What’s in a Name?
What’s in a name?
A lot.
So very much.
For instance, did you know that a certain name will guarantee an accurate guess about one’s age for those in the know?
If your name is Jennifer, Lisa or Tammy, hello my fellow Gen-Xer and child of the 70s!
If your name is Ashley, Tiffany or Megan, I bet your mom loved watching the Young and the Restless or, “Y &R” for the soap opera’s super-fans.
And it wasn’t only girls that had a recognizable moniker that screamed “I was born in the 70s/80s!,” either. Boys were subject to the trends of the time as well. The whims of the parents who wanted their sons to be popular resulted in a considerable cohort of kids named Daniel, Ryan and Brandon, to name a few.
In an era of Olivias, Avas and Sophias, being named “Lisa” is a surefire way of saying “I was born between 1968 and 1975” without saying “I was born between 1968 and 1975.” The impact of a name and everything it embodies cannot be ignored. Just ask Roxanne.
Generation Jen
The name “Jennifer” is quintessentially 70s. Those of us who grew up during this era can probably name at least three or four friends with this name. Similarly, “Lisa” was everywhere. I can personally think of six or seven people with this name that I went to grade school with. In high school, there seemed to be even more.
Jennifer, Lisa, Kim…these names evoke memories of elementary school recesses playing Red Rover or Mother May I, and later, high school hallways filled with fashionistas sporting neon leg-warmers and jelly bracelets.
The fact of the matter is that there is so much more that’s in a name than meets the eye - or ear.
For instance, when was the last time you met someone named Martha? Or Edwin? Or Horace?
I Got a Name - Jim Croce
A Cultural Touchstone
In addition to what they convey about the ages of the individuals who carry them, names can be seen as a cultural touchstone; a benchmarked foundation in time that remains with its host long after the trend of the day has passed. Decades, actually. Hence, there are one of many a grandma and grandpa named Millicent and Walter, respectively.
Names can be seen as a cultural touchstone; a benchmarked foundation in time that remains with its host long after the trend of the day has passed.
Remember Farrah Fawcett?
While the name “Farah” (which means “joy”) had been popular in Arabic cultures for centuries, it was only in 1976 that the name became a hit in the Western world. This, because the breakout star of one of the era’s leading TV shows was named Farrah - with two “r”s, no less.
As the object of many men’s dreams and possessing the desired look that millions of women wanted, it was no wonder that the name was one of the most popular in the latter years of the decade. Similarly, the names John, David and Robert led the charge in the same era, indicating parents’ desires that their sons replicated celebrity success as well.
**What are the most popular girls’ names from the 70s? Answer the poll at the end of this post**
The “Friends” Effect: Courtney Cox (Monica) /Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) /Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe). Photo credit: Getty Images
With the “Friends Effect,” both on-screen and real names of characters on the popular 90’s TV show were trending for much of the decade.
The Celebrity Factor
The draw of celebrity isn’t a new phenomenon, but it’s certainly more of a “thing” in an age where we can behave as if we know the rich and famous personally, thanks to the Internet and social media.
We’re caught up in celebrity goings-on more than ever before. It’s easy, right? We can watch our faves in real time, stalk them on their various social accounts and “like” any post, video or image that they decide to share with us. We feel that we know them and with familiarity comes not only contempt but on the positive side, emulation. We want to be like them however possible and if naming our kids after them might help well hey - why not?
What’s the worse that could happen? Someone may look at them years down the line and accurately judge within a three year period what year they’d been born. If your name is Farrah, you can run but you can’t hide. Same goes for you, Ashleigh. Or Britney. Or Madison.
Mandy - Barry Manilow (By the way: she came and she gave without taking, in case you were wondering)
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