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:

• Juliana/Julia/Julie
• Anna/Ann(e)
• Christian/Christiana/Christina/Christine

The Also Rans are names that would have made the Classic Classic list but for falling out of regular usage for some short, but not totally insignificant, period of time. Many of these names are experiencing a current loss of favor but have been otherwise immensely popular throughout history. Some have been popular for much of the current era but experienced a lull in some previous time. Even during their lulls these names continued to be used albeit quietly.

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

There are more classic names for boys than for girls in all sub-categories. This is because naming trends for girls tend to change more frequently and people are more creative when naming girls. There seems to be less pressure to give girls family names freeing people to use less traditional names.

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.

The Classic Classics

I wanted to do an entry about the "Possible New Classics" which are names that seemed like they were part of a hot trend but may be able to make the leap to being a "New Classic". However, before I addressed the topic of the Possible New Classics I had to deal with the issue of the "Classic Classics". These are names that have remained enormouosly popular for a long time. How long? I don't know. Long. Since at least medieval times but let's not ruin this by getting too attached to numbers. They are names you find time and again used for royalty of yore as well as for biblical and other important literary and historical figures.

In order to be a Classic Classic a name has to be more than old. Something about Classic Classic names keep them from feeling dated which means that a name may be classical and yet not qualify as a Classic. Irene, for example, is a classical name but definitely feels a little musty (which actually makes it perfect for a modern child but that's another entry). The Classic Classics may not cause your pulse to race with excitement but rarely will they invite negative feelings based solely on the name alone (names cannot be held responsible for any personal associations you may have with them).

If these names were an item of clothing they'd be a white shirt; not flashy but always appropriate; not a runway showstopper but always in style. Another defining characteristic is that you probably know of several people in every age group with these names.

So, here is my list of the Classic Classic Names. It does not account for the many spelling variations that exist for each name:

• Sarah
  
• Elizabeth
• Catherine*
• Mary

• James
• John
• William
• Thomas
• Robert

You could argue in favor of a lot of names that aren't on this list but I think that based on my criteria these are the only ones that have transcended time without ever falling out favor. Henry, for instance, certainly has been used repeatedly for royalty and has been attached to any number of literary characters, sports figures, actors, heads of state etc. Henry, however, fell very much of out favor in the middle portion of the 20th century and is only recently experiencing a bit of a revival.

But I'll field any arguments in favor of other names that you feel deserve a spot on this list. Usage is usually confined to the English speaking world.

Popularity of names in the modern era were taken from the Social Security Administration's web site which lists popularity charts of names by decade.

*Catherine on its own often looks deceptively low (too low to be considered "enormously" popular though still high enough to be considered popular) on some popularity lists of the modern era. However, if you combine it with Katherine and Kathryn the name shoots up...usually to the top 10.

The Case Against Junior: Part II or The Case Against Junior, Jr.

The father of Courteney Cox of "Friends" fame is Richard Cox. Richard. Cox. Okay. Not his fault. Sometimes in this life you draw the short straw.

But what could possibly explain Courteney Cox having a brother named Richard Cox?

Nothing but hubris and pure, uncut stubborn. Say what you will about Richard Cox, Sr. but this is a guy who was clearly very firm rigid well, he stood up for his beliefs er, he was a man who believed in stuff and kept believing in them even in the face of certain ridicule.

The very fact that I am ridiculing a man that was very possibly a wonderful person...probably a million and one times better than I could ever hope to be...is my attempt to further prove that it doesn't pay to be overly prideful when naming our children.

I can hear the reasons, "Its not like we'll ever call him Dick!" I'm sure the same thing was said by the adoring parents of Richard Hunt from my school days. But no matter how many times the diminutive Master Hunt quietly suggested that he preferred to be called "Ricky" the kids refused to comply. Some kids are like that. Especially the ones that are kids.

"We can't make decisions based on the juvenile behavior of others." Noble but then its always easy to be noble when someone else has to bear the burden of our cause.

"Its tradition and we are strong! We're the Family Cox! We can take a lic We can perservere. Its what we do."

I'm all for tradition. I even observe a few traditions of my own. But not at any cost and not at the cost of my child's self-esteem. Because, even with a name that doesn't invite teasing, life is "nasty, brutish and short". Life will test them and give them obstacles to overcome without my help. Isn't part of our job as parents to help smooth the way for our children? I'm not saying we should get down and iron the road so its completely flat but maybe just not throw bits of broken glass down onto the path. And then hide their shoes. Just saying.

If, in your own childhood, you had fallen out of tree in such a way that it caused your nose to take a wicked dog-leg left that led the other kids to call you names and just generally poke fun...and if you managed to overcome that and live a happy and fulfilling life...would you then look at your infant son and say, "Son, I love you. I want you to be all that you can be. My horribly disfigured nose made me the man I am today. The kind of man I want you to be. So, you're probably not going to like this but just hold still while I..."

No. You wouldn't do that.

But Richard Cox, Sr. might.

Whatever the surname, Richard Sr. and Richard Jr. present a troubling twist on the problems of Jr. addressed in my last post. Old Dick and Young Dick? Big Dick and Little Dick?

I knew a man named Dick Skinner. This is a real story and not an urban legend like Ura Hogg (though there was an Ima Hogg), or Nosmo King or Placenta. I had a feeling that this might not be as uncommon a name as I would hope it to be so I (foolishly, very foolishly) googled the name.

I don't recommend doing that.