Just loved the article always interested in learning about other ancient cultures.

My adult name is Yindin and is a lauguage name from the Yindany speaking people of north Queensland, although I am a "man" from the Gubuguringi people next door in the forests of what is called by Gubbas ( white Ghosts ) the Daintree Forrest.

All my clan have names according to weather patterns, ( garra bunna ) but because I am mixed blood the other part being Torrest Strait islander I cannot have a full blood name so the old people gave me that name. I have a daughter who is named after my great great great grandmother "Jawady" meaning storm by my elders. We both have european names and a surnames that were given to my grandfather by missionaries upon his birth in 1889.

Lovely article, but whatever's wrong with the fine Welsh name of Rhys! It means ardent or enthusiastic, and would perhaps suit the author rather well.

God article. But there is another side to the current use of names, especially in the west. And which in my opinion points to our cultural poverty.
Apparently some people name their children after well known products and brand names.
You cant get much more one-dimensional than that.
It also shows how thoroughly indoctrinated by and to corporate "values" that some sections of our culture have become.

Ken & Barbie rules!

"Tiger Lily" comes to mind!

Some cultures name all their kids the same name. That really causes problems later on when trying to identify someone. It makes you wonder whether that is part of the plan.

Parents wield great power when they name their children. My neighbour tells the story of a man she once met in the UK. His name was 'Sean' which is fine in itself - his surname - Lamb.
He endured ridicule until he was 21 (the age of majority back then) and then changed his name by deed poll - and had not spoken to his parents since then. They did it hoping to inherit from a wealthy great uncle. He ignored them.
My name is common enough but has an unusual spelling because a maternal grandmother insisted and everyone was too afraid to disagree. It is a nuisance and I use an alternative more often than not.
Nothing wrong with unusual names providing that they are not also ridiculous. (Peaches or Tiger Lily will take revenge.)
But all children should have at least two given names surely? That way they have a choice - especially if they marry and take their partner's name along with their own and the first sounds wrong with the second.

And so far, only first names have come in for discussion. Fairly polite stuff, too! These days they are more hopeful than descriptive. Not like those oldies with second-names as devolved upon Ragnar Hairybreeks, and Harald Bluetooth. Some others of them are a bit over-rude for sensitive souls.

oh dear...I recall the unforgivable act of one alternative culture couple who named their first born 'sunbeam'..

or how about poor little 'Apple' the child of Chris Martin of music group Coldplay and Gweneth Paltow..

last but not least Mr and Mrs Hunt who saw no danger in naming their little boy Mike..say his full name out loud and fast and you'll get the picture..

Interesting article. Great to know Mohammed is hitting the top 50, with a bullet, in the UK. Apparently its popularity for Sudanese stuffed toys has declined of late, however.

My own observations in Australia over the last 10 years have been that, not satisfied to pick an ordinary name, parents have been seeking to make a statement through misspelling perfectly good ones. Like Rilee (Riley), Aleesha (Alicia), Taylah (Taylor).. etc etc. Prominent rugby league players have been among the worst offenders, prompting me to label it the "rugby league naming phenomenon." Hyphens, ebonic influences and silent letters are all the go in this group, cashed up and keen to saddle their youngsters with an alphabet soup. Thus the spate of Taylagh-Leaghs and Jaidyn-Rilees appearing on the back page of the tabloids.

indeed, some clever bastard worked out why Kevin appealed to the post mods and the mods..

Obama / Osama is another interesting morph..

I think having two middle names or more is great too. I have two and I find it quite a mark of distinguishment when compared to everyone else who is just "A B Jones" - that probably sounds quite snobby! Oh well. I don't know why my parents chose two middle names but it's unique and I have gotten used to it, although filling out government forms can be a bit of a challenge!!

It helps children's self esteem in schools to have a class project 'Your famous name', in which for everyone in the class there is collected
a) meaning of your first and/or second name if possible
b) famous people with your first and/or second name - or close enough.

It can be like a history lesson for the class when there are names like Attila, Alexander, Maria, or Pericles!

This can also just be a personal project to do with a child who is feeling worthless, but may have names from legend, history and story.
It is like having your own totem and comfort.

(But don't call your child Winsome or Hercules just in case the names are too far off.)

It is sad that many parents today give children names with no meaning, or even with associations they do not know (like Cain, Jezebel and Dalusha.) What does Condaleeza mean?
Among other things, it can be hard to do 'Your Famous Name' in class.

Thanks for a great article. There's something about us Catholics and our names. Some of us were given names that left us no choice but to wear the Catholic badge whenever we filled out a form that asked for our full name.

My parents named me Anthony Gerard and in my primary years I took another name for my confirmation, Dominic Savio. All three were saints in the Catholic tradition. They all died young (36, 29 and 15 respectively) and were in religious orders so never had sex. Not really encouraging models for a young boy in the 60s.

However, a close reading of their lives reveals them as models for scholarship, hospitality and non-violence. Which all adds up to a pretty healthy and inspiring set of patrons to guide me through this turbulent era.