Names don’t stand still. Their natures change over time, and without an anchor like a famous bearer, a name’s past can be swept out of memory. Here are six examples of names we hear as single-sex today that were unisex in the not-so-distant past. SharonIf you hear the name Sharon […]
Why aren’t more babies named after horror movie victims? If you think the answer is self-explanatory, I can’t blame you. It’s not as if they make Nightmare on Elm Street-themed nursery décor. We expect baby planning, and baby naming, to be about inspiring role models and rosy dreams of the […]
It was the “huh?” heard ’round the world. For half a day, reports spread that actress Halle Berry had been cast as Ariel in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. The response was global bafflement. Some was surely directed at Berry’s race (though “outrage” over a black Ariel turned […]
How do you name an archetype? An idealized concept should feel realer than reality, summing up your whole image of a slice of the world. Whatever name you choose, it will reveal a lot about your worldview. That’s certainly the case with the online subculture of “incels” and the two […]
As names like Arya and Khaleesi continue their march up the popularity charts, the baby name triumph of Game of Thrones has made headlines. Is that franchise the new naming champion? Harry Potter has reigned as king of fandom baby names for years. The last time I checked in, the […]
2018 was a stellar year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Two of their superhero films, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War were the year’s two top-grossing films. Each centered around a man who faces powerful enemies but ultimately triumphs as he pursues his vision of a better society. One of […]
For college basketball fans, the “Name of the Year” is already decided. Duke freshman Zion Williamson is being called the best college player of his generation, and his charismatic first name is poised to become a marketing sensation. But the name Zion had a story of its own long before […]
The new Captain Marvel movie showcases the most powerful hero of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She controls energy, she regenerates, she has far-reaching cosmic awareness. As embodied by actress Brie Larson, she is young and beautiful and badass. Her name, you ask? Carol. The character Carol Danvers made her comics […]
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