The economic downturn has affected just about every aspect of American life, and that even extends to baby naming.  We’ve noticed–and I don’t think it’s just among our enlightened readers–a definite change in attitude, away from trendiness and towards more solid, serious, traditional names. In other words, frivolousness is out, and substance is in.

With the President stressing the importance of our kids getting to college, many parents start to wonder–consciously or not–whether Caroline might just have some slight advantage in the acceptance process over Coco when her application to MIT is being considered, and if Charles might be considered a more serious prospect than Karrsen. 

And it’s not just the timeless classics like James and Elizabeth which have never gone out of style that I’m talking about, but rather names that until lately were judged to be too solemn and serious and unbabyish and dated for consideration: dusty in-law — or grandparent –names like Murray and Marian.  The baby namers of the recent past, who were calling their kids Ashley and Brittany, Madison and Montana, and on to Jayden and Caden, would probably have laughed or turned up their noses at most of the names below, seeing them as way too adult, starchy and uncool.  But the times they are a-changing and the tide is turning, and these names have, in addition to a solid past, a foreseeable place on the kindergarten cubbies of the future.

GIRLS

CLARA
CORA
EDITH
ELEANOR
ESTHER
EVELYN
FLORENCE
HELEN
IRENE
IRIS
LOUISE
MARIAN
MIRIAM
MURIEL
OLIVE
PENELOPE
ROSALIND
RUTH
SELMA
SYLVIA
VIVIAN

BOYS

ARTHUR
CHARLES
CLIFFORD
CONRAD
EDMUND
FREDERICK
GEORGE
HARVEY
KENNETH
LEON
LEWIS
LLOYD
MARTIN
MURRAY
RAYMOND
SOLOMON
THEODORE
VICTOR
VINCENT
WALTER

For twelve years now, since 1996, the most popular name for girl babies has been Emily.  But it looks like Emily’s reign as the top girls’ name may be coming to an end–something we won’t know until the next Social Security list comes out in May.  In all fairness,  Madison or Emma deserves to take the top spot–they’ve been hovering around it for so long, but there are five other newer names that are hot enough to threaten Queen Emily’s supremacy.

What’s interesting about four of the five current contenders , Addison being the exception, is that they’re trendy without the sound or feel of trendiness typical of some of the high-rated names of a few years ago–Tiffany, Brittany/Britney, Ashley–that flashed onto the scene, became red hot, and then faded.  The difference with the present group is that they have deep roots, both historic and literary, and though they are clearly feminine, they also have strength and substance.

ADDISON is the name that’s had the most rapid rise, being the logical rhyming successor to the long-running Madison, and the first name in a while to have sprung from a TV show–Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice.  Currently at #11, it would be a long shot for first place, though it did reach that spot in two states

AVA is a name imbued with old Hollywood glamour via Golden Age star Ava Gardner and has taken off like a rocket, largely because of its use by a dozen or so current movie stars, starting with Reese Witherspoon.  It already headed the lists of nine states last year, and was #5 on the national list.

OLIVIA is a Latinate name popularized by Shakespeare for a leading character in  Twelfth Night and has continued to be used in literature all the way up to the contemporary kids’ book porcine character Olivia.  # 7 last year, it was also #1 in three states

ISABELLA was of course the Spanish queen who backed Cristoforo Columbo’s voyages, as well as being the name of a British royal, a character in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, in Jane Austen and in Wuthering Heights. Last year, it was #3 nationally, top name in nine states.

SOPHIA has been a favorite of British novelists, starting with the heroine of Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones, and shares reflected cinematic stardust with Ava, this time via the sultry Sophia Loren.  Three states had this name at #1 last year, it  was #6 nationwide.

So these are the candidates.  Place your bets.

It’s fitting that on the day of this historic election, we turn our attention to Presidential baby names.

The Presidential Names are fashionable partly by accident, and partly by design.  Many of the parents naming their babies Madison and Taylor, Tyler and Reagan are choosing those names not because they love the Presidents associated with them but because they’re attracted to the surname feel, or the unisex quality, or the stylishness of the names.

But some parents are also choosing names associated with presidents because we’re all hungry for heroes these days.  How can a child fail to be inspired by a name like Lincoln or Kennedy?

The most fashionable Presidential names are those a little off the beaten track: McKinley is an excellent choice, as are Pierce, Truman, Jefferson, Ford, Hayes.

Some Presidential names may still not be quite ready for prime time: Dwight or Eisenhower, for example, Ulysses or Washington.  And it seems unlikely that anyone is ever going to name her baby Coolidge or Nixon.

We might look to Presidential first names, middle names and First Lady names for fresh inspiration.  Quincy is a good choice, as is Mamie.  Franklin, Theodore, Calvin, and Woodrow may all be ready for a revival.  Even outgoing President Bush’s middle name Walker may prove baby-worthy, but Bush itself?  Doubtful.