Classic Classic: The Sub-Categories
I've identified two sub-categories of Classic Classic. The "Elastic Classic Classic" and the "Also Rans".
There is a certain kind of name that has two or more variations all of which have enjoyed great popularity but not necessarily at the same time. Bounces in popularity from one form to another can usually be accounted for by the name fashions of the time. The important thing is that the name, in some form, has remained in near constant and regular use for a long time but with no one variation being able to claim itself a Classic Classic. The category does not include boys names as no male name fits the criteria.
Here are the Elastic Classic Classics:
Here are the Also Rans:
Feeling at liberty to exercise some creativity is great but its a far different thing than taking liberties while naming a girl. Feeling at liberty = Daisy. Taking liberties = Misty (or Mysteigh as it would likely be spelled today). Unfortunately, there's a school of thought that teaches that while boys need names that sound masculine and traditional and respectable, when it comes to girls you can use any thing that strikes you no matter how childish, silly or unsophisticated. But that's another entry.
There is a certain kind of name that has two or more variations all of which have enjoyed great popularity but not necessarily at the same time. Bounces in popularity from one form to another can usually be accounted for by the name fashions of the time. The important thing is that the name, in some form, has remained in near constant and regular use for a long time but with no one variation being able to claim itself a Classic Classic. The category does not include boys names as no male name fits the criteria.
Here are the Elastic Classic Classics:
- Juliana/Julia/Julie
- Anna/Ann(e)
- Christian/Christiana/Christina/Christine
Here are the Also Rans:
- Rachel
- Laura
- Rebecca
- Alice
- Margaret
- Eleanor
- Emma
- Victoria
- Lucia/Lucy
- Isabella
- Grace
- Andrew
- Daniel
- David
- Edward
- Henry
- George
- Charles
- Matthew
- Paul
- George
- Richard
- Adam
- Alexander
Feeling at liberty to exercise some creativity is great but its a far different thing than taking liberties while naming a girl. Feeling at liberty = Daisy. Taking liberties = Misty (or Mysteigh as it would likely be spelled today). Unfortunately, there's a school of thought that teaches that while boys need names that sound masculine and traditional and respectable, when it comes to girls you can use any thing that strikes you no matter how childish, silly or unsophisticated. But that's another entry.
2 comments:
There's a kid in my daughter's class named "Briley."
Please explain this? (And do you think it boy or girl)
I think it's darn right wierd. I've thought approaching mom and saying, "Wow! Briley.. howdya come up with that one?" But I haven't had the guts.
The point of the whole thing is that you don't know if its a boy or a girl! Whee! That means its probably a girl because giving a girl a boy's name will make her stronger and more assertive...you know like a boy. If you give her a girl's name then she will be all girly and we know that girls are bad. So, the way to make girls better is to make them more like boys. No pink, no dollies, no dresses, no girl names.
Its feminism gone wrong.
I wish I could tell you that this sort of name is unusual but its far from it. Its a major trend and has been for a while now. Briley is probably the spawn of Riley and the family of Br- names that are popular...Brandon, Brianna, Brittany etc.
Post a Comment