Celebrity names

We adore them, criticize them, and follow details of their personal lives with interest. And some of us go a step further and even name our children after them.

Naming children after celebrities is hardly new and the names of movie stars, sportsmen, and people in the news, have spawned generations of children with common names. This is because parents like to give their children names of people they admire. Also, they hope that by sharing the name of their idol, the children will also be assured success, fame, and fortune in their lives.

While there is nothing wrong with naming children after celebrities, there are many reasons why this need not be the sole criterion for selecting a name.

• Naming your child after a public figure will mean that people will always associate the name with that person. This is not fair to your child.
• The image conjured up by the name may not match the personality of your child.
• Some celebrities enjoy only a brief moment in the limelight. You may even grow over your fascination for a star. In such circumstances, it may not be appropriate to name your child on a momentary whim.
• All too often, celebrities are associated with controversies. If this happens, your child may become an innocent victim of someone’s scorn.
• Some star-struck parents, who name a baby after a celebrity, tend to set high expectations for their child. This benefits neither the parent nor the child.
• Often, one of the parents may decide on a celebrity name, which the spouse dislikes.