#GrowingUpWithMyName Will Make You Reconsider Your Kids' Names

What's in a name, you ask? Apparently years of tragic Starbucks cup misspellings and embarrassing substitute teacher mispronunciations, if the viral hashtag #GrowingUpWithMyName is any indication. This particular conversation starter is experiencing a sort of digital renaissance on Twitter, reminding us that everything, apparently, is in a name—most notably, years of merciless pop culture references and unapproved nicknames. Whether you were the original Eileen Dover or never got to experience the joy of purchasing a name-printed keychain in souvenir shops as a kid, everyone and their mother has a name story. It's almost a universal rite of passage into adulthood. 

Which brings me to my next point: What's in your kid's name, future or existing? If you've managed to make it to adulthood relatively unscathed by the implications of your name and you plan on having children, have you considered all the answers? While you may see "Apple" as a lovely, fruit-inspired name, others may be compiling an arsenal of Steve Jobs jokes at the expense of your kid.

If anything, the #GrowingUpWithMyName phenomenon tells us that naming your child is no flippant task. While perusing baby name books or Google-searching the top 10 baby names of 2016, remember that this one word could condemn your child to a life of generic, uninspired nameplate necklaces—and no one deserves that. So whether you plan on stealing "Shayla" from Charlotte York or coming up with something completely original, remember to ask yourself What's in a name? 

Do you know what your own name means? Shop this book of name origins and share your new insights below.