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Help[Opinions] How is Kimberly dated?
in reply to a message by Akua Topaz
I know it's my name so I may seem biased, but really I'm not a huge fan of my own name. Just I never understand this whole "Kimberly is dated" response to it. It's been in the top 100 female names since the 50s. It still is currently. How is it dated yet? Overly popular/fad makes more sense to me.
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I'm actually really surprised looking at the popularity charts for Kimberly. I would've assumed it to decline a lot. The youngest Kimberly I know is my age (17). It just seems like a very 60's and 70's name to me. I guess the popularity charts may differ with this, but it's more of a vibe I get than anything else.
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We had a discussion about this once
Actually it was a long time ago, but I remember it really well. Lemme see if I can find it....
Aha! Yay.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=3452929&board=baby
Post 1:
Yes I noticed that, that is very strange too. The only Kimberly's I know are my age and up. To meet a little Kimberly would probably be baffling to me. It's so very popular in my age bracket.
Post 2:
[Kimberly has it's fans...]
They're mostly not on naming boards, though, lol. I believe its current popularity is mostly among Hispanic families. Same thing explains the staying power of Jessica, Ashley, Stephanie...
Post 3:
I think that's correct, and it is a common phenomenon among first generation immigrants. Immigrants often want to give their kids "American" names to help them fit in, but they are not acculturated enough yet to be affected by the same trends that native born American parents are, so they choose "American" names from among the names of adults that they know. They don't realize that by doing so they are usually -- especially when it comes to girls' names -- giving their kids names which are now "out of date".
Actually it was a long time ago, but I remember it really well. Lemme see if I can find it....
Aha! Yay.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=3452929&board=baby
Post 1:
Yes I noticed that, that is very strange too. The only Kimberly's I know are my age and up. To meet a little Kimberly would probably be baffling to me. It's so very popular in my age bracket.
Post 2:
[Kimberly has it's fans...]
They're mostly not on naming boards, though, lol. I believe its current popularity is mostly among Hispanic families. Same thing explains the staying power of Jessica, Ashley, Stephanie...
Post 3:
I think that's correct, and it is a common phenomenon among first generation immigrants. Immigrants often want to give their kids "American" names to help them fit in, but they are not acculturated enough yet to be affected by the same trends that native born American parents are, so they choose "American" names from among the names of adults that they know. They don't realize that by doing so they are usually -- especially when it comes to girls' names -- giving their kids names which are now "out of date".
This message was edited 10/11/2009, 8:24 AM
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Ah, that was around when I just joined/didn't really go on the message boards much.
Thing is though, it's still being used enough to be within the top 100. So unless you're saying names are judged by only the white population of the United States, it doesn't make any difference. I know they probably weren't trying to say that but that's what those posts tell me. I actually have a problem with a lot of what they said but it'd probably just sound really nitpicky, but yeah, that doesn't cut it for me. If I see a name, I see it. I don't really care about "Oh they came from a hispanic background so it doesn't count!" That just sounds silly, especially because I live in a highly diverse and immigrated area. Why would I really care where they heard the name or why they chose to pick one of a different culture? I'm sure they didn't pick a name they disliked by any means. If I went to Spain, I wouldn't name my daughter Beatriz just because I heard it a lot when in fact I hate the name. I'd probably use one I liked and heard a lot (Well not really, I have Spanish names I like, but for conversational purposes, I would).
Thing is though, it's still being used enough to be within the top 100. So unless you're saying names are judged by only the white population of the United States, it doesn't make any difference. I know they probably weren't trying to say that but that's what those posts tell me. I actually have a problem with a lot of what they said but it'd probably just sound really nitpicky, but yeah, that doesn't cut it for me. If I see a name, I see it. I don't really care about "Oh they came from a hispanic background so it doesn't count!" That just sounds silly, especially because I live in a highly diverse and immigrated area. Why would I really care where they heard the name or why they chose to pick one of a different culture? I'm sure they didn't pick a name they disliked by any means. If I went to Spain, I wouldn't name my daughter Beatriz just because I heard it a lot when in fact I hate the name. I'd probably use one I liked and heard a lot (Well not really, I have Spanish names I like, but for conversational purposes, I would).
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I think the point is, it hit it's popularity peak in the 60s. It's been falling, and it feels dated. Yeah, it's still being used, and I'm sure not only by Hispanic people.
But I think that the first-gen immigrants are probably a big reason it's so popular. Another reason might be people honoring older Kimberly's (that's my explanation for several of the dated sounding names that still top the charts). And I'm sure there are some people who use it because like it, but then, there are people who like Shirley and Lisa too.
And a lot of people don't research names. Not everyone's a namenerd, right? And I've met people who really 'don't care' about names and they don't have much they like or hate. It might be as simple as "gee I want my child to fit in, and I have three co-workers named Kimberly... it must be a popular, American name! I'll use that!"
idk. I dunno if I made the point or not. Just because it's making the top 100, doesn't mean it doesn't sound dated. There are plenty of names on the list that sound dated but are still there (Kevin, Jason... everyone's bored of Sarah, but it's still number 20.)
But I think that the first-gen immigrants are probably a big reason it's so popular. Another reason might be people honoring older Kimberly's (that's my explanation for several of the dated sounding names that still top the charts). And I'm sure there are some people who use it because like it, but then, there are people who like Shirley and Lisa too.
And a lot of people don't research names. Not everyone's a namenerd, right? And I've met people who really 'don't care' about names and they don't have much they like or hate. It might be as simple as "gee I want my child to fit in, and I have three co-workers named Kimberly... it must be a popular, American name! I'll use that!"
idk. I dunno if I made the point or not. Just because it's making the top 100, doesn't mean it doesn't sound dated. There are plenty of names on the list that sound dated but are still there (Kevin, Jason... everyone's bored of Sarah, but it's still number 20.)
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