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I'm 21 myself. Many kids today are as wild in the 60s and 70s, but it doesn't seem as cool to be wild today. It seems like (from what I've read and seen) it was all about anti-authority and "I'll ruin my life even if you tell me not to." I think kids today still party and sex is still a problem, but there's less flat out rebellion I think. I think perhaps teenagers today also have more sober role models than they did a few decades ago. It also seems like the cultural divide between teenagers and adults is not quite as bad.
The 60s and 70s were about shocking adults. However, today, shocking adults isn't so easy, since most were teenagers back then themselves, so they know what was going on and they are less oblivious to what their kids are doing.
I know in my experience, many of my friends were/are not very rebellious, and probably even less than our parents were. However, most of my friends are also Christians, so that may make a difference. It really helps teens to have a youth group to support them
There is some merit to your observations about teens being less rebellious. This article is from 2006.
Thanks! You know, the other thing I have noticed about your generation (since I rent to a couple of college-aged kids) is how RESPONSIBLE the girls are. I'm pretty impressed with the ladies! Young women seem to be ON the ball when it comes to pursuing as much education as possible, finding a place to live and being financially responsible.
I know this post is "off-topic" (but back on the original topic), sorry.
I'd like to see traditional, common, "adult" names come back: John, Mary, David, Laura, William, etc. Good, strong, sturdy names that won't cause any trouble for the bearer. I'm also a big fan of "old-fashioned," uncommon 19th century names like Wilbur, Roger, Mahalia and Sophronia. I'd also like to see Puritan virtue names come back, like "Thankful," "Mercy," "Fearnot," "Modesty," "Chastity" and "Courage." Those names wear their meanings "up front."
Naming trends I'd like to see go away?
1) Rhyming -ayden names. You know, those made-up, über-childish names like Aidyn, Kayden, Jayden, Brayden, Tayden, Zaden, et. al. These names are EXTREMELY cutesy and childish, and will NOT fit an adult or even a kid over the age of 10. Babies don't stay babies forever. Can you imagine a 30-year-old man named Kayden? How about getting a resume from a 45-year old Zaden? Or seeing a 90-year-old Jayden in a nursing home?
2) Place names. At first, people started naming their kids after exotic locales like London, Paris and Milan. Now, they're just choosing generic place names that they think "sound nice," like Camden (murder capital of the U.S.), Dayton (depressed rust-belt city or Twin Cities suburb, take your pick) and Indiana (they must really like corn). I'm just waiting for someone to name their kid Mankato. It HAS to happen soon.
3) Misspelled names. Jaycenn and Jynnyfyr are no more "youneeq" than Jason and Jennifer.
4) Backwards words as names, like Semaj (James backwards) and Nevaeh (heaven backwards). Isn't a backwards heaven, well . . . . hell?
5) Ghetto names. La'Sha'Nique and Da'Quonthay will have an extremely hard time finding a job. Read "Freakonomics."
Last edited by northstar22; 07-24-2011 at 10:32 PM..
Speaking of names that sound strange to us now, I have an ancestor named Dorcas. I was kind of happy about this because I thought it would be easy to find information about her, who else would have a name like Dorcas. Unfortunately, it seems to have been a fairly popular name for girls among at least several families in New England in the 1700's.
Dorcas is a Biblical name. So, yes, it was fairly well used by the Puritans and some of their neighbors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kinkytoes
...I think people just gave their kids like "Chastidy" and "Mercedes" out of the hope that these values would somehow rub off on the child...
I know this post is "off-topic" (but back on the original topic), sorry.
I'd like to see traditional, common, "adult" names come back: John, Mary, David, Laura, William, etc. Good, strong, sturdy names that won't cause any trouble for the bearer. I'm also a big fan of "old-fashioned," uncommon 19th century names like Wilbur, Roger, Mahalia and Sophronia. I'd also like to see Puritan virtue names come back, like "Thankful," "Mercy," "Fearnot," "Modesty," "Chastity" and "Courage." Those names wear their meanings "up front."
Naming trends I'd like to see go away?
1) Rhyming -ayden names. You know, those made-up, über-childish names like Aidyn, Kayden, Jayden, Brayden, Tayden, Zaden, et. al. These names are EXTREMELY cutesy and childish, and will NOT fit an adult or even a kid over the age of 10. Babies don't stay babies forever. Can you imagine a 30-year-old man named Kayden? How about getting a resume from a 45-year old Zaden? Or seeing a 90-year-old Jayden in a nursing home?
