Why are baby names becoming more and more odd?

I read something today in Psychology Today magazine, saying something to the effect of "Being special is the new conformity". I feel like its just another form of narcissism, people wanting their child to be different and unique because as a reflection of them, they simply must be that important.

Another interesting fact in the magazine a few months ago, was that studies indicate that men with unusual names are more likely to commit a crime. I don't remember the statistics or other information on that one, but it's worth looking up- even just for amusement.

Personally I am not a hater of the trend. There are certain aspects and situations that are just not okay, like spelling something with a silent "q". I once saw a question saying how would you pronounce Taighx. I answered "TY-CS like the little tikes" the answer was Ty they just decided to put an x in. That in my opinion is going overboard. On the other hand though I appreciate the unique names, but I think people sometimes get so caught up in the name being unheard of that they forget it should still be pretty. For example I love the name Kyler for a girl. It is pronounced Tyler with a k. I think it is quite unique and pretty phonetic. I once posted a question for alternative spellings just to see if there was anything simpler and I found an answer suggesting Kaiyelerre. That is taking it to far. I also love the spelling Kailar, but I think it would be mispronounced a lot. In this day and age I have never actually seen anyone made fun of for there name. In my school there is a Hero, Dusty, Bo, and Blue (all girls because I go to an all girls school) and none of them have ever had a problem with there name. I like a lot of unique names, and my name although it is becoming more popular is still quite unique (Carissa.) I plan on giving my kids unique names, but not ugly ones:

Roman Alexander [boy]

Kyler Alexis [girl]

Campbell James [boy]

Cohen Michael [boy]

Mila Rose [girl]

Avah Lane [girl] (prn. AA-VAH aa like open wide! aaaa)

Archer Justin "Archie" [boy]

Callan Burke "Cal" [boy]

Bodhi Doug [boy]

Elia Bailey [girl]

Aria Jane [girl]

Arlo Noelle [girl]

With what one of the answerers said, this generation of parents WERE born in an era where Jessica, Emily, Morgan, Brittany, Ashley, etc. were extremely common, and they probably don't want their children to have to be Taylor #3 in their homeroom class. I also think it has something to do with the fact that everyone thinks that they're "unique" and "special", how they "don't conform with cliches" and other MySpace.com About Me-esque type reasons. So they want their children to have weird *** names that will probably make them enemy #1 by the time their kids are teenagers.

Now, it really depends. Peyton and Avery being girl names aren't too bad, and spelling them Averie and Haley like Hayleigh or something like that isn't bad either. But when you're spelling 'Kayla' like 'Kaiylaa', that's going a bit too far. It really just depends on the name, but I think a person can decipher the line between unique enough to be the only one in the classroom and to where the teacher has to ask how you pronounce it multiple times over.

Simple: They want there child's name to be different. In order to do that they give them strange spellings or completely made up names. It annoys me as well especially the names where I can't even tell how to pronounce them. I can just picture a teacher looking through the names for attendance or something and having no idea how to pronounce the name and having to ask. But, yeah, it's getting ridiculous. I mean I can understand if the name is changed slightly in order to honor someone but other than that I hate it.

For me personally, I've looked into family names (which are European) and I've made a lot of friends who are from different countries and cultures, so my exposure to different names has increased. If I post a name with the pronunciation in brackets, then it's usually because it's not a name everyone knows how to pronounce here on yahoo (for example, Saoirse or Seren), but they are legitimate names.

I agree with you about the random spellings...Madeline and Maddahllienne are pronounced the same, so why slaughter it?

People say they want their children to be different and unique from everyone else and that they're tried of the same old names. I don't agree with it. I work in education and I've seen some crazy names. Personally, I think the more unique names *could* be cute when a child is young; however, I think they sound ridiculous when they reach adulthood.

Would you want the CEO of your company, the mayor of your city or doctor being named, " Charity" or "Nevaeh", "Bentley", "Bronx" or "Brooklyn" Think about it, you're sick in the hospital and they're paging "Dr. Bentley Bronx Jadyn Smith" I might raise an eyebrow to that......

idk why most people like it. I like unique names because i grew up with the name Kayla. How common is that. i met 6 people between 8th and 11th grades with the same first and middle name as me, together. I want my babies to have something unique but not something so unique the teacher will have to call them by "the one i cannot say." lol

I think odd spellings like this can be cute depending on the last and middle or first name:

name-------------->how i spell it.

Briley---> Brylee or bryleigh.

kylie---> Kylee or kyleigh.

Sara(h)---> Sarya(h)

I have tried the name caleighaunna/calieauna. people try to correct me and spell it like im trying to say it like the little anthony girl that went missing; but im not. its not ANNA. its AUNNA the u is meant to be there.

I mainly like names like:

Brylee, Jocelyn, Maddison, Kylee, Renae, Jayden, Braiden, Ayden, Jeffrey.

and my name; i have purposely misspelled it so many times as:

Kaylah, Kaila, Cailah, Kaela, Kala, Caila, Kalia, instead of Kayla.

BUT I DO THINK SOME ARE OVER BOARD.

I agree that a lot of the names have horrible spellings and will be hard to pronounce. Apparently people want their kids to live through the agony of constantly correcting everyone. I had to correct people on my name spelling... and it's Caitlin. Simple. Not at all complicated.

My most complicated name I LOVE is Mariska. It's a Hungarian name, honoring many of my family members, and pronounced Mah-rish-kah. (see Mariska Hargitay the actress)

While it is a pain to correct people, I can't help but love this name. I had to correct people with my simple name and it's simple spelling...it's hard to find a name I like that hasn't got at least two options of spelling.

I don't like the trend. I find it horribly distasteful. Those names don't look pretty or handsome by any means, and many of them SOUND horrible too. (those made-up like names)/

President Nevaeh!

President Jaxyn! (the name my sis wants to use on a GIRL)

President Alyzabythe! (Elizabeth)

President Malikaie (Malachi)

President Zxander (Zuh-Zander....name my ex-friend wanted to use)

President Izzayiah (Isaiah.... seen this before!)

GROSS! They want their kids to be unique even though they're dooming their child with bizarre names and butchered spellings.

=)

Because people get tierd of common names. They are just as annoying as when a parent at least tries to give thier kid a special name.

I'm giving my kids unique names.

I think it's because today's typical parent was born in a generation of typical names and got sick and tired of being confused with the other five "Emily's" in the class, so we're giving our kids unique names so they won't be confused with other kids.