I'm a bit obsessed with baby names. I think all new or soon-to-be parents are obsessed with names, but that obsession never wore off with me. In my defense, while we're (pretty much?) done, our friends keep making them babies, so the instinct to immediately start checking names on the Behind the Name site never wears off.
And I like checking the popularity of my kids' names (and of others' kids). See, there's a whole philosophy here. You want to pick a name that represents your kid, which is impossible to do, since he's a baby. You don't want the name to represent you--it's not about you after all (which is why pseudo-cool names never appealed to me. I'll pass on enough emotional baggage to my kids. Can't help it. But I can help removing that particular baggage they will have to carry for the rest of their lives. I'm talking to you, Frank Zappa).
Also, pro-tip: here's my formula for how to NOT pick out a girl's name: Google a bunch of possible names, and if there are more porn stars than cool, accomplished women with that name, the name is out.
When I did a search for Madeline, I came across this video of Madeline Kahn singing with Grover, and knew I had a winner.
Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was Nametrix, an app I had a chance to try. It was developed by a dad from Seattle, and it's just what I needed, as an obsessed name-a-holic on the go.
It's a fun little app for soon-to-be parents and for crazy people like me. If you want to check it out, here's the iTunes page. It's $0.99 right now, which is nowhere as close to what your kid will pay to overcome having a silly name.
And I like checking the popularity of my kids' names (and of others' kids). See, there's a whole philosophy here. You want to pick a name that represents your kid, which is impossible to do, since he's a baby. You don't want the name to represent you--it's not about you after all (which is why pseudo-cool names never appealed to me. I'll pass on enough emotional baggage to my kids. Can't help it. But I can help removing that particular baggage they will have to carry for the rest of their lives. I'm talking to you, Frank Zappa).
Also, pro-tip: here's my formula for how to NOT pick out a girl's name: Google a bunch of possible names, and if there are more porn stars than cool, accomplished women with that name, the name is out.
When I did a search for Madeline, I came across this video of Madeline Kahn singing with Grover, and knew I had a winner.
Anyway, what I really wanted to talk about was Nametrix, an app I had a chance to try. It was developed by a dad from Seattle, and it's just what I needed, as an obsessed name-a-holic on the go.
It's a fun little app for soon-to-be parents and for crazy people like me. If you want to check it out, here's the iTunes page. It's $0.99 right now, which is nowhere as close to what your kid will pay to overcome having a silly name.
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