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ArchivesRe: new names
in reply to a message by Caprice
In fact the names Akako, Katana, Usagi and Nanashi were recently deleted because they only belong to characters in Japanese anime or manga, not to real people. Admittedly the Japanese section is still in poor shape.
I must point out however that not all of the names on this website belong to real people:
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/lite.php - names from literature
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/astr.php - names from astronomy
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/myth.php - names from mythology
Maybe this site needs a category like "pop culture" or "entertainment"? Names from anime (as well others already in the database such as Anakin or Draven) would fit well there.
I must point out however that not all of the names on this website belong to real people:
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/lite.php - names from literature
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/astr.php - names from astronomy
http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/myth.php - names from mythology
Maybe this site needs a category like "pop culture" or "entertainment"? Names from anime (as well others already in the database such as Anakin or Draven) would fit well there.
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I'm in favor of adding the "pop culture" category! I think there is lots of interest in such names, anyway.
It would not really matter if a name was a documented usage, since it need only have been used "in" pop culture. (If you don't point out actual usage, or lack of it, for "literature" and "astronomy" names, you shouldn't need to point it out for "pop culture" names.)
Actually, IMO "pop culture" or "entertainment" falls into the category "literature" anyway. It'd be sometimes tricky, but ultimately more informative, to keep them separate, though.
Slightly OT question if you have time to answer: What's the minimum documentation of usage you need to include a name in the database, or is there a requirement for real-life usage?
- chazda
It would not really matter if a name was a documented usage, since it need only have been used "in" pop culture. (If you don't point out actual usage, or lack of it, for "literature" and "astronomy" names, you shouldn't need to point it out for "pop culture" names.)
Actually, IMO "pop culture" or "entertainment" falls into the category "literature" anyway. It'd be sometimes tricky, but ultimately more informative, to keep them separate, though.
Slightly OT question if you have time to answer: What's the minimum documentation of usage you need to include a name in the database, or is there a requirement for real-life usage?
- chazda
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There is a requirement. Generally I just use Google to find examples of people who bear the name, and cross with any reference books I have.
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I do think that most of the names on those lists have been given to real people, though. Certainly I have seen examples of real human babies named Aladdin, Anakin, Arwen, Atticus, Ayla, Bayard, Caspian, Cinderella, D'Artagnan, Draven, Elanor, Eowyn, Galadriel, Hamlet, Lestat, Merry, Mignon, Othello, Pippin, Rohan, Scheherazade, Undine, and Zuleika from the Literature Names; and Altair, Arista, Lyra, Rigel, and Vega from the astronomy list. I don't have time to go through the whole mythology list right now but many of them have certainly also been bestowed on real infants.
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