Naming your baby Chewbacca is not okay, Chris Martin.
“What do you think of the name Sunday Rose?” I asked my husband two
weeks ago after hearing the news about Nicole and Keith’s baby.
“Hmmmm,” he mused, pretending to think about it. “I think I prefer
Wednesday Gerbera”.
This is typical of the exchanges we have about baby names. It’s the
same every time I’m pregnant. I want to spend nine months discussing
options. He doesn’t. “It’s like an auction,” he reasons when I explode
with frustration. “All the serious action happens right at the end.”
This week he threw a new inflammatory suggestion my way. “Why don’t we
just wait until the baby’s born and then decide.” Word to the wise:
don’t antagonise the pregnant, hormonal lady. DO NOT.
“No!” I shouted while possibly stamping a foot. “No bloody way!” I
elaborated, in case my original response had not registered. “I cannot
possibly be expected to make such an important decision straight after
giving birth. I’ll be off my trolley on hormones, even more than I am
now and yes THAT IS POSSIBLE. I need time to mull over possibilities,
do you understand?”
I wonder if Nicole and Keith argued about names before settling on Sunday Rose. Everyone else certainly did. The controversy over the Kidman-Urban’s decision to call their daughter Sunday was entirely typical of the current trend for Celebrity Baby Name Bashing. Ever since poor Gwyneth called her daughter Apple, the issue of kooky names has sparked a frenzy of angry opinion. “How dare those famous idiots inflict such a stupid name on an innocent child!’ goes the basic argument.
But is it really anyone else’s business what someone chooses to name their child? Apple’s dad, Chris Martin, who, like Gwyneth, is constantly challenged about the name Apple has this to say: “There’s nothing weird about calling your baby Chewbacca if that’s what you want to call your baby. It’s no stranger than Sarah. A name is just a noise, and if you like it, then f–k what everyone else says.”
Chris, I hear you, although you lost me at Chewbacca. It’s not fair to burden a child with a name that guarantees a lifetime of teasing or – worse – incorrect spelling.
However, it is time to acknowledge that the baby name goal posts have moved. What was wacky a generation ago, is plain Jane today. Apple is unlikely to be teased in a playground full of kids called Grier, Kingston, Romeo, Cruz, Suri, Pax, Shiloh, Harlow, Hero, Zahara, Maddox, Brooklyn, Ocean, Autumn, Sonnet, True, Jagger, Jersi, Hermes, Deacon, Kal-el, Rocco, Alimayu, Kai, Kelson, Aammonn, Bluebell, Junior, Story, Ever, Princess Tiaamii, Zealand, Honor, Petah, Emme, Everly Bear, Ayeja, Iggy, Dashiel, River, Daisy Boo, Honey, Phinnaeus and Roman.
These are all real names belonging to celebrity kids born in the last few years. In that context, Apple is sounding a lot like Sarah.
I’ve become so used to wacky names that when someone I know recently named their newborn Betty, I nearly passed out in shock. I’ll even confess to a twinge of disappointment that Knox Jolie-Pitt’s twin sister is called the relatively normal Vivienne (although Knox, Pax and Maddox together do sound a little Dr Seuss so that compensates).
I used to get all het up about what other people called their babies but I’ve mellowed right out. Yes, I do think there’s a bit of a sad trend for people to use their child’s name to make a personal statement about themselves – ‘hey, I’m cool! Creative! Original!’. Or, as Kath & Kim would say of Kim’s baby Epponnee-Rae: “noice, different, unusual’.
But ultimately, does it really matter? I mean, apart from that poor celebrity kid called Audio Science and handful of other Chewbacca-like choices, are unusual names really cruel or just annoying to the Johns and Janes of the world?
And where do you draw the line? What’s worse, an unusual name or a pretentiously tricky spelling? Personally, I think the tricky spelling can be a bigger burden. You’d think my name – with only three letters – would be fairly simple but you have no idea how often I have to spell it for strangers. Heaven help the poor kid called Ayeeishah.
And does having a story behind a name make it more credible? Gwyneth said she and Chris just felt it was a sweet, wholesome name.
Nicole Kidman’s father Antony has revealed her baby’s name refers to Sunday Reed, the muse of Australian artist Sidney Nolan.
Matthew McConaughey explained his son Levi’s name like this: "Levi was another name for the apostle Matthew in The Bible. They were, in fact, two names for the same person. Our son was born at 6:22 pm, and this particular time represents my favourite verse in the book of Matthew in The Bible: ‘If thy eye be single, thy whole body will be full of light.’"
Right. That’s holy. Not so much American comedian Penn Jilette, father of Moxie CrimeFighter who said "We chose her middle name because when she’s pulled over for speeding she can say ‘But officer, we’re on the same side, my middle name is ‘CrimeFighter.’ " Ha, ha, ha. Seriously.
Or Pilot Inspektor whose father actor Jason Lee explained the name Pilot was inspired by the band Grandaddy’s song that begins "He’s simple, he’s dumb, he’s the Pilot."
This week, I tried again with my husband. “What about Zeke?” I said. “What about Freak?” he shot back. I give up, I’m going with Chewbacca.
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Well Considering my name is Dusty. I have expierience in different names. I Love having a unique name, sure when your in primary school it can be a pain cos thats when kids are just learning to rhyme…but I think individuality in a name is a great thing. For the record I dont think Apple is that bad. Its kinda cute.
