Has Baby Naming Changed Forever?

I was writing a note to Nameberry’s editorial staff yesterday, commending them on the great job they’re doing covering baby naming in the age of coronavirus, when I realized I needed to say something to you too.

I needed to acknowledge how different the experience of naming a baby is right now from how it’s been ever before. You may have more time to obsess about names, but fewer people IRL to do it with. A greater need for diversion, yet a new imperative to take charge of one of the few elements of life within your control right now.

Whatever the changes names and naming are going through, we guess that what happens now will alter the landscape forever. New names will emerge that capture the mood and values of the time and honor its heroes. People may choose names more thoughtfully and look more to their virtual community for ideas and advice.

And yet names also stand as a beacon of stability in this uncertain and unpredictable world. Thousands upon thousands of names have endured for centuries, reminding us that no matter how dramatic the events of the moment, some things retain their beauty and meaning forever.

Choosing the right name is no less important now than it’s ever been, and you deserve to have as much fun, maybe more fun, doing it as people always have. We’re here for you, whether you’re looking to escape or focus with names, to find meaning or lose yourself in a world connected to the past as well as the future, to a time that transcends the pressures of now.

Stay safe, everyone, and visit us whenever you feel like it. If you’d like to tell us more about your experiences with names in these historic times, please leave a comment below or email Nameberry editor Sophie Kihm, sophie@nameberry.com.