It used to be an unusual first name was a liability. Just ask my sister, Kevin. Yes, her real name is Kevin. And she grew up in the 60’s when girls had names like Sue, Ann and Karen.
Today, unusual names are all the rage to a point. Self-branding minded parents are spending time and money trying to choose unusual yet interesting names for their newborns. They’re looking for a name that is ownable on a Google search.
That’s why “baby names” was one of the top ten generic Internet search terms in 2006 ranking it up there with “weather” and “directions.” There are more than a hundred baby-naming websites that offer name databases, online polls and individual consultations. Like marketers, some enterprising parents are even hiring naming professionals to come up with a distinctive name. What’s in a name? A lot.