If you shouted out your name in public, how many people do you think would respond? If you have a common name—Daniel for example—chances are you might get some people to turn around. But sharing your name with multiple classmates, friends, or co-workers is an experience that’s becoming much less common. Parents are increasingly prioritizing distinctiveness when picking out their kids' names. Joe Pinsker explained in a recent Atlantic article:
“American naming is now in a phase where distinctiveness is a virtue, which is a departure from the mid-century model of success: Today, you excel not by fitting in, but by standing out.”
In fact, there’s an entire industry of professional baby namers that has emerged out of this struggle to find an atypical appellation.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a unique name for your kid. All parents know their kids are special, and choosing a distinctive name is just one way to express it.
The problem arises when parents put too much pressure on thei…
