If you already have your heart set on a name for your baby, you may want to stop reading now. If you couldn't care less what anyone else thinks and won't break into tears at the sight of seeing your future child's name on the 10 Most Hated Baby Name list, then proceed. I warn you, however, that it can be brutal to see one's choice sitting there after all the painstaking debate and devotion that go into choosing just the right name.
The list comes from Laura Wattenberg, author of The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby. She conducted an "informal" study and came up with the list. In general she found people hate "gender-bending" names in which a masculine name becomes feminine -- like Addison or Madison.
As well, people despise trendy names ... though obviously not everyone does or they wouldn't be trendy, right? Also on the list of hate are names that are difficult to spell (Kaitlyn) and those that are similar versions of other names (Jayden, Brayden, and Kayden).
Here's the full list (with notes from Live Science) ... brace yourself:
Girls
- Nevaeh ("heaven" spelled backward and one of the most divisive names around, according to Wattenberg)
- Destiny (people dislike names that confer a virtue onto a child, Wattenberg said -- and many associated this name with exotic dancers)
- Madison
- Mackenzie
- McKenna
- Addison (an example of a masculine named turned feminine, which many people dislike, Wattenberg said)
- Gertrude (people said this name is "ugly")
- Kaitlyn (for its "made-up" spelling)
- Makayla
- Bertha (author's note: duh!)
Boys
- Jayden
- Brayden
- Aiden
- Kaden (these rhyming names struck many as overdone, Wattenberg reported)
- Hunter (too much like a last name or "too violent")
- Hayden
- Bentley (people dislike brand-name names, Wattenberg found, calling them "trashy")
- Tristan
- Michael (too boring, according to some)
- Jackson
I'm surprised to see some of them there -- especially Michael, and Kaitlyn doesn't seem that strangely spelled to me. But some of them, yeah ... "Bentley," really?
Still, if you love a name, it's your baby, and you get to decide. Don't let the haters color your opinion of a name you love ... just know that your child may be among those who hate it too.
What do you think of the baby names on this most hated list? Are your children's names on it? Do you care?
Image via Julien Haler/Flickr
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Comments 491
Michelle, you are missing my point. Your children's names are unusual but not trendy. I'm sure there weren't several Nelsons in your son's class. (BTW, my son graduated from the Air Force Academy)
How many Codys or Destinys graduated from those schools? Probably not too many Kaydens and Jaydens will be there either. Spare me the trendy soap opera names! Today's Caitlyn is tomorrow's Doris.
my DD is not on this list, but i gotta say i love the name Bentley for a boy ! it should not be on that list imo ! :)
What the hell is "made up spelling".... didn't someone make up EVERY name and every word at some point. Isn't there more than one way to spell a name? Some people need to get lives, because obviously they have nothing better to do than pore over and criticize the choices of others.
OK, this is going to take two posts, lol.
Cherylmarie, I do think I understand the point you are trying to make. In my classes this year, I had six girls named some form of Alexis or Alexandria. All had different spellings, and all wanted to be called by different nicknames. I even had a Ryder, Ryan, and Rylan. Guess which was the girl. Yep, the Ryan. And I could go on. Of course, I have had my share of Princesses and Damiens, but I truly try not to judge any student by their given name. I've had Damiens who've acted like Princes and, well you get the point.
I know it sometimes seems parents aren't really thinking through the possible name choices, but even through a traditional lense, you have to agree that too many uses of the most common names is inherently problematic as well. With the current influx of diverse cultures entering our school system, I just don't believe we can entertain ideas that pigeonhole students based on their given names. Names are becoming as diverse as the cultures themselves. Interestingly, in my area, the fastest growing language spoken at home for new English Language Learners is Tagolog. Just one decade ago, I hadn't even heard of the language. I believe our country and our higher learning institutions will adjust as these changes continue. Until then, we need to set the example.
A let me just say, congratulations on your son's Air Force Academy acomplishments. I know personally the sacrafices your son, you, and your family have made. Kudos, Michelle