In the Western world’s current consumer culture, more parents are naming their children after a band, a specific product, or comic book character. When Nicolas Cage became father, he named his son Kal-el, which happens to be Superman’s birth name. Cage chose this unusual name because of his passion for comic books. Nelly, a popular rap artist, named his daughter Chanel, and singer Erykah Badu gave her daughter the name Puma.

Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis also belongs to one of the Hollywood stars who chose to give his child a distinctive, musically inspired first name. When his model girlfriend Heather Christie gave birth to their first child on October 2, 2007, they named their son Everly Bear. The rocker chose the unique first name as a tribute to one of his favorite rock bands, Every Brothers. His model girlfriend, Heather Christie, came up with the middle name Bear because she wants their son to know he is part of a “clan” and because of the “earthy” feel of the word.

But not just celebrities turn to the world of popular culture to name their children. More and more parents are naming their children after designer clothes, expensive drinks, popular toys, and manufactured cars. Names like “Armani”, “Timberland”, “Del Monte”, and “Lexus” are becoming increasingly popular.

In 2007, a Swedish couple decided to name their daughter Metallica, but the National Tax Board, which vetoes newborns’ names, objected to the name, claiming that it is inappropriate for a baby girl because it is associated with both the heavy metal band and the word “metal”. The parents have appealed to the district court, which eventually allowed them to keep the name Metallica.

Another Swedish couple has just won the right to name their baby son “Lego” after a legal battle. The parents took their case to the appeals court after both the Swedish Tax Authority and the County Administrative Court denied them the right to name their son after the famous colored building blocks for children. The couple, who have already called their son Lego for the past year, say that if the name had caused any humiliation, they would have thought of changing it. 

Brand names definitely stand out. Naming a child after a brand can reflect parents’ aspirations and dreams. Some parents name their child after a brand like “Armani” or “Chanel”, which are associated with money, exclusivity, and glamour.

Related Articles:
All-American Baby Names
Top Celebrity Baby Names

Comments (6)

Subscribe to this comment's feed