How important are naming trends? Generally, people prefer to give their children names that are popular. However, an awareness of the fluctuations in naming trends is important. You do not necessarily want your child to be just one of the many ΓÇÿJennifersΓÇÖ in her class. Therefore, it is a good idea to consider whether your childΓÇÖs name will be distinct enough to provide him or her with an adequate sense of individuality, yet not so distinct as to be alienating. When a child is constantly asked to spell or respell, pronounce and re-pronounce his or her name, this can often interfere with the childΓÇÖs ability to feel at ease amongst peers.
Alternatively, unusual names are often the source of stimulating conversation as well as a way of pointing to the pride of oneΓÇÖs cultural heritage. One of the current trends in North American naming has been to experiment with the many possible spelling variations of traditional names, in order to give the name a more contemporary feel. As a result, it is no longer possible to assume that ΓÇÿAshleyΓÇÖ is the only spelling of the name - there are numerous other possibilities such as Ashlea, Ashleigh, Ashlee and Ashly.
