Parents Name Babies After Hunger Games Tributes

[Marshall Honorof]

Parents Name Babies After Hunger Games Tributes

A dystopian deathmatch makes doomed children's names very popular.

Coming up with the perfect name for something is usually even harder than creating the darned thing in the first place - especially if your end product is a child. Beleaguered parents have struggled with naming their children for generations, and while there have been some missteps [http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23631411/ns/today-parenting_and_family/t/harry-pitts-worst-baby-names-all-time/#.T4mDyKsePi8] along the way, they've generally done a pretty good job with it. In addition to cultural history, ancestry, and naming trends, pop culture can help give a few hints about baby names, and this year, young adult series The Hunger Games is providing a lot of inspiration. In 2012, expect to see lots of little Rues and Catos, two of "tributes" who compete in the titular games.

Names like Katniss, Gale, and Peeta have failed to become breakout hits like Edward and Bella before them. However, new parents have embraced Rue, Katniss Everdeen's sweet, agile little sidekick, and Cato, the merciless, hard-bitten antagonist. At first, naming a baby after two characters who get thrust into a pretty violent situation may not sound like the most brilliant idea, but both names have some historical precedent. Like "katniss," "rue" is a type of flower, and "Cato" is a name dating back to the Roman Empire. Neither name has been all that popular in the last hundred years or so, but at least for 2012, they're slated to make a small comeback.

There are perhaps less risky names for newborns, but children could do much worse than "Rue" and "Cato." The names are fairly unique, since once popularity for The Hunger Games dies down, they will likely recede back into obscurity. If The Hunger Games is still popular when this crop of Rues and Catos become teenagers, though, they made hold a slight grudge against their parents for naming them after those two. Let's just say that the odds were only in their favor for so long.

Source: The Mary Sue [http://nameberry.com/blog/baby-names-2012-the-hottest-new-choices]

Image: IMDB [http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2154148352/tt1392170]

Permalink

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Why do parents do this?

Why do they give their kids ridiculous names?

They're not signup sheets for a bloody MMO, you can't just call your kid 'Xxx3lite$nip3r69xxX' and expect you kid not to think you were being daft.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Rue is kinda a cool name.

I know somebody called Roux, which is pronounced the same.

At least it SOUNDS like a name, not like 'Harper Seven Beckham' or 'Apple tree' Or 'Peaches Geldof' (really fucking names... Seriously.)

THOSE ARE JUST WORDS IN ORDER, THEY AREN'T NAMES!

 

[KeyMaster45]

So wait, has anyone actually named their kids after characters from those books? I don't see any mention of it having happened up in the article; just looks like a bunch of "oh this is totally going to happen you guise" to stir up some rage.

 

[PsychedelicDiamond]

Why not? I think literature and other media always had an influence on the names people give to their children. I mean, most names were unconventional at some point, i assume.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Well, they aren't that bad as names go... I fully plan to call my probably-not-going-to-happen son "Lelouch" and screw the consequences!

Though i'll forever be disappointed in my future self if he ever does go and have children. I hate the little things.

By the way how's Baby Dovahkiin coming along? Don't worry kid, everyone will have forgotten Skyrim by the time you're in school. Be prepared for legendary amounts of shitty insults though

 

[RaNDM G]

Cato isn't exactly the best name.

 

[DarkRyter]

People name their kids after made up characters in books all the time.

Michael, Peter, John, Matthew, etc.

 

[antipunt]

Some of these names aren't too bad. Pretty cool.

 

[JaceArveduin]

I got bored and was looking through that linked list, and came across "Oliver Clothesoff"

I thought it was rather hilarious

 

[Therumancer]

Lol, to be honest this is the kind of thing that helps turn me into such a complete bastard. When I see people naming kids after pop culture phenomenas or to win contests, I believe it's a sign that we need to start taking rights away from people. I believe that before you should have control over any other person, even your own offspring, you should meet certain minimul requirements of responsibility. Something that feeds into my occasional declarations of saying that we should sterlize the population and then reverse it only for people approved to have children, reducing the population is a big part of it, but also it can be used to put an end to this kind of crap.

Barring that, I'm wondering if perhaps there should be some kind of approval process in hospitals which baby names are approved through before they go onto birth certificates. Kids don't stay these little, cute, borderline objects forever, and names can have a huge impact. Some pop culture referacen, contest, or whatever is a very short term thing that can ruin an entire life, as can Mr. and Mrs. Hooker deciding to name their daughter "Ima" for whatever reason.

As time goes on the "sacred right to name your kids whatever you want" increasingly comes into question as people prove themsevles unworthy of that "right". There were attempts back in the day to say force Indians to assume proper english names, and so on, which have reinforced the reasons why people should have this right, but as time goes on I'm increasingly questioning this being an untouchable right. Ultimatly I don't think an approval process would matter to 99% of the people out there naming their kids, anyway as most people don't do garbage like this, but you have to be concerned about the welfare of children where parents DO engage in this kind of thing.

Of course to my way of thinking as soon as parents showed up and named their kids something crazy to win a contest or whatever, I'd see that as justification to call social services. As bad as that system is, it's probably for the best given that I doubt the parenting abillities of someone who would name their kid Trogdar or whatever.

All kidding aside, and while there is no guarantee it will happen, if we find the teenage "Baby Dovakin" engaged in a school shooting rampage or something, it's not like there will be much question as to what drove him to it.

 

[Makhiel]

I was under the impression that the Hunger Games are aimed at the part of population that does not yet plan to have kids. But those names aren't half bad either way.

On the other hand it's kinda your problem for having somewhat lax rules. In here you can only use a name that already exists (and preferably isn't foreign) though of course exceptions are allowed.

 

[Suicidejim]

Called that one. I've already had to give my girlfriend a couple of very long, disapproving stares when she hints about how she thinks 'Katniss' is actually quite a nice name. Unless I'm allowed to name our first son "Thunderhawk Deathblade," it's not happening.

 

[Quiet Stranger]

I know if I have a girl with dark hair, her name shall be Marceline.

Also Hunger Games is terribly overrated, movie is anyways

 

[RagTagBand]

Yeah well, they aint got shit on my little baby skrillwub.

 

[Nouw]

The names don't sound that bad. I mean Cato is pushing it but it's not over the top. Rue actually sounds like a decent name.

People name their kids after made up characters in books all the time.

Michael, Peter, John, Matthew, etc.

You just made my morning, thank you.