2) Place names. At first, people started naming their kids after exotic locales like London, Paris and Milan. Now, they're just choosing generic place names that they think "sound nice," like Camden (murder capital of the U.S.), Dayton (depressed rust-belt city or Twin Cities suburb, take your pick) and Indiana (they must really like corn). I'm just waiting for someone to name their kid Mankato. It HAS to happen soon.
3) Misspelled names. Jaycenn and Jynnyfyr are no more "youneeq" than Jason and Jennifer.
4) Backwards words as names, like Semaj (James backwards) and Nevaeh (heaven backwards). Isn't a backwards heaven, well . . . . hell?
5) Ghetto names. La'Sha'Nique and Da'Quonthay will have an extremely hard time finding a job. Read "Freakonomics."
I agree with everything you said! It's like we're naming twins! hahaha
Side note: Just yesterday I was researching my husband's side of family, and one of his 3rd great grandmothers was Sophronia. It's a name I never heard before, but I really like it.
I fully understand Puritan Virtue names. "Freelove" the name of several of my ancestors, referred to God's free love, not to promiscuity. However, how would such a name be received in a middle school in the 21st century? Not well.
There are a few Puritan virtue names are still good and usable. My daughters middle name is "Grace" I also like "Joy" "Faith" and "Hope" Some of the others are dated and stuffy.
Everyone here seems to agree that trashy made up names need to go, same with the "Ghetto" names. Certain names will stigmatize your child.
While no one on this sub forum likes these names, quite a few people seem to disagree with me about another form of "statement names" - name that scream "I don't follow trends" or "My family has been here since the 17th Century!" OR "I read the classics!"
Here is where I disagree with a number of posters - like it or not there are fashions in names. Right now few middle or upper middle class children are being named "John" or "Mary." I know of one teensager named John, and he's a Junior. I know of a "Mary Claire" and her family are utra-Religious Roman Catholics. Still, Mary Claire sounds less stodgy and dated than plain "Mary."
I don't know of anyone under the name of 40 named George, William, Thomas, or WILBUR! That's awful! And if you name your daughter "Thankful" she won't be.
I think that naming one's children obscure, dated, clumsy names, or names that sound strange (many of the Virtue names do) is selfish and just as pretentious as naming your child Toniqua or Kayden.
It' the college educated version of that!
A name is the first gift you bestow upon your child. Choose it with care!
I don't know of anyone under the name of 40 named George, William, Thomas, or WILBUR! That's awful! And if you name your daughter "Thankful" she won't be. \
Really??? I know a lot of Williams or Wills, and a couple of kids named Thomas. I even know a Charles or "Charlie" and a Henry. Both are less than five years old. I want to say an acquaintance has a boy named "George", but I can't swear to that. These names are making a comeback - at least in the south.
The older girl names like Elizabeth, Emma, Grace, Sophia, Evangeline, and Abigail are back with a vengeance among my friends. Not too many Marys, Rachels, or Rebeccas though.
The mother's maiden names as first names is also very popular in the south (can't speak for other areas). I like it, for the most part. I do know a toddler named Smith and one named Jones. Don't like those for first names, but they aren't my kids.
Actually. I do know a Will or two, but no "Bills" I think that the "Wills" are "Williams"
All of those names you mentioned are popular here too. Old testament names are very common every where.
However, "Courage" "Wilbur" and "Mercy"? Anyone using those names is trying to "make a statement"
"Modesty" sounds like a feminine hygiene product or a porn star. Same with "Chastity"
Actually. I do know a Will or two, but no "Bills" I think that the "Wills" are "Williams"
All of those names you mentioned are popular here too. Old testament names are very common every where.
However, "Courage" "Wilbur" and "Mercy"? Anyone using those names is trying to "make a statement"
"Modesty" sounds like a feminine hygiene product or a porn star. Same with "Chastity"
hahaha! I don't know anyone by those names. I did know a girl named Chastity growing up. She sure wasn't chaste.
I like the Puritan names, but I know better to name my kids those names. I like the less popular but historically common names like Jane, Lucy, Louisa, Ada, Daisy, Claire, etc. for girls and Frank, Robert, Fredrick, James, Joseph, etc.
I also like some of the Greek/Roman names, but I don't think I'd name my kid them like Persephone, Seraphina, Electra, etc.
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