Zoom ahead to 2014. Many of us born in the 1970s and early 1980s, who remember our kindergarten classes filled with names like Jenny, are now having kids of our own. Yet, we’re not choosing Jenny anymore. Out of the top 20 names for girls in 1970, only Elizabeth has managed to remain popular enough to make the top 100 in 2014.
The names we grew up with—Lisa, Christina, Susan, and Heather—have seemingly vanished from the naming charts, failing to even crack the top 500 last year. In 1970, names like Tracy, Tammy, and Dawn were given to over 53,000 baby girls, yet they didn’t even make the top 1,000 in 2014.
What’s intriguing is that while we’re casting aside “our” names, the opposite trend is happening with boys’ names. Michael, David, and James—some of the top names for boys in 1970—are still very much in vogue, remaining in the top 20 for 2014. In fact, 12 of the top 20 boys’ names from 1970—including William, John, Kevin, and Joseph—still rank within the top 100 today. Unlike girls’ names, which seem to shift every decade, boys’ names have a remarkable staying power.
The Social Security Administration recently released data on the most popular baby names for 2014, revealing trends that date back to 1879. If you dive into this treasure trove, a few things become clear. Boys’ names like John, William, and James have consistently appeared among the top names decade after decade, while girls’ names seem to undergo complete overhauls every 10 to 15 years. This is likely due to the tradition of passing down names from fathers to sons, a practice that simply doesn’t exist in the same way for girls.
However, I find it disheartening that each generation of women appears to reject their own names. It makes me ponder if this is just another reflection of how women often view themselves in a negative light. I’ve never encountered a man who lamented his name or felt it was outdated, yet I hear women express disdain for their names frequently.
Have names, like our physical appearance and even our homes, become yet another area of personal dissatisfaction? In our quest to give our daughters “modern” names, we may inadvertently be setting them up for the same fate. Just as the name Jennifer is a clear marker of a 1970s childhood, names like Mia will undoubtedly signal “I was born in 2014.” Let’s hope they fare better than Tracy.
For more insights into the world of parenting and fertility, don’t forget to check out our post on fertility boosters for men at Make a Mom. If you’re curious about at-home insemination options, Cryobaby’s at-home insemination kit is worth a look. And for an authoritative source on intrauterine insemination, you might find this Healthline article very helpful.
In summary, the phenomenon of names like Tracy disappearing from popularity raises questions about how women perceive their identities and the names they pass on to their children. The stark contrast between boys’ and girls’ naming trends suggests a deeper cultural narrative that warrants reflection.
Keyphrase: “disappearing girls names”
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]