Method of naming babies has changed
Published Saturday, May 24, 2008
Not too many years ago, when it was time to name the new baby, the parents looked to their favorite entertainers — singers, actors, movie stars or even baseball or football players — for possible names. But times have changed in the last 10 years.
The 2007 list of most popular names for babies lists Emily and Jacob as the top two. Emily has held the honor of first place for 12 years and the name of Jacob has been tops for nine. The trend appears to be toward the "good old names" like Isabella, Emma, Hannah and Elizabeth for girls and Biblical names such as Michael, Joshua, David and Matthew for boys.
I found the name of Emma in third place particularly interesting as that was my grandma's name and she was born in 1869. Wouldn't she have been surprised to know her name was still very popular almost 140 years later!
Where do we get all of this information? Believe it or not, is provided by the Social Security Administration. If you wish to offer suggestions for baby names to the grandkids or great grandkids about which names were popular when, simply go to your computer and enter www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames. Names are listed for each decade from the 1880s to the present.
The April issue of The Golden Page is available in the Senior office. There are no baby names listed but you'll find plenty of interesting reading material. Senior Center members receive one copy free. Additional copies are 25 cents each.
If you are a gardener but don't have space to plant a garden, here is an alternative. The City of Fergus Falls Park and Recreation Department has tilled up an area at 905 E. Junius. If you wish to participate, the only charge is $20 for each plot to cover the cost of water which will be available on site. To reserve a space, call the Park and Recreation Department at 739-3205. There's nothing better than fresh vegetables right out of the garden.
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