Skip to main content
FamilyEducation
FamilyEducation
Family Education

FE-Menu

  • Pregnancy
    • <blank>
      • Pregnancy Tracker
      • Trying to Conceive
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Pregnancy Health
    • <blank>
      • Baby Names
      • High Risk Pregnancies
      • Preparing for Baby
    • <blank>
      • Concerns & Complications
      • Labor & Delivery
      • Postpartum
  • Baby Names
    • <blank>
      • Browse All Baby Names (A-Z)
      • Top Names for Boys
      • Top Names for Girls
      • Baby Name Generator
    • <blank>
      • Baby Name Lists & Ideas
      • First Names By Origin
      • Browse All Last Names (A-Z)
      • Last Names by Origin
  • Babies
    • <blank>
      • Caring For Your Baby
      • Baby's Health
      • Feeding Your Baby
    • <blank>
      • Your Baby and Sleep
      • Baby's Growth & Development
      • Baby Hygiene
    • <blank>
      • Baby Safety
      • Baby Products
    • <blank>
  • Toddlers
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Growth and Development
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Behavior and Discipline
    • <blank>
      • Your Toddler and Sleep
  • Kids
    • <blank>
      • Health
      • Childhood Development
      • Fitness & Nutrition
      • Childhood Safety
    • <blank>
      • Communicating with Your Kids
      • Childhood Behavior and Discipline
      • Fostering Responsibility
      • Instilling Values & Manners
    • <blank>
      • Childcare
      • Neurodiversity in Kids
      • Adopting Children
  • Teens
    • <blank>
      • Teen Health
      • Teen Puberty & Sex
    • <blank>
      • Behavior & Discipline
      • Teen Social Development
    • <blank>
      • Values & Responsibilities
  • Activities
    • <blank>
      • Printables
      • Indoor Activities
      • Learning Activities
      • Arts and Crafts
      • Performing Arts
      • Food Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
    • <blank>
      • Books
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Online
      • Quizzes
      • Games
      • Celebrities
    • <blank>
      • Parties
      • Travel
      • Toys
      • Holidays
      • Gifts
  • Learning
    • <blank>
      • By Grade
      • By Subject
      • College
      • Preschool
    • <blank>
      • Back to School
      • Study Skills
      • Learning Styles
    • <blank>
      • Homeschooling
      • Parental Involvement
      • Your Child's School
  • Family Life
    • <blank>
      • Mom Life
      • Dad Life
      • Family Relationships
      • Having a Healthy Marriage
      • Divorce
    • <blank>
      • Health & Fitness
      • COVID Resources
      • Managing Your Home
      • Moving Your Family
      • Pets
    • <blank>
      • Family Finances
      • Work
      • Families and Food
  • NewslettersNewsletters
    Newsletters

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Pregnancy
  3. Naming Trends
  4. Boomerang Names

Boomerang Names

It's currently trendy, even in Hollywood, to use traditional and classic names that have long been out of favor ("boomerang names").
  • facebook share icon
  • pin
  • twitter share icon
  • email share icon
  • Print page icon

Boomerang Names

What's in a Name

Japanese male children are traditionally given a short, simple name soon after their birth that they use through puberty. As they near adulthood, they are given a formal name in a special ceremony, one that they'll be called by everyone outside of their family.

No, these aren't names from the aboriginal tribes of Australia, but rather the names that were flung out of use a long time ago that are now zipping right back. Expectant parents are digging deeper into traditional and classic lists and pulling names from decades and even centuries ago. Why? Because they're so unused, these names are sounding new and contemporary even though they aren't.

This particular naming fashion began its latest round in England, where traditional given names have always been more popular than they are in North America. In the U.S., its growing popularity is evidenced not only by current naming records but also by the naming fashions coming out of Hollywood, both on and off screen.

Hooray for Hollywood!

Name Dropping

If you want to keep on top of the newest naming fashion trends, keep an eye on the goings-on in Hollywood. Actors and actresses don't just set style trends when it comes to clothing and hair; they, and the characters they play, also have a strong influence on naming fashions, probably because they are so visible.

Rather than give the daughter of the yuppie couple played by Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt a predictably yuppie name, the writers of Mad About You chose Mabel. This particular name selection was probably made for its comedic possibilities, as the incredulous reactions expressed by various cast members that went on for several episodes were pretty funny. And they had good reasons for having such reactions. Mabel is so far out that it's hard to believe that anyone would willingly choose it. But it does indicate a naming fashion trend, and the show made a statement in using it.

Jodie Foster, who uses a trendy first name in place of her more traditional given name, Alicia, chose the decidedly untrendy name Charles for her new son. No Rivers, Dakotas, or Sierras for the quintessentially classic Foster (although I wonder if she realized that her baby's name is evocative of one of the greatest film characters of them all—Charles Foster Kane, the tragic newspaper editor played by Orson Welles in Citizen Kane).

Other Hollywood stars who have given their kids boomerang names include Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig (Clifford and Roxanne), Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin (Sophia Rose), and Cybill Shepherd, who, after naming her oldest daughter Clementine, chose Molly Ariel and Cyrus Zachariah for the twins she conceived while starring on Moonlighting.

Noah and the Rest of the Testament Clan

Some names from the Bible, like John, James, Rachel, and Sara, are so beloved that they never drop far from the top of the popularity lists, but others names in this category that are gaining in use, such as Ezekial, Esther, Edna, and Silas, definitely fall under the boomerang category.

Was this article helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

What's hot

  • Ultimate List of Double Names Pregnancy100 Double Names for Girls…
  • Colonial Names Pregnancy75 Colonial Names for Your…
  • The ultimate guide to Mexican names PregnancyThe Ultimate Guide to Mexican…
  • 75 Nerdy Names Pregnancy75 Nerdy Names for Baby Your…
NewslettersNewsletters
Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.
Family Education
FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found here.

FE Footer

  • Newsletter Center
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Editorial Team
  • Expert Panel
  • Medical Review Policy
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info (for CA Residents)
sandbox learning logo
Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. 

factmonster logoinfoplease logoTeacherVision logo

sandbbox logo
©2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company.