In 1997, my daughter Kala was born. Her name was ranked 948th, just behind Kendal and just ahead of Maricela. Tops that year and sprinkled among her classmates and friends are Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Hanna, Samantha, Taylor, Alexis, Elizabeth and Madison.
Quinn and Kala have good, strong, independent names that fit their peculiar personalities. They weren't chosen haphazardly like some on this year's list.
Mason, No. 2 on the list to perennial top draw Jacob, happens to be the name of reality fraud Kim Kardashian's son. And Briella jumped 394 spots — to No. 497 — apparently because Briella Calafore stars in reality TV's 'Jerseylicious,' which I'm told is about battling stylists at a Green Brook, N.J., salon. Try explaining those originations to your kids in about 10 years.
My wife's name, Denise, was 30th the year she was born. She's not Lisa, Mary, Susan, Karen, Linda, Patricia, Donna, Cynthia, Deborah or Sandra, nor would I want her to be. By the way, Denise now ranks 603rd.
My own name, Kenneth, was the 15th most popular in my birth year, behind Michael, David, James, Robert, John, William, Richard, Thomas, Mark, Steven, Charles, Gary, Joseph and Donald. It ranks 170th this year. As for my kids: Quinn now ranks 297th; Kala, sadly, is nowhere to be found among this year's Top 1,000 baby names.
The 2011 list from the U.S. Social Security Administration also reveals girls named Damaris (No. 1,000), Peyton, Milagros, Genesis, Malaysia, Juniper, Aurora, Rayne, Cambria, Sky, Phoenix, Liberty, Cherish, Temperance and Patience. I have long told my wife that I believe some women are prone to name their children after how they are feeling or the first thing that pops into their minds after giving birth.
I'm thoroughly convinced that somewhere out there is baby Tamponique.
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