What do you think of when you hear of the name Kendall for a girl?
I like it. It is not a name that is heard of often and believe me that is what you want. There is nothing like going to your childs class and there be 4 or 5 children with the same name because it is popular.
What do you think of when you hear the name Benjamin/Ben?
I think of my best friend in high school. I think of an artistic, solid, dependable guy with a cool, relaxed outlook on life. LOVE the name. Love it. Benjamin could cover any age bracket at all, and it could be any religion. (Maybe not Shinto...but hey.) A Benjamin could be a doctor, a lawyer, a police officer, a plumber, a scientist, or just about anything. Just never call a kid "Benji". He will hate it when he's older and it's really hard for a family to break the habit once it's formed.
What is the cringiest name you have seen/heard given to a child?
I used to work in a community centre and we would do registrations for things like kids programs, swimming lessons etc. One day a woman came in and wanted to register her daughter. Our system was account based so if your registered anywhere in the city before it would remember you. I’ve seen all sorts of names that are cringey and I myself have an uncommon name that my mother added an extra vowel to, so I’m always careful to spell my name out to people when required.That said this woman rolls up with her daughter and wants to register for a program. No problem.Me: Your child’s name? Is she in our system?Her: Megan ABCXYZ (obviously surname changed, but a very typical last name) and yes she has.Me: No problem…I begin with the typical spelling of Megan and I get no hits, so I try Meghan with the h. Nothing. I try spelling the last name slightly different and still nothing. I ask the lady, spelling the last name back to her, if it’s correct and she agrees I had it right the first time.Me: Are you sure she’s in the system? Is it a Megan with or without and H?Lady: No H and yes she’s been coming for years.Me: Okay.I try again and still nothing.Me: I’m sorry ma’am, I can’t seem to find her in the system. Are you sure she’s been in the system before here in /city/?Lady: She’s in there! I use the system all the time online!The lady is getting annoyed so I do my best to search her daughter and still have no luck. At this point the lady is flabbergasted with me so I turn my monitor for her to see.Me: You’re sure I’ve spelt the last name correctly?Lady after looking at the monitor: Yes but you spelt her first name wrong.Me: But you said no H.Her: You forgot the x.Me: …. the x?At this point now I’m annoyed because where the heck in MEGAN does an X go?Me: I’m sorry, but here does the x go?Lady: In the middle. M E G X A N.Me: wkdnfirsaafbeksskxjrb Okay.I type it in, find her, register her and they’re on their merry way.I mean I get that people have every right to call their kids whatever they want but to add a random as all get out letter and NOT mention it at all… come on now!
What do you think when you hear the name Caroline?
The song by outkast lol Caroline she's the reason for the word b***h (b***h) I hope she's speeding on her way to the club Try to hurry up and get to the bar...somebody like that Try to put her makeup on in the mirror And crash, crash, crash Into a ditch lol anyway...sounds oldish to me
What do you think of when you hear the name Sebastian Cole Rowbotham and Jasmine Renee Rowbotham?
I agree---they are Disney names. I think of them as white upper-middle class suburban names, parents in debt up to their eyeballs trying desperately to keep up appearances, and one phone call away from having the Super Nanny visit.
Who do you imagine when you hear this name.....?
Brooke - popular girl. parties, dances on tables... etc etc etc Danielle- kind, sweet, artsy, poetic Sienna- snowboarder Carys- fun loving soccer player Lacy- gorgeous, fashionista, knows what she wants and isnt afraid to chase after it Kyla- horseback rider, loves animals Miranda- the "best friend" in all of the sitcoms Amanda- the annoying girl who sits next to you in math Audrey- Hepburn!! Megan- square face. loves theatre and boys Linley- artsy, loves to paint and design clothes. loves to be in love Catherine- catholic school girl in massachusetts Fiona- princess from the 1800s Kayden- soccer player. loves to have fun Holly- loves christmas, loves to plan parties Layton- popular girl April- daddy's girl Camden- super sporty. loves to show her stuff Lynette- mom Jenna - party girl to the max Faith- another catholic school girl Tessa- cheerleader. owns every ipod and cell phone imaginable Macyn- never been kissed Trenton- the typical bully Lukas- loves to rock Nash- another rocker. in a boy band Marshall- mommys boy James- honors classes since kindergarden Scott- quarterback Seth - another boy band kid Harvey- motorcycle rider Dean- owns a bakery Nathan- loves to make movies Ryan- has the perfect girlfriend Gavin- new girl every week Blake- i just keep thinking of blake lively! this was fun!!
What personality comes to mind when you hear the name Andrew?
Do you see a really sweet, shy kid? A sporty, outgoing, popular kid? Smart or not so smart? Funny? Artistic? Nerdy? Ect. What occupation do you see a young man with this name going into/a child with this name wanting to be as an adult? BQ: What's a good middle name to go along with Andrew? - I was thinking Andrew Thomas, Andrew David, Andrew Scott, or maybe Andrew Henry?
What kind of person comes to mind when you hear these names?
Natalie- A quiet child. Tina- Short for Christina Tiffany- Stripper Natasha- I always think of a Russian woman, lol Stacy- Very 90's April- Cute name Diane- Princess Diana Kylie/ Kayleigh/ Kaylee- Kylie is cute Vanessa- Hudgens. Sydney- Australia Shannon- Tweed. Roxanne- Roxy Heart, from Chicago Suki- From Gilmore Girls...I like this one! Nicole- Very nice Christie- Christine. Hannah- Mousy girl Hailey- Lovely Name Sarah- Overused Katie- Overused Abby- Abigail Erica- I have never liked this name =/ Leah- Very cute Germaine- Not fond of Good luck! xoxo Meg
Aren't these child reality shows a kind of child labour in the name of 'talent'?
Yes, yes they are. They are not just child labor, they are ‘exploitation’. How many of these children do you hear from again?They are paraded around like objects, made to do things and say things that children their age have no business knowing about. They are laughed at, ogled, forced to beg for votes and if they’re unlucky enough to come from a poor socioeconomic background that is made public to the entire nation with sad background music and sympathetic uber-rich judges place serious expressions on their faces and give them hugs.Then I wonder, do these kids even want fame and fortune? Maybe a few of them do, but I get that most of them are the result of parents forcing their dreams on their kids. Because a six-year old will be happy whether he gets applause from an audience of five or five hundred. It’s the parents that are in it for the fame and money.They should be banned. People that think it’s okay to play around with the emotions of children, ‘eliminate’ them and try to emotionally manipulate the audience with sad children should be made to listen Dhinchak Pooja’s songs on repeat for a year without breaks.