What's so wrong with Brooklyn?

[nikkib]

I'm not sure why everyone is so down on the name Brooklyn. It's in our top 3, I think it's such a cool name. I feel like a lot of people right now are into the super girly names like Sophia, Isabella, etc. I'm just not into those names, but if someone asked what I thought about a middle name to go with their favorite first name, I would never put the name down and suggest new first names. (unless it was Rudolph or something crazy like that) But that's all I see over and over when Brooklyn is brought up. It is a popular name for a reason. And there are also people who ask why we would want to name our daughters after a rat infested borough of New York. I am in no way, shape, or form thinking of Brooklyn, NY when I chose that name. I also don't believe it's trendy. No, it's not a classic name, but it's been around since the early 90's. In fact, a friend of ours dated a girl named Brooklyn several years ago while they were both attending West Point. That's actually when we first heard the name and loved it. Ok I'll get off my soap box now, just sick of Brooklyn getting a bad rap!

[jeska]

Well, this is why I don't like Brooklyn (can't speak for anyone else):

1. place name
2. unisex
3. Beckham association
4. lyn ending
5. dated

I don't think you should take it to heart so much, anyway. Plenty of people on here hate the names that I like, and vice versa. And FWIW, I'd use Brooklyn in a hearbeat before I'd use Sloane, Greer or Genevieve (which are adored across this board).

[sodallas3]

Nothing is wrong with Brooklyn! I actually really like it.... but people do have their own opinion on it too. Sometimes I feel like the only names that aren't really pulled down are the names from the turn of a century. Otherwise modern names are often consider a tad left of centre. I mean I have to admit I like Taylor too; but hearing complaints about it all the time has made me decide only to use it as a middle name.

[stripedsocks]

Well, I don't get any appeal without the NYC thing. That was actually what I did understand about liking it.

Without that, it's the "girly" but dated lyn suffix attached to Brook, which is more pleasant without it.

Though I prefer River to Brook.

I'm not keen on Isabella/Sophia either, if its any comfort. And I know my names aren't going to please everybody - no name is. When I like obscure historic names they are though "weird, and vaguely Amish" (or Children of the Corn, I was told) and when I like simple nature names like Rain, Emerald, Hazel they are either "hippie" or "old" or "just a word, not a name." You're never going to please everybody.

[anna.bliss]

I don't think it is a bad name! I feel like people are always going to criticize any name. It isn't my style for my own child, but I think it is cute and has character for someone else's! I keep seeing so many of the same "unique" names on here over and over again. At least Brooklyn isn't on everyone's list!

[plato]

Brooklyn is fine, ignore the haters. And to the poster who says its dated...how so? Brooklyn is still in high use, I don't think its falling on the charts. A name is only dated when its in high use and then people completely abandon it, as a result the abandoned name attaches itself to one time period and dates people with the name to that period. Examples...Lisa, Michelle, Stacy, Jennifer.....those names are all attached to one generation. Whereas a name like Elizabeth is constant, no one has abandoned it ever...thus its a old name but not dated. People need to use the term dated in the proper context.

[nat108]

Everybody is not going to like everything. I'm glad most of my favorite names are not generally liked, means my future kid won't be called Lotus M. because there are three other girls in her class with the same name.

As for Brooklyn...
I like Brook. I like Lyn. Brooklyn sounds like you have something caught in your throat. Because it sounds so harsh, I'd prefer it on a boy
I like place names. Names like Venice, Mali, London, Sicily, and Cairo evoke history and beauty. I generally think of NY as dirty and overcrowded (I've never been, that's just what I picture). Even if you aren't naming your child after the place, that's still the impression people get

[jeska]

Brooklyn is fine, ignore the haters. And to the poster who says its dated...how so? Brooklyn is still in high use, I don't think its falling on the charts. A name is only dated when its in high use and then people completely abandon it, as a result the abandoned name attaches itself to one time period and dates people with the name to that period. Examples...Lisa, Michelle, Stacy, Jennifer.....those names are all attached to one generation. Whereas a name like Elizabeth is constant, no one has abandoned it ever...thus its a old name but not dated. People need to use the term dated in the proper context.

Brooklyn is falling on the charts, depending which charts you look at. I live in Australia, and Brooklyn only because popular when Brooklyn Beckham was born - which was in 1999. It shot up for a few years, and has been in decline since then. If it's not technically 'dated' yet, it will be in about 2 seconds.

I do understand what the term 'dated' means. I don't really appreciate being called a 'hater', either. If you would like me to be less diplomatic, I'll just say that I think it's a tacky name.

[lc22033]

Wow. Way to take a stand & get upset about people critcizing a NAME while spouting off harsh criticism (dirty, rat infested) of a place some people (myself included) call home. Brooklyn happens to be a well cultured part of the city with awesome history, restuarants, art and shopping. Also, naming your daughter Brooklyn WILL invoke images of the "rat infested" city. It's a place name. Do with that what you will.

[mcdonak1]

To me, it feels like dated '80s name Brooke + dated '80s middle name Lynn + current trendy factor (which means that it will date your child... take this from someone with a trendy '80s name). I love Brooklyn, NY, so that's the only possible appeal that I could see, but in my experience, no one naming their kid this is actually naming them after the borough, so it's really hard for me to see any appeal at all. I mean, I don't know any Park Slope moms with little Brooklyns. They would probably think that it was tacky.