Why do we like baby names?

This is a question for those of you who aren't trying to name a child right now but are just in love with baby names.





I've been very interested in names since I was in middle school. (I'm currently in my late 20's.) Recently, I've been asking myself what's so interesting about baby names, and I really can't figure it out. Where do you think our deep interest in names comes from? Why is it so much fun to suggest names to people and spend so much time thinking about the combinations we hope to use someday? Does it fill some innate need in us? Can you think of any other "hobbies" that are similar to this one?





I'd appreciate any thoughts! Thanks!

Why do we like baby names?
I started around the same time that you did, but I'm in my early 20s. I have changed a few names since then (I'm more conservative and traditional with my names now), but most of them have stayed the same.





I think why I do it is...


1. I'm expressing my want to have a kid. (I'm not in a relationship at the moment and am living with my mom at the moment; so having one is definitely out of the question.) I like making up baby names to help imagine what the kid would be like. This is definitely a very recent reason though - when I picked it up as a teenager, it was more of a way of expressing my femininity, the same way other teenagers express theirs in an über-pink or über-fashion phase.





2. Making a list of names is sort of relaxing. It's similar to an OCD thing of listing, though not as bad.





3. I'm partly naming myself. I imagine these future daughters as being a version of myself in a way; and in some sub-conscious way imagining a child of mine if like imagine a "new beginning" for myself. (As to whether having daughters will really be like this, I don't know.) Does that make since?





4. A friend of mine writes(novels, short stories, etc) and since meeting her, I've thought it's sort of like writing in a way...sort of like "developing a character" thing, but my ability to make characters is just much less developed than hers.
Reply:I'm interested in names just like you! I have a collection of baby name books but have no plans for children in the near future. I believe names are interesting to us because they denote characteristics of a person's identity. It's fun to share opinions about stigmas of certain names, and to learn the names' true meaning and origin. Plus the phonetics of names and experimenting with what is pleasing to say and hear is also entertaining. Names= personality traits + word games...so of course it's fun to study!
Reply:I don't know why I love baby names so much. I think it's just fun to imagine what we will name our future children. It's also fascinating to me to see what people from different cultures look for in a baby name.





Another "hobby" of mine that is kind of related to this is researching the genealogy of people's last names. I go to the Ellis Island website and just type in random last names of people I know, people on tv, etc. and see what the origin of that last name is. Genealogy and names are just fascinating to me. Maybe I'm just weird lol.
Reply:I have been into names for a long time as well even when i was little i would name my dolls middle names and all and i gave my children two middle names . Its just an interest like cooking, gardening,etc.For me i don't like a certain style of names its just how the names speak to me. Great question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!In picking out a name i don't consider the popularity of it but more the meaning .
Reply:I'm 14 and I love baby names, they fasinate me. I think I like them because it's fun to see what people come up with, but other than that, I can't find a reason why it's my obsession :)





I have a huge list of baby names, I can't wait to have kids (but I am because I'm only 14 and I'm not stupid enough to get pregnant)






Reply:maybe its because all people go by is the first impression of your name. Jack would seem more like a wealthy man than Joe and we like to make up names by them being cute, feminine, masculine, and if it goes together.. Its just something we are obsessed with and most likely none of us are even having babies. I named my niece, who is 10 months now, and it makes me feel important! :) haha
Reply:I think because there are connotations that we assign to names, and cause us to envision how the child's life might be.. popular, smart, cute, fun funny etc. so we suggest names that suit what we would want for our own children within the contraints that the person asking the question places.
Reply:I am the same way, I have always loved names. I have no idea why I even care. I have a long list of names that I love and have had it for a long time, oddly neither one of my children's names were ever on my list! I like weird ones, not made up ones, just unusual ones that I have never heard before.
Reply:I really have no idea. I'm only in middle school and i am so into baby names and their meanings. You know, the only reason i come on yahoo answers is to answer questions like this. IDK it's just fun.



Reply:Everybody tells me that my love of baby names is my not-so-subtle way of saying that I want children.





