From Deseret News archives:

Old-fangled monikers tops

Emily popular but less so than Emma; Jacob No. 1 for boys in Utah

Published: Friday, April 21, 2006 11:44 a.m. MDT
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Every possible angle on names is explored by Korwitts, who is now a nameologist. For $35 she can help you "tune up" your name or for $40 she will send you an e-mail report on how your name could even impact your job status, financial success and personal satisfaction.

In case you were wondering, Korwitts changed her given name from Mary Ann to Maryanna and legally changed her last name from one she considered to be "long and unwieldy."

According to a testimonial by a Tasmanian woman formerly named Julie, two months after a phone consultation with Korwitts and consequently changing her name to "Jullie," the new Jullie is no longer as emotional as the old Julie and the new Jullie can now "go with things easier."

Sometimes it's apparently how a name is spelled that can make all the difference.

One Davis County School District principal who replied to an information request for this story said a trend in schools is parents who are trying to find the most unique names and the most unique ways to spell them.

Enter Hollywood, which recently has given us Suri (Tom Cruise's daughter) and Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter). Decide for yourself if those names are better or worse than Coco, Rumer, Scout, Dweezil, Moon Unit and Peaches (no known relation to Apple, but after a childhood of being teased she is reportedly sympathetic to Paltrow's daughter).

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But just try to make fun of an Emily or Jacob. You can't do it with a name like Jacob, according to the three boys in Mrs. Petersen's class.

The worst Emily jab anyone could come up with was, "Emily Bemily." Not exactly slanderous.

In fact, ask any of these Emilys or Jacobs and they'll all say — despite the redundancy factor — they like their name.

Until Utahns take a page from Hollywood and the popular music industry (a la Bob Geldof's girls Peaches, Pixie and Fifi), we'll continue to see repeat names like Hannah and William — not exactly unusual like a Belle or Banjo, but hey, it's just a name.

Here's what's happening at some Davis County schools:

  • Cook Elementary, kindergarten — three Connors, McKenna and Mckenna;

  • Centerville Elementary, first grade — Tayden, Kadyn and Jayden; Emily, Emily Rose, Emma and Emmaline;

  • King Elementary, second grade — three Brittanys (teacher solution: add last initial or use last name);

  • Cook Elementary, fifth grade — three Ashleys;

  • Holt Elementary in Clearfield, second grade — two each of Jaden and Kaden;

  • Holt Elementary, sixth grade — three Makinzees (different spellings — one goes by Mac, another Kenzie and one uses Makinzee);

  • Taylor Elementary, fifth grade — two each of Mitchell, Aimee and Kelsey;

  • E.G. King Elementary, fifth grade — three Jordans (one spelled Jordann), two each of Breanne and Ryan;

  • Windridge Elementary, second grade — two each of Amanda, Connor, Lauren and Brooke;

  • E.G. Elementary, first grade (2004) — three Morgans ("It was crazy," said Patty Paskett,teacher.);

  • Knowlton Elementary, first grade — three each of Jacob and Michael;

  • Valley View Elementary, third grade — four Emilys, two each of Annie and Sam.


E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com

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Emily Adams, left, Emily Fox, Emily Gordon and Emily Benson are all in one third-grade class at Valley View.

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