1.1: Reading- What's Your Name?

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Before You Read

Working with a partner or by yourself, answer the following questions.

1. What do you think are the most popular baby names in British Columbia today?

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2. How do Canadian parents choose their children’s names? What might they consider when looking for a name for their baby?

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3. How have naming customs changed in your community since your grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ generation?

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The Reading

Quickly read the text below. You should take no more than five minutes.

¹Is your name Olivia or Lucas? How about Mia or Emily, Jack or Ethan? If so, you have one of the most popular names currently given to babies in British Columbia. Naming a baby is one of the hardest decisions new parents have to make, and they are often influenced by other considerations than personal preference. Baby names follow trends; naming practices also vary from culture to culture; and some names might even be illegal.

²If you ask Canadian parents why they chose their baby’s name, most will say “Because we liked it.” However, names come in and out of fashion, and parents are influenced by trends. In B.C. there has been a resurgence in the use of traditional names, one that a baby’s great-grandmother or great-grandfather might have had. The top 20 girls’ names in 2016 included Ava, Amelia, and Evelyn. For boys, the top 20 list included William, Alexander, and Mason. These would not have looked out of place on a school register from a century ago. But not every traditional name is back in style. Names that have not been revived include Beryl, Hester, Clarence, and Elmer.

³ Some parents name their child after a beloved grandparent or other relative; others choose a famous person, real or fictional. Across Canada, 2016 saw a rise in the popularity of Adele, likely after the singer of the same name. Elizabeth, the name of the Queen, is at its highest popularity in ten years, and the second most popular name for baby girls in B.C. is Charlotte, perhaps inspired by the Queen’s great-granddaughter, young Princess Charlotte. Following the 2016 Olympic Games, where 16-year-old Canadian swimmer Penny Oleksiak won four medals, the name Penny saw a surge in popularity. Naming babies after royalty and celebrities is not a new phenomenon: a generation ago, Kayla and Ashley shot to fame thanks to the most popular TV soap operas of the time, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

Parents today have plenty of names to choose from

⁴In some cases, cultural heritage plays a part. A child of Irish descent may be called Sean or Kerry, one of Italian heritage may be named Gabriella or Leonardo, and one with Polish ancestors may be named Zofia or Marek. Parents may also choose a name based on a special place, even if they don’t come from that place and have never been there. If you have always dreamed of visiting France, your baby girl lying in her crib may be called Paris. If you love New York, Brooklyn may be at the top of your list for a boy.

⁵Names with religions connotations are also popular. The top names in B.C. include Biblical names such as Nathan, Noah, and Hannah; Canadian parents who choose these names are not necessarily religious—often, they just like the name. For adherents of the Islamic faith, however, religious significance plays a huge role in baby-naming practices: Muslim parents often include the name of the prophet Muhammad (or its variations Muhammed and Mohammed) in their son’s name to pay respect to this religious figure. Similarly, in Spanish-speaking countries, names of saints remain popular; these include Maria, Teresa, Francisco, and Diego.

⁶In Canada, few parents choose a baby name entirely on the basis of the name’s meaning. The third most popular girl’s name in B.C. is Sophia, which comes from a Greek word meaning “wisdom.” Yet parents who name their daughter Sophia are more likely to do so because they think the name is pretty than because they want to raise an intellectual genius. This is not the case in Chinese culture. Chinese babies are given two-part names, and both parts have a meaning. The name Ya Ming combines the ideas of “elegant” and “bright,” while Jie Yi suggests “outstanding” and “decisive.” Chinese names, therefore, reflect the characteristics the parents wish their children to develop. They are often not gender-specific—you often cannot tell a Chinese person’s gender from the name alone.

Why not name your baby after B.C.’s beautiful capital city?

⁷Let’s say you had a baby in Canada’s 150^th anniversary year, 2017, and you were looking for a name to honour Canada. For a girl, you might have chosen Victoria or Regina, both named after provincial capitals. For a boy, Hudson or Jasper might have been a good choice. Or you could have followed the example set by Amanda, daughter of Canadian singer Paul Anka, and her husband Justin. They gave their baby the most Canadian name of all: Maple.