That logic is satisfactory for me.





:)
Reply:I don't really know, actually... I just love them because they're creative and cute and you can kind of plan for the future and things.
Reply:It's just a way of being hopeful, I think.
Reply:I'm still in highschool, but have been interested in names for a few years now. That means names has been a hobby of mine since middle school!





For me, it all started when I decided that I adore children (which was very early in life). My little sister was born when I was 7 and I cooed over her until she was old enough to tell me to stop. Lol. Since my sister, a small baby boom has happened in my family. I have so many cousins now, its adorable. So I've been a kid person my whole life and have become the go-to kid for babysitting around the people I know. The one thing I look forward to most out of life is kids.





I like baby names because I like babies and I care about babies, basically. I wouldn't mind being a mom right now, but I know that's a little early. :]
Reply:I am an Aquarius and always look to the future. This is why I love baby names, I picture the person going through all the phases of their life with that name. I think it is very selfish for someone to name a "baby" something adorable like Sparkle, Tink, or Velvet (all people I know) with the intention that it is a cute name for a baby, but don't really think about a grown woman with that name. Names are so fascinating, I have about 50 names I absolutely love and have spent years of my life researching names. It was so hard for me to pick names for my two children based on my obsession because choosing one name meant giving up all the others I love. This is why I love suggesting names to others, I feel I have the child's best interest at heart and hope the parents take my advice when naming their little one.





Other similar hobbies, I am a Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program. While this isn't the same type of hobby as baby names, it does affect the course of my Little's life, just like her name affects her in certain ways.
Reply:Hmmm...


I'm not really sure. I think my fascination with them started when I was in elementary school, when I was looking at names in the yearbook. Then, a later, I started researching family names' meanings. I had so much fun. :) A few years ago, a relative was having another baby, so she got a baby name book. I read the thing cover-to-cover. I loved it. Finally, I found Y!A, and the rest is history.....





Maybe it comes from our superstitious side, where all things have meanings and predictors, including names. Also, we've all had previous life experience with different names, since everyone has them. And, like previous posters put, maybe it's just wishful thinking.


The only thing I can relate it to is interior decorating. Why are people paid money to decorate a room for someone that isn't their own?





Interesting, deep question. Thanks, you really made me think about my obsession...
Reply:our interest probably comes from deep inside our brain because we like to fantasize about this beautiful baby we hope to have and depending on it's looks we want a name that suits it well and seems like it was just made for OUR child and only OUR child. and when you really aren't doing anything, your mind wanders and thinking about baby names is fun. it's fun suggesting to people because you just want to voice your opinion and hope that they choose a name you suggested and it will suit them well. it fufills the need to let your mind wander. any other hobbies? probably when your planning something-like a party or baby/bridal shower etc.





**hope this is a good answer and hope i helped** i need 10 pts.
Reply:Well I believe a lot of folks who answer and give ideas about baby names are still teenagers . the interest is there in all females.. it's just an instinct even if you are 15 or 17.. because we all have dreams of one day becoming a mom and I had a hobby of wanting to find nice names for my future children since I was 17.. it was a kind of obsession.. I even bought a book with baby names.. I only found out.. that over time I changed my taste in names several times.. the names I thought were ''cool when i was 17'' I would not consider now.. now I like other names.. but it's something most of us females have in common... we like to plan ahead and also have dreams about getting married and having a family even when we are teenagers.. that's why so many people do like to answer questions about baby names... xxx
Reply:I've been interested in baby names since middle school as well. It first started as simply researching names to use for role-play and story characters, but eventually evolved to where I had a personal taste in names and started jotting down the ones I really love.





Today, I'm in my early twenties and it's a full blown hobby. I love researching meanings and orgins of various names. Nameology fascinates me as will as giving me something to do. And now that I have a boyfriend, my need to collect names has grown deeper, since the want to have a child is becoming stronger and stronger. Actually I'm a bit frustrated because if I could, I would be trying for a baby right now.





I think as woman, it does fill a need inside us. We all, for the most part, have maternal instincts and want to have children.

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