, 10:27 AM
MadisonMan said...: We just has a baby boy and named him Grayson.

As in Robert Grayson, Marvel Boy, or Dick Grayson, Robin?; 11/12/10, 10:48 AM
William said...: Gaylord has gone the way of Adolph. If you name your kid Jayden, you have to hope that jay doesn't become a slang name for pedophiles.; 11/12/10, 10:51 AM
Michael said...: My wife has no idea where she got the name Grayson. I had to tell her about the Robin thing when we got a package addressed to "Master Grayson." Thanks a lot, Alfred...; 11/12/10, 10:57 AM
Drew said...: As in Robert Grayson, Marvel Boy, or Dick Grayson, Robin?

Or Alan Grayson, Congressional Psychopath?; 11/12/10, 10:59 AM
Drew said...: I apologize for the above. Luckily, Alan Grayson is being consigned to the ash heap of history.; 11/12/10, 11:00 AM
MamaM said...: We choose names for our sons after they were born, based on a list of possibilities put together before birth. We needed to see them before fitting them with their names.; 11/12/10, 11:03 AM
Trooper York said...: I played b-ball with a dude named Asborine Jr.; 11/12/10, 11:28 AM
Trooper York said...: Most masculine name ever: Sue!

And he wasn't even a lawyer!; 11/12/10, 11:33 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: We choose names for our sons after they were born, based on a list of possibilities put together before birth. We needed to see them before fitting them with their names.

That is interesting. It is what we did also. The name we thought would work, suddenly just didn't seem to fit.

Had I produced a son, I would have named him after my Grandfather.... Rhys (prounounced Reese); 11/12/10, 11:42 AM
Peter Hoh said...: Madison Man: How come no one is named Five anymore?

I know a One and a Nine.; 11/12/10, 2:48 PM
ricpic said...: k*thy - My point is that Jacob (Astor) has an upper class or at least upper class aspirant air about it, whereas Jake (La Motta) is no nonsense blue collar.; 11/12/10, 2:52 PM
ricpic said...: A Boy Named Sue was written by Shel Silverstein but legend has it the inspiration for the song came from Jean Shepherd (paging rh) who spent a boozy night relating to Silverstein how defending himself from the fists of bullies for having a sissy name toughened him up.; 11/12/10, 3:01 PM
Eric said...: There's nothing non-masculine about that group of names. Alexander at #5 - one of the greatest conquering generals that ever lived, not masculine?

Oh, and "Maxfield". You give a name to your son that's going to prompt everyone to call him "Max", and then pretend it "carries no image of masculinity"? Right.; 11/12/10, 3:06 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Max Power.; 11/12/10, 3:31 PM
William said...: Instead of more masculine names for boys, how about more feminine names for girls. A girl named Pudenza, Clitoralee, Vulvette, or Labiana would have her pick of suitors.; 11/12/10, 5:00 PM
ddh said...: Not to mention Fellatia.; 11/12/10, 5:18 PM
MamaM said...: Back in the 50's we listened to a children's record of Carl Sandburg reading one of his stories entitled The Five Marvelous Pretzels, about 5 Pretzels in a bakery window who imagined themselves joining a circus. Sandburg had a deep sonorous voice and would roll the consonants and draw out the vowels whenever he'd announce the Fiiiive Maaahhhhrrvellllous Pretzels.

"And just before they run out of their dressing
rooms in pink tights and bow to the audience and
throw kisses to the audience, one kiss
with the right hand and the other
kiss with the left hand, a man
with a big musical megaphone
calls to the audience
“THE FIVE MARVELOUS PRETZELS!”
Then up in the air they go and two
of them hang by their knees
and throw the other
three pretzels back
and forth in the
air, in the
empty and
circumambient
air."

William and DDh's Five More Feminine Names made me laugh out loud and wonder how fine they would have sounded with Carl reading them off as the names of the Five Marvelous Pretzel Sisters!; 11/12/10, 6:14 PM
AST said...: My grandson's name is Taylor. As far as I'm concerned it's the girls who have taken boys' names.; 11/12/10, 8:36 PM
dick said...: I was wondering what the fashion for naming girls with boy's names plus the letter a was caused by. I went to school with girls named Roberta, Keitha, Davida,Jonna. They all seemed to come from the genertion from right before WW II. Haven't seen it since.; 11/12/10, 8:47 PM
Peter Hoh said...: Dick, wasn't that a way to name the daughter after her father or some other male relative?; 11/12/10, 11:44 PM
Anonymous said...: "*Actually the term Old Testament is offensive but I don't think most of the readers would have understood the reference had I said traditional Hebrew name."

Lisa, don't be offended. Here's what the term acknowledges: there is no New Testament without the Old Testament because the New stands firmly on the Old. To understand the New, one must read the Old to which the New constantly points.; 11/13/10, 3:55 AM