⁸Can you give a baby any name you want? It depends. The government of B.C. has the authority to ban any name they consider offensive or inappropriate; in reality, however, this rarely happens. This is not the case in other parts of the world, where strict laws apply. A French couple wanted to name their baby girl Nutella after the sweet hazelnut spread, but this was rejected by the French authorities. Sweden rejected Superman, while Mexico ruled out James Bond. Not surprisingly, Adolf Hitler is banned in Germany. In Denmark, parents must choose from a list of 7,000 approved names; names that have been rejected include Monkey and Pluto. New Zealand stepped in to prevent (or rescue) a pair of twins from being called Fish and Chips. And in China, authorities rejected the name @ (pronounced ai-ta in Chinese).

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): *Can you name your twins after your favourite food? Not in New Zealand!*

⁹Another potential trouble area is the growing trend today for non-Indigenous parents, particularly in the United States, to give babies names from Indigenous cultures simply because they like the sound of them. Names in this category include Chenoa, Tallulah, Adriel, and the very popular Dakota and Cheyenne. This is controversial, as these people are not members of the Dakota or Cheyenne communities. Actress Dakota Johnson and Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson (who was named after a TV series) may find their names frowned upon by members of the Dakota and Cheyenne nations respectively.

¹⁰Naming a baby is not a decision to take lightly. While fashions come and go, a name is a key component of a person’s identity, and it is important to choose a name that the parents will be happy with for a long time, that the child will not be embarrassed by, and that people who meet the child will consider suitable.

Now jot down the main ideas of the text below.

Questions

A. Check Your Understanding

Answer the following questions.

Part 1

What is the main idea of this article? Choose one.

a) Old names are coming back in style in B.C.

b) Parents choose baby names for different reasons.

c) Some parents give their babies really stupid names.

d) It is very hard to choose a suitable name for a baby.

Part 2

Find examples of the following:

1. A popular girl’s name in 2016 _________________________

2. A popular boy’s name in 2016 _________________________

3. A name from Ireland _________________________

4. A name that appears in the Bible _________________________

5. A common name among Muslims _________________________

6. A name that means “wisdom” _________________________

7. A name that was banned in France _________________________

8. An actress with a controversial name _________________________

Part 3

1. Give six reasons why Canadian parents might choose a particular name for their child.

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2. Why are the names Maria and Diego popular in Spain?

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3. How are babies named in China? How is this different from Canada?

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4. Why might a child born in 2017 be named Victoria or Jasper?

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5. The B.C. government often bans names it considers inappropriate. True or false?

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6. In your own words, explain why the names Cheyenne and Dakota are controversial.

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B. Develop Your Vocabulary

Use each of the following words to complete the sentences below. Each word can only be used once.

resurgence phenomenon heritage connotations adherent

decisive gender-specific authority potential controversial

1. Something _________________________ is suitable for a male or a female, not both.

2. If something is _________________________, people often disagree or argue about it.

3. An _________________________ of something, such as a religion, is a follower or believer.

4. Someone who is _________________________ can make decisions easily.

5. A person’s _________________________ is their background or traditions.

6. _________________________ is the power an organization has to make decisions.

7. A _________________________ of an idea is a revival or return to popularity.

8. A _________________________ concern is one that may be possible in the future.

9. _________________________ are things that are associated or connected with an idea.

10. A _________________________ is an event or occurrence that is remarkable in some way.

C. Think about It

Think about the following questions. Write your thoughts.

1. Why do you think traditional names are back in style in B.C.?

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2. Why do you think people like to name their children after celebrities?

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3. Do you know anyone whose name is connected to their religion? Give an example.

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4. Should governments have the authority to ban certain names they consider inappropriate? Why, or why not?

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5. According to the reading, Indigenous names like Dakota and Cheyenne are sometimes frowned upon. Do you agree that these names are not suitable for babies who do not come from Indigenous communities? Why, or why not?

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