Over recent decades, a notable shift has occurred in how Americans choose names for their children. In the past, parents often selected names that helped their children blend in, whereas today, many prefer names that stand out.
Laura Wattenberg, founder of the naming trends website Namerology, told The Atlantic that in 1950, approximately 28% of babies were given common names. By 2023, this percentage has decreased to just 7%.
Wattenberg explained, “We are in an era where having a distinctive and unique name is seen as a positive trait.” The drive for uniqueness can sometimes lead parents to choose names that may later pose challenges for their children.
Research indicates that having an uncommon name can negatively impact a child’s social and economic opportunities.
A recent debate on Reddit highlights this issue. A father-to-be shared his disagreement with his pregnant wife over naming their daughter. In a post on the AITA (Am I the Asshole) forum, user NeverlyLane asked if he was wrong for rejecting his wife’s unconventional name suggestions.
“I proposed my favorite name, Anna. My wife suggested Caeleigh (pronounced Kailey and she even provided the pronunciation). I vetoed it,” the husband wrote.
“She then proposed Ryleigh (pronounced Riley, and again, she provided the pronunciation). I rejected that, too, and suggested Riley spelled the traditional way. She refused. Next, she suggested Novalynn. I vetoed that and proposed Nora instead. She again refused,” he continued.
The mother’s attempts to be unique by using creative spellings like “Leigh” instead of “ly” are part of a broader trend in baby names.
The expecting mother was frustrated by the rejections and expressed her anger. “What’s the point of discussing names if you just veto all my choices? You are a controlling jerk!” she exclaimed. “Maybe if you chose something normal, we might progress, but you won’t even compromise!” the husband replied.
Seeking validation, he shared the exchange on Reddit, where most commenters supported him.
“You’re doing the right thing by rejecting these names,” wrote Cautious-Spited. “Thank you for considering your child's future. People should avoid giving their kids names that will be difficult to pronounce or spell throughout their lives,” added Reb-Lev.
“How about suggesting brockleigh?” joked throwaway6827206t.
“Even if mom can’t see it now, she might understand if she imagines being the child and constantly explaining or correcting the pronunciation and spelling of their name—substitute teachers, doctor’s appointments, and new professional encounters all the time. It’s not a burden you should impose on your child just to make the name seem more interesting,” advised RavenWood_9.
After reading the comments, the wife agreed that her name choices were unconventional. The couple eventually settled on Reya Annaliese as their primary choice, with Mercy, Freya, and Eloise as backups.