Have you ever thought, ¨geez, I wish my name was more unique¨? That might just change for newer generations, as in recent years, unique names have risen in popularity. Celebrities like YouTuber Trisha Paytas and influencer Nara Smith are naming their children quirky names like Aquamarine and Slim Easy, just to name a couple. Many have taken up the trend and are giving their own kids a unique name as well, and if it’s a common name by pronunciation, it’s usually an unconventional spelling.
In a world where being unique boosts popularity, especially online, where considerations like search engine optimization (SEO) are paramount, it’s no wonder that influencers are at the heart of this trend. Sometimes, it seems like they do it just for that “shock value” to boost their following, which is quite sad considering they’re naming their baby for the rest of their life. Even with that in mind, many people don’t think of the repercussions of giving a baby an outwardly odd name, like a popular movie character, or even a randomized combination of words can affect a child’s life. Children get bullied for basically everything, including names, and kids with these more abstract names are more susceptible to being teased over a choice their parents made, while not taking into account the hardships it could leave for them.
“I think it depends on how extreme the case is because in some cases it gives a person personality and makes them stand out so people remember them, but in other cases, I think the names are damaging to the person, especially in earlier years when they can’t control it or change the name,” Xavier Vital-Shwartz (10) said. “It seems like an easy way for the child to get picked on, but also when looking for jobs and opportunities, [it] could create very weird and damaging impressions.”
Another aspect people don’t seem to think of when naming their kids is that if everyone names their kid something unique, then it isn’t necessarily unique anymore—and, thus, everyone is boring again. This is an ongoing problem even within other trends such as fashion. Consider, for example, the Labubu craze. Everyone wanted one because it was unique and different, but now it’s so popular that it’s not even “special” anymore. It’s sad for the more creatively minded, maybe, but sometimes people have to be “boring” and adhere to the common norms to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.
“Many parents want their child to stand out and not blend in with every ‘Emma’ or ‘Liam’ in class,” Lizbeth Castillo(11) said. “A unique name feels like giving their child a special identity right from birth. Sometimes that ‘weird’ name can be significant to the family or related to culture.”
However, naming a kid something like Apple, like Coldplay singer Chris Martin and “Iron Man” actor Gwyneth Paltrow did, isn’t always bad! Sometimes it can give them the individuality and boost in profile that they may need in life. Other celebrities who give their kids different names, like hip hop stars Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who named their daughter Blue Ivy, haven’t caught the same kind of flak. Not only does this come across as more favorable compared to, say, “My Name Is Earl” actor Jason Lee’s son Pilot Inspektor, but it also helps that she is a known confident public figure who has a name herself that sticks in your brain and isn’t forgettable.
On the other hand, Paytas naming her kid Malibu Barbie has precipitated rumors that it was a stunt to put her in the spotlight again. Add to this that it is also potentially putting her child’s future at stake with such a recognisable and rare name, the choice ultimately becomes more about the parent than the child. Sure, many celebrities don’t just have usual names, but they almost always have a name that is aesthetically pleasing yet easy to remember and still unique enough that when you hear it, you think of them immediately.
Hopefully, Gen Z and Gen Alpha learn from this and just sit down to think of these repercussions our future children will have to face during their peak development. Of course, depending on the name, the parent, and the personality, it all depends on how others respond and how the child learns how to embrace it!
