[Opinions] celeb baby name popularity question
Why do you think it is that many (more unusual or not used very often)names don't become popular untill a celebrity has a baby and names them that name, such as Hazel, Phinneus, milo, etc and their varients? Is it that we just havent really heard these names til now or what? I bet if you'd have asked people what they thought of the names Hazel and Phinneus before julia became preggers they would call them old sounding or wierd? Have any of you ever though this?
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Well when a star get's a haircut, the world follows.
When a star gets a new pocketbook, we all want that too.
Ordinry ppl tend to be fascinated with celebs, so any way they can be more like them the better, so why not follow in name trends. I guess the only Phinneus any of us ever knew was like 70, but now we think of someone that is in the spotlight living a nice life, so it gives us good connections to the name.
When a star gets a new pocketbook, we all want that too.
Ordinry ppl tend to be fascinated with celebs, so any way they can be more like them the better, so why not follow in name trends. I guess the only Phinneus any of us ever knew was like 70, but now we think of someone that is in the spotlight living a nice life, so it gives us good connections to the name.
I really haven't seen an increased popularity with those names, nor an abundance of little Apple's running around (for example). I think celebrity baby name choices just publicizes a name more, since it's printed in countless magazine and whatnot, and people see it and get a feel for it. I'd like to think people really like the name, and don't choose them just because their "favorite" celebrity used it. That's tacky.
But, if a celebrity uses a name I like, it doesn't affect my feelings for that name. I like Mylo (that spelling only), whether Liv Tyler used it or not.
But, if a celebrity uses a name I like, it doesn't affect my feelings for that name. I like Mylo (that spelling only), whether Liv Tyler used it or not.
I think when a celebrity uses a unusual name she/he gives permission so speak to use the name. In other words if they think it is cool name (and they are obviously cool people) then it must be a cool name!!
Well, most of the time, the names are "just" starting to gain popularity, and would likely become (somewhat equally) popular whether or not a celebrity used them. I think someone famous using the name, just gives it a little boost, like Hazel, in 1997 it appeared back on the charts at #979, and for 2003 it was #681.
If Julia Roberts hadn't used it, we'd probably see notiable popularity in 10-15 years, but she did use it, and therefore more people are thinking about/hearing it (which would also happen, if it gained slowly, it would just be a few people at a time).
So, basically, I think they're just on the front end of the trend, not creating it.
If Julia Roberts hadn't used it, we'd probably see notiable popularity in 10-15 years, but she did use it, and therefore more people are thinking about/hearing it (which would also happen, if it gained slowly, it would just be a few people at a time).
So, basically, I think they're just on the front end of the trend, not creating it.
This message was edited 1/11/2005, 4:27 PM
I agree [m]
In most cases that's probably quite true. Celebs just tend to be members of the trendsetting subculture, regardless of their celebrity, but depending more on the fact that they are in the entertainment biz; and they name accordingly. They boost the popularity, maybe, but they're under the same influences as the rest of us... soap operas, books, not knowing any bearers because they're all in the dying generation; and perhaps nostalgia for the most recent era that has fallen out of living memory, or for any era whose zeitgeist seems to resonate with the present time.
I bet Julia Roberts didn't check the pop charts before naming her kids, and thinks she was naming quite uniquely. But even folks on this board were talking about using Hazel and Phineas months before JR gave birth. I've done the same thing -- I thought no one could like Violet, until I started visiting name boards last year and found out it's the latest fad.
- chazda
edited to change subject line
In most cases that's probably quite true. Celebs just tend to be members of the trendsetting subculture, regardless of their celebrity, but depending more on the fact that they are in the entertainment biz; and they name accordingly. They boost the popularity, maybe, but they're under the same influences as the rest of us... soap operas, books, not knowing any bearers because they're all in the dying generation; and perhaps nostalgia for the most recent era that has fallen out of living memory, or for any era whose zeitgeist seems to resonate with the present time.
I bet Julia Roberts didn't check the pop charts before naming her kids, and thinks she was naming quite uniquely. But even folks on this board were talking about using Hazel and Phineas months before JR gave birth. I've done the same thing -- I thought no one could like Violet, until I started visiting name boards last year and found out it's the latest fad.
- chazda
edited to change subject line
This message was edited 1/11/2005, 9:20 PM
Yep. I think its just because the name has become somewhat "mainstream" because the celebrity used it. Hazel is going to rise in popularity now only because Julia named her daughter that. I think that it even happened with Ava after Reese Witherspoon named her daughter. People don't think of these names and then their attention is brought to them. You're probably right about people saying that the names were odd before, but now that a celebrity has named their child that the name becomes more "acceptable". Just my opinion.
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