“In your article you indicated that the name Honor is a new name. It is in fact and old Cornish name (West of England.”
Helen – I can’t see where Mia has said that Honor is a new name. She just said it was a recent celebrity baby name.
Also, I don’t get what the big deal is with the name Sunday either, it’s also the name of Kate Langbroek’s daughter and the name of a family friend’s daughter who’s 3yrs old.
For what its worth, I think Chris Martin is a twit. His career and Gwyneths depend on people wanting to pay money watch them and listen to them. They out themselves out there in the public eye and want attention, when it suits them. That will naturally mean people are intersted in what they do, what they wear and what they name their kids.
If they didnt want criticism they could have chosen names that are ordinary. Nobody gave a damn what Nicole and Tom named their first two kids because they were normal. But come along Suri and Sunday and everyone is in a spin and cant stop talking.
Eliza, you are very entertaining.
The time you have spent researching the history of the name Coco shows that you are not ready to ‘get over it’ – fair enough, this is obviously important to you.
JLo is my nickname, as my first name starts with a ‘J’ and surname starts with ‘Lo’ so my friends call me JLo…you can call me Jan. And I am too old to care about kissing arse.
Just one more piece of advise- you should try medication, sorry MEDITATION its very calming.
Well here are some meanings for you then Jlo (at least I use my actual name to post…)
http://huggies.com.au/babynames/name.asp?id=61365
Coco
Meanings: coconut
Origin: Spanish, Italian
Similar names: Koko
http://www.babynames.com/name/COCO
COCO
The meaning of the name Coco is Chocolate Bean
The origin of the name Coco is American
Coco was the nickname of fashion designer Coco Chanel (born as Gabrielle Chanel).
http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Coco.html
In France, Coco is a common name for parrots, in reference to the sounds they make.
Think about it guys – if it wasn’t Mia’s kid with the name what would you think? You’re just defending it to kiss arse :-/
Mia, if you’re going to take spelling into account, also consider pronunciation.
If you call a baby Aimee, they may get their name spelt wrong a lot, but people will know how to pronounce it. There are a large group of people in the world who won’t even bother trying to pronounce hard names, and will come up with some alternative, which may or may not have some vague resemblence to the child’s actual name (and then wonder why your kid refuses to talk to them). There are another group of people who will see an unusual name written down, guess how they should say it and get it horribly wrong, and then get annoyed that they get no response from the poor child who didn’t realise they were being talked to.
geez eliza was that really necessary?
i actually think apple is a really cute name, and by the time apple enters school everyone will have already heard the name because it has caused such a kerfuffle. whose is ocean?
Eliza, that was really unnecessary.
i really likes this article, Mia. It actually made me look at the other side of the issue, possibly for the first time. I mean, there are some really out there foreign names (such as my own), but somehow they are ok bc they are foreign… my name was always “weird” growing up … i guess that’s no different than having a “weird” name because your parents liked it. i mean, there are limits (and Peanut i’m pretty sure crosses that limit), but ultimately, i guess why not? if you like it, and there’s a valid, loving reason behind it… and it really is true that these “original” names are getting less and less attention, especially as multi-culturalism increased. I used to get asked about my name ALL the time, because there weren’t really any foreigners where i grew up. Since moving to Sydney, no-one has ever even blinked or said “pardon” after hearing my name. i am no longer special…
I think traditional is the new unconventional.
My kids have been to 2 different kindys and they are the only Brendan and Sarah at both kindys. No others at swimming lessons either. (Poor baby Jack not so fortunate but we liked the name).
There have been 5 Levi’s at this kindy alone!
When my kids meet adults and tell them what their names are they always say “That’s a nice name”.
Kids are cruel, don’t tell me that Zealand and Hero aren’t going to be teased in the playground.
Sorry guys. All fixed now. Have spent most enjoyable morning laughing out loud at comments from the past couple of days and took my eye off the ball. Transmission restored.
M x
Lucky I read the article in the paper on Sunday I guess!
I’m sure Mia will fix the post up later
Me too Cerry, I have no idea what the article says!
What is wrong with you all?! Naming your kid Chewbacca is perfectly fine. My friend had a big, hairy baby and I said she should name her Chewbacca (hmmm, actually she didn’t laugh at that, either).
Just like it is ok to name your kid Mini-Me.
Yes. I think it is a great name. Mini-Me Freedman.
Mia, just so you know, all I’m seeing when I click the More button is N.
Great article Mia! I think the worst baby name I have come across that didn’t belong to a celebrity was Wispa ecko. This family has 13 kids, all weird names. Before reading your article, I really liked the name Zeke, but unfortunately your parting comments have kind of turned me off it… Good luck with the end of your pregnancy and naming your new baby =)
gg xx
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Eliza, Coco is not an ingredient for cakes, cocoa is an ingredient for cakes. We get the hint- you don’t like Mia’s daughter’s name. Get over it.
But naming your daughter Coco is ok?!
I think not… just as bad as Apple! It can also be found on the list of ingredients for a cake!
And I, like some other people, think it’s better suited to a dog – http://dooce.com/daily-chuck/2008/07/01/dog-days
In your article you indicated that the name Honor is a new name. It is in fact and old Cornish name (West of England).