From the Sunday Herald:
More and more parents in America are naming their children after the most sought-after cars, popular perfumes and expensive drinks. Among the most common were 273 boys and 298 girls called Armani; 269 Chanels (all girls); 24 girls called Porsche and six male Timberlands. Also popular were Nike, Chivas Regal, Champagne, Nivea, Evian, Fanta, Guinness, Camry, Cobra, Pepsi and Lexus. One father called his son Lexxus, insisting on the extra x to make the name “more original”.
“Some parents are clearly naming their children after consumer products they aspire to own but will likely never afford,” said Cleveland Evans, an associate professor of psychology at Bellevue University in Nebraska who has studied the list of names.
“A lawyer is not going to name their child Lexus. Usually they are the ones who like antiques and dig up the old names like Abigail. It is the blue-collar workers who are looking for something modern but ritzy sounding.”
The etymology of names has always been of interest to me. Names historically have derived meaning from personality traits or values (often religious). For example, the root of Kathryn is Greek, and means “pure.” Or Asher, which is Hebrew, and is commonly given to boys — it means “blessed, happy.” (Pursue your own name scavenger hunt at BabyNames.com or many other sites like it.) What does it mean that we are now naming our children after objects marketed to us, items we would like to possess but perhaps cannot afford?
The concept of “children as property” is not new; nor has it been eradicated. In many countries, the plight of children extends beyond the misfortune of being named for a popular commodity. They often are commodities, whether it is being sold into prostitution, or into forced labor under heinous conditions working for bare survival wages. Children’s status as property also comes to light during divorce proceedings, especially during nasty custody disputes.
Just thinking “out loud.” Stirring the pot.
eeks, that’s a little scary. i just read a book that takes place in the future. the main character’s name is “beemer” which i thought weird, but i guess it’s not that far off base!
Nivea and Mercedes are both names that, despite relatively recent products bearing the same name, have been for a good long while, and enjoy a greater popularity in many Latin American countries than they do here. I’d be interested to find out whether the Nivea’s in the study are Hispanic — if so, it may not be a reflection of consumerism, but rather a named chosen for familial or ethnic reasons.
But Chevas Regal? Eeek.
On the name front: I’ve worked with a Circe and a Persis, and used to be acquainted with a Venus and a Cleopatra. :o)
Ditto with Porsche, which is a hominym with the old Germanic female name of Porscha.
Before ‘Nike’ was a shoe it was a missile. Long before that it was the Greek mythological goddess of victory.
For personal reasons I don’t think I can really comment on people that name their kids ‘Champagne’ (Boycott Champagne! Demand the real pain!) (Sorry, couldn’t resist.). After all, before Champagne was bubbly, it was a region in France. But then I’ve always been of the mind that if your name is the same as a major geographic region or country, you’re pretty much screwed. Unless you’re Indiana Jones, of course.
Yes, you’re right, some of these existed before commercial products of the same name.
In addition to what you mention, the other names that seem odd (and would be unfortunate for a name I think) are Cobra and Pepsi. Pepsi especially. Unless you had a twin named Coke, which would be twice as bad — so much so as to be humorous.
You’re right — this is just more proof that some people are having kids as toys/novelties. It reminds me of an episode of Married With Children when Kelly is introducing her latest boyfriend to her family:
“This is my brother, Bug.”
“Uh, that’s Bud. I was named after a beer, right, Dad?”
Art imitates life, and I use the word art loosely here.
what’s the meanin of PEPSI i know that’s drink but i won’t to meaning of P E P S I what’s that stand’s for ?