LilSugar

Is Naming Your Child a Less Common Name Narcissistic?

LilSugar — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:00:00 -0800

Aside from having a very popular name, my brother Michael is a "junior" and said if he had kids he'd never have a namesake because he'd want his son to have his own identity. This, and the fact that I never wanted my children to have to answer to "Michael M." or "Mary L." in a classroom, is why I chose uncommon monikers for my kids. But according to a researcher on a study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science, choosing a unique name may be a sign of narcissism. A Lemondrop report said:

As Jean Twenge, PhD, one of the researchers concluded, "The most compelling explanation left is this idea that parents are much more focused on their children standing out. There's been this cultural shift toward focusing on the individual, toward standing out and being unique as opposed to fitting in with the group and following the rules." Then she went in for the kill: "I think it is an indication of our culture becoming more narcissistic," Twenge says.

Did You Google Monikers Before Naming Your Baby?

babysugar — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:00:24 -0800

What's in a name? Parents who are curious about the history of monikers might Google their favorite names to see what pops up in the search results. It may not require an Internet quest to realize that Alexander paired with Bell would remind most people of the telephone, but if you entered "Henry Collins," you would discover that there have been four famous men by the same name: a Canadian politician, an Australian boxer, a United States government employee/Soviet spy, and a character on the soap opera All My Children. To their surprise and most often chagrin, some people find their favorite name is shared by world-renowned porn stars or crooked politicians, steering them clear of the choice. Others delight in the history that stands behind the title.

Did you Google your potential labels before putting them on the birth certificate?

What Is the Meaning Behind the Name?

babysugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:30:24 -0800

No matter whether it's traditional or something never heard before names have a meaning. Some people inherit family titles, others carry the same moniker as 80s cartoon characters, and some names are plucked straight from a book. Check your label knowledge and see if you know the meaning behind these sweet names.

Take the quiz

Does Your Child Have a Nickname?

LilSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:04:10 -0800

Some parents had their children's names picked out since they knew they wanted to be a mom. Others wait until they meet their lil fellas face-to-face before giving them a lifelong label. Often considered in the name game are the potential nicknames that can develop. William can quickly turn into Will, Bill, Willy or Billy but does a parent consider Mackenzie will turn into Mack? Whether you picked it out or not, does your child have a nickname?

Best of 2009: What's Your Favorite New Baby Boy Name?

LilSugar — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 09:00:10 -0800

Oh boy! Some of Hollywood's newest baby boys have pretty memorable names.

Mad TV funny lady Nicole Sullivan named her new baby Beckett; Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou call their sweetie Kenzo; The Killers' Brandon Flowers picked the name Gunner; Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Meyer named their lil one Otis; Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their little birdie Sparrow; Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston call their baby Tripp; and Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel now cruise with Walker. Which unusual name is your fave?

And don't stop voting there - check the rest of my Best of 2009 polls!

Best of 2009: What's Your Favorite New Baby Girl Name?

babysugar — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:30:12 -0800

Forget baby name books, the hottest stars have other methods of labeling their babies. Leave it to Hollywood to come up with some unique monikers. Katherine Heigl created a new one by combining her sister's and mom's names together for the beautiful baby Naleigh. Jennifer and Ben surprised us with Seraphina and Heidi and Seal welcomed a lil Lou to their growing brood. Others that caught our attention were Ellen Pompeo's lil gal Stella Luna, Madonna's adorable Mercy, and Alyson Hannigan's sweet Satyana. Which name do you fancy most?

And don't stop voting there - check the rest of my Best of 2009 polls!

12 Holiday Inspired Baby Names

LilSugar — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:00:01 -0800

Picking the name for a child can be trying for any parent-to-be: should it be traditional, cultural, sentimental, or familial? The holiday spirit may be just what mama needs to help her narrow down the options. Check out our list of holiday baby names fit for any festive birth. These monikers will remind everyone of the special time the bitty babe was born.

View Slideshow ›

Mommy Dearest: In-Laws Call Baby by Another Name

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:08:41 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My husband and I put a lot of time into choosing our children's names. We have two boys: Matthew, 3, and August, who is 3 months old. We named our younger son for the month he was born and my in-laws have made it clear that they are not fans of the choice. That doesn't bother me, but the fact that they only refer to our baby by his middle name does. If we wanted his name to be Michael, we would have put that first on the birth certificate. What's more annoying is the fact that it is confusing our older son. Matthew doesn't understand why Grammy and Papa call August "Michael." How can I tell my in-laws to knock it off?

– Annoyed With In-Laws' Nickname

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Annoyed With In-Laws' Nickname,

As parents, you and your husband have the right to name your children whatever you choose. While your in-laws don't have to agree with the moniker, it is not their place to make up a new one for your son. Not only is it rude, but it is confusing your older boy. Politely explain this and tell them that you don't want them calling August "Michael" anymore. It's better to confront this issue now rather than later, if and when your lil guy starts responding to both names.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new community page.

Source: Flickr User Futurestreet

Is It Important For Parents to Share Same Last Name as Child?

babysugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:00:53 -0700

In modern times, it is not surprising for mamas to keep their maiden names. In the case that the parents are happily together, many moms and pops give their child the father's last name. If, however, there was a less than amicable split before the birth, many mothers choose to label the baby with her own family moniker. Bridget Moynahan is one mama who thought her baby boy should be known under her name instead of her ex-beau, Tom Brady. Others, especially married ladies, like Heidi Klum take their man's name for themselves and pass it on to their offspring so that the whole brood shares one title. Do you think it's important for parents to share the same last name as their child?

How Well Do You Know Celebrity Baby Names?

LilSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:00:14 -0700

From Zuma to Ever, celebabies have some of the most unique names around with some even more unique meanings. You may know the celebrity kiddos, but do you know what their names mean? Take the quiz to test your knowledge.

Question 1 of 10

Which boy's name means "one who supplants?"

Source: Film Magic