Conference oass::babynames

    
    Meghan was about the most popular name for a baby girl about
    two years ago. There are gonna be a lot of Meghan/Meaghan/Megans
    in the grade schools in a few years!
    
    Everyone decides to like the same names at the same time! The
    popularity of names runs on generational cycles.
    
    By the way, Brandon was very popular in the '70s and early
    '80s, I think. More in the '70s.
    
    Gordon would be a distinctive choice. More unusual than Scott
    or Stephen. The latter two would be "safe" choices in any event.

    My votes go for:
    
                    Scott Belinsky ! 
    
                          and 
    
                    Suzanne Belinsky !
    
     I like Scott because it has one syllabol like your husband's name: Mark
     and Suzanne has two as in Mary!
    
    

    Mary,
    
    I'm not too sure if I like the way Brandon sounds with your last
    name...  I'd have to vote for Stephen, Scott, or Gordon on the
    boys' list.  For girls, I've never been too keen on the name
    Ellen (past associations, I think) but I absolutely LOVE the
    name Suzanne.  You're right, Meghan *is* a bit too popular now,
    but what the heck?  If you really like a name, you shouldn't let
    it's popularity (or anyone else's opinion, for that matter) get
    in the way.  Remember, this decision you and your husband are
    about to make is for *life*.  By all means, name your child what
    you truly like.
    
    Congratulations to you!
    
    - Kathryn
    

    Since your name is Mary and your husband's is Mark, you might want
    to stay with an "M" name for your child.
    
    Examples are:
    
    Matthew 		Melissa
    Michael             Margaret
    			Maurine (sp?)
    
    Chris
    
    
    
    

    Of all the names that have been suggested up to this point, I would
    still be inclined to like two of your original choices.  (Of course
    this is my own humble opinion)  I like Gordon with your last
    name--sounds very distinguished, and yet can be "boyish" as well--make
    sure you could live with any nicknames that might become associated
    with it--Gordy, etc.
    
    As for a girl, I really like Suzanne.  It also, can be very elegant,
    which I think your daughter would appreciate when she gets older, and
    yet is a nice little girl's name that is not too popular right now--she
    might be the only one in her class with that name!  (Which is more than
    those poor Meaghans will be able to say!)
    
    You'll have the last say in the matter--do let us know what you choose!
    
    Good luck,
    
    J.

    Mary,
    
    I vote for SUZANNE BELINSKY for a girl!
    
    And I like Stephen for a boy (My SO is named Stephan)
    
    Another suggestion I love for a girl: Neva
    
    Let us know your choice.
    
    - Jeannette

    Speaking of Suzanne, if you "choose" a nickname, you might want to
    consider Zanne instead of Sue.  I used to work with several Susans
    (still do, no matter where I work!) and Suzannes, but one woman called
    herself Zanne so she would be just another Sue.
    
    Susan (Ellen)

    re .7
    
    How do you pronounce "Zanne"?  Just like it is pronounced in Suzanne?
    
    Mary

    Only if you pronounce Suzanne as the French or British do!  She
    pronounced it to rhyme with Caan (as in Jame Caan), not to rhyme with
    the American pronunciation of Ann (or Suzanne) - Z - ah -nne.  :-) 

    As one of many Kristin's in school I urge you to consider less popular
    names (especially sue and steve).  I hated never knowing if the
    teacher meant me or one of the three other Kristin's in my class!
    

    How about Stephanie for a girl or Sean or Gordon for a boy?
    
    Chris
     

RE: Suzanne -- I have an aunt Suzanne, who goes by the full name most of the
time, and sometimes her family calls her Sue-Sue... But, she never liked being
called Sue or especially Suz'.  Just thought I'd pass that on - I agree and 
prefer the whole name.

To Kristin - that's a really pretty name.  It's unfortunate that you've come
to think of it as common.  When I was in school, I had an unusual enough name
that kids would mispronounce (went by the formal name of Corinne, "in" not "een")
or worse, butcher ("Corny","Cornelius","Corky", etc.).  I always wished I had
a more popular name like Patty, Suzy, JoAnne, or Kim, until I got older and
appreciated by parents' choice.  I think there's always a time in a kid's life
when they have an identity crisis and hate their name... I survived that
but now use the nickname "Cori", even on bank accounts, etc. -- maybe some day
I'll use the full name again...

-C

    How about something *completely* unique, like... Kaitlin!
    
    (I saw a TV program - documentary - about babies, and they had, get
    this, THREE Kaitlins at once! Even if they set out to find three babies
    with the same names at the same ages it would be hard, but Kaitlin??
    -- way overused, way too trendy.. danger, stay away!!)
    
    My two cents, and it's only two cents, consider the "ethnicity" of the
    name you are giving your child (course it's the end of August and maybe
    it's pointless now) but be careful that you don't give him/her a first 
    name that goes with your last name like ketsup goes with ice cream.
    What I mean is try to avoid possible odd counterpoints that would sound
    out of place, like "Luigi O'Sullivan" or "Colleen Klubotchnik."
     
    It's always a judgement call, though, since a great many of the
    acceptable names we use today *are* of a culture different from our
    ancestry, but some still sound out of place when combined with certain
    family names.
    
    Maybe I'm off the wall on this, but like I said, it's only two cents of
    advice anyway...
    
    Ed

    Thanks for all the advice.  We had a baby girl on September 1, and
    named her Ellen Elizabeth.  Your points about Suzanne (nicknames)
    and Meghan (culture clash) are ones I agree with.  We're very happy
    with Ellen, and are enjoying her immensely!
    
    Mary