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I really think the crazier name choices sort of melt away with age. Where I once wanted children named Augustin, Juniper, Hyacinthe and Ezekiel, I now find those names to be somewhat bratty, and ostentatious, much like I was at the time! However, I think through life experiences and by receiving more education, I have become more subtle in my style and thinking. Now I prefer names like Benjamin, Alice, Isaac and Susannah--tried-and-true American classics.

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I have observed that the level of education and the age of the parent are usually apparent if the name meets the criteria for being considered weird (inventive spellings, loud for the sake of being loud, garishly pretentious), however, these things are not as easy to gauge if classic established names are worn by their children. I think many educated people realize this, and opt for subtlety over bedazzlement.

This message was edited 6/20/2011, 4:02 PM