We all know that celebrities are creative and quirky by nature, and thus we aren't too surprised when they give their children names that are uncommon, unique, or just totally, off-the-charts weird.
Remember Chastity Bono and Moon Unit Zappa? Today's celebs have carried on the tradition, with offspring named Apple, Moxie CrimeFighter, Pilot Inspektor, and Audio Science, to name just a few.
But, hey, that's Hollywood for you. The rest of us often shake our heads in bemusement and mutter, "What were they thinking?" about decisions in that world. But what happens when "creative" naming happens right in our own families?
When It Happens to You
Patricia Pickett is still shaking her head in disbelief that her 2-year-old grandson is named Charles Trex Wedmore — and, oh, yes, his middle name is actually pronounced "T. rex," like the dinosaur.
Before his birth, Patricia's daughter Kat announced that she planned to name the baby after her husband's best friend. "What I didn't know is that they opted for his nickname, T. rex," says Pickett, 51, a public relations manager in Indianapolis.
"We did have the 'That's kinda quirky, isn't it? How's he going to deal with that when he grows up?' conversation," Pickett says, "but Kat hopes he's going to be an artist or musician, so it will be 'cool.'" And if he becomes an accountant or an attorney, Pickett says, maybe he can change his legal name or just use his middle initial.
While Pickett's friends have had a good laugh over the name, those who know her daughter well "are not particularly surprised," she says. "She's marched to her own drummer since she was born."
Being an optimist, Pickett says, her grandson's name will always "be a conversation starter as he goes down the road of life." Plus it makes gift-giving easy — the toddler already has a collection of dinosaur cups, caps, books, toys, and T-shirts.
Pros and Cons
Having a unique name can help your grandchild stand out, says Jennifer Moss, founder and CEO of Babynames.com: "You know there won't be five others in the classroom with the same name. It gives the child individuality."
But as advocates for your unborn grandchildren, you can try to point out some of the potential baggage that comes with an odd name, Moss suggests, including teasing, frequent mispronunciation, and constant demands to explain what the name means, where it came from, and what their parents were thinking.
| What do you think of your grandchildren's names? |
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I love them all 70.7%
I wouldn't have chosen them all, but they're okay 24.3%
I'm sorry; some of them are just ridiculous 5.0%
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A child's name is ultimately the parents' decision, and if they don't want your input, you know they'll let you know. But If the parents don't immediately close the conversation, take advantage of the opening to gently suggest they imagine the debated name in a context beyond the nursery. Wonder aloud, "Does 'Pixie' sound like a CEO to you?" or "Does 'iPad' sound like a Supreme Court justice?" You might also want to suggest that parents look to their family trees to find alternative names that might be meaningful for them.
Moving On
Be wary of becoming bitter about your kids' choice of a name, says Sally Wendkos Olds, author of Super Granny: Great Stuff to do With Your Grandkids (Sterling, 2009), that is, "if you want a relationship with them and your grandkids."
"In Nepal, the tradition is for the grandmother to name the new baby," Olds says. "Often a baby will go without a name for a while, until 'Baju' makes her wishes known." But in the U.S., "it's up to the parents. You had your chance; you named your children. You need to back off and be a good sport. It may seem weird to you, but this is a new generation."
And always remember, she says, "a name doesn't define the child. You're going to love this grandchild no matter what he or she is called." So, Olds suggests, "keep your purse open and your mouth shut!"
A Baby by Any Other Name
Once the baby is born, of course, the name is stuck. If you still can't stomach an unfortunate name, you can always address the child by your own pet name instead. But more often than not, you'll find that even the strangest name will grow on you.
"Our daughter and son-in-law named our grandson Jupiter when he was born one year ago," says Gabriel Constans, 55, a writer from Santa Cruz, Calif. "I remember the expression on people's faces when they heard his name. First, people would ask, 'What is his name?' again, then pause and say, 'Wow, that's interesting' or 'I've never heard of anyone with that name.'"
At first, Constans admits, the name caught him "a little off guard, but now it's second nature."
The same thing happened to Trish Perry, 56, of Leesburg, Va., whose 7-year-old grandson is named Bronx. "While the name sounded odd to us at first, it fits him beautifully now," she says. "It's a tough little name for a sweet-natured kid. We sometimes call him Bronco, which adds to the whole tough, lively persona. I think he's developed a good deal of confidence as a result of his unique name. He knows it's associated with the Yankees and New York and something his dad has always loved."
An added bonus, says Perry, who knows from such things as an author of romantic-comedy novels, "No one forgets what his name is after they meet him."
Are you preparing to welcome a new grandbaby? We've got everything you need to know:
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