What is the Most Over Used Name Poll Winner- Rose

Today's baby name is the poll winner. My Poll- What name is over used? Winner- Rose

ROSE
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, French
Pronounced: ROZ [key]
Originally a Norman form of a Germanic name, which was composed of the elements hrod "fame" and heid "kind, sort, type". It was introduced to England by the Normans in the forms Roese or Rohese. From an early date it was associated with the word for the fragrant flower rose (derived from Latin rosa). When the name was revived in the 19th century, it was probably with the flower in mind.

The Social Security List, lists the name Rose at the number 344 spot. Rose first appears on the SS list in 1880 at the number 30 spot. The name wavered in popularity between the years 1880 and 1929, then slowly lost favor over the next 8 decades.

The name Rose was voted most over used not for it's first name status, but it's middle name status. Rose is as common place as Marie, Lynn, Renee, and Grace. It has become "filler" as a middle name. Almost predictably boring and uncreative, Rose has lost it's appeal for many as a middle name contender.
As a first name however the name Rose is fresh and under used. Its a vastly different view from first to middle with this name, which I personally find quite interesting indeed. Rose has been one of those long standing names that over time still hasn't lost it's loveliness, or it's appeal to young parents. I find the name wonderful as a first name and wish I saw it more often. I've had the pleasure of meeting a few Rose's in my life. One was 3 years old, strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes. The other was 17 yrs old, brunette, green eyes and loves to smile, and the last was (at the time) 23 redheaded and light blue eyes, she was a happy, sweet woman and wonderful mother of one.
The name works well from childhood to adulthood. For public opinion on the name Rose as a first name and as a middle name see the link to the question I asked about it on Yahoo!Answers-
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091125085923AAcLWDr

First/Middle name suggestions.

Rose Charlotte
Rose Corinne
Rose Estelle
Rose Miranda
Rose Christine
Rose Catherine
Rose Daphne

Melanie Rose
Jordana Rose
Melinda Rose
Sabrina Rose
Samantha Rose
Darcy Rose
Natalie Rose

I personally prefer Rose as a first name, though I can fully understand the appeal of Rose as a middle. It is a lovely name and flows with just about everything. Still...I don't like the over use as a middle name.

Alternatives for the name Rose

Rosemary
Rosalie
Rosamund
Rosa
Rosaleen
Roseanne
Roseanna
Rosemarie

Of the alternatives listed I really like Rosamund, Rosemarie, and Rosalie. Do to Twilight though Rosalie is a bit popular itself.

Overall I think the use of Rose as a first name is quite lovely and very well adaptable from childhood to adulthood. The use of Rose as a middle name is over used, and a bit uncreative. Rose in general though, is a very lovely name and has a very wide spread mass appeal. This name should be around for a long time to come, whether first or middle.

J. Kristen

What is the most overused name poll winner- Michael

Today's baby name is the poll winner. My poll- What name is overused. Winner- Michael.

MICHAEL
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, German, Czech, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Pronounced: MIE-kəl (English), MI-khah-el (German) [key]
From the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el) meaning "who is like God?". This is a rhetorical question, implying no person is like God. Saint Michael was one of the seven archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies, and thus is considered the patron saint of soldiers.
The popularity of the saint led to the name being used by nine Byzantine emperors, including Michael VIII Palaeologus who restored the empire in the 13th century. It has been common in Western Europe since the Middle Ages, and in England since the 12th century. It has been borne (in various spellings) by rulers of Russia (spelled Михаил), Romania (Mihai), Poland (Michał), and Portugal (Miguel). Other more modern bearers of this name include the British chemist/physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) and basketball player Michael Jordan (1963-).

The SS list, lists Michael on the number 2 spot for 2008. Michael first appears on the SS list at the number 46 spot in 1880. Michael dropped in popularity just before the turn of the century but bounced back quickly during the 1900s and steadily gained favor. In just a matter of 10 yrs (between 1933 and 1943) Michael went from the number 53 spot in 1933 to the number 10 spot in 1943. Michael became the number 1 name from 1954-1959, and at it's longest stretch from 1961-1998. It's been at the number 2 spot since 1999 and is holding the spot firmly to this day.

For me personally, this is my least favorite boys name. I don't necessarily find the name awful sounding or looking, but it is very common. I think everyone knows a Michael, Mike, or Mikey or even a Mick. This name has been used so much that it is one of those that most anyone will have in their family tree. The continued usage of Michael I've concluded is due to two factors.
The first factor- Family Tradition. Many people who chose to use Michael do so because it's a family name. Either dad, grandpa or even great-grandpa carried this name (maybe even an uncle, cousin or brother). I myself have an Uncle Mike and a first cousin Michael. While well meaning as this may be, I'd rather use a less common name. For instance My Uncle Mike's full name is Michael Warren A. I would much rather use Warren as a way to honor him than Michael. My cousin Michael's full name is Michael Scott, and while Scott is also common it's not near as over used as Michael. Another alternative way to honor a "Michael" family member would be to use a variant, such as Micah or Michel.
The second factor- Lack of creativity. Michael is a default name. It's one of those names that truly "fits" any name on the planet. Everything from Michael Bronx to Kingston Michael to Thomas Michael and Michael Lee....it just goes with everything. I've seen some people using it as a middle name to 'tone down' a wild first name. I've seen some people use it as a middle name to buffer an awkward first name. I've seen it used as a filler name when nothing else could be thought of.

For the most part I've seen Michael used for family, but on occasion I've seen it used in a desperate subconscious attempt to normalize a trendy first name. By using the well known Michael some parents hope to make it "acceptable" to name their child things like Falcon, or Blaze, or Jaxon, or something equally "yoo-neek" in sound or spelling.
I have no misgivings about the legitimate strength of the name Michael. Michael the Archangel gives one a very powerful visual of the name Michael. Hair of spun gold, handsome face, broad shoulders and masculine features....ah yes, and those ivory colored wings of course. ;)
In all honesty Michael carries no such visual appeal for me personally. Michael's in my mind are tall, slightly rough looking, dark hair and olive complected; a bit cocky and very obstinate...a ladies man so-to-speak. That is just my impression and oddly enough has no resemblance to the relatives who carry said name; in fact, both are blonde, reserved, single, and somewhat attractive...not handsome, but pleasant. For public opinion on this name here is a question I asked about it on Yahoo!Answers-

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091104120249AAhRYKR

I find the "middle/first" combo section of my review utterly pointless as Michael goes with anything really, but for the sake of doing this review properly I suppose I should put forth the effort. lol Some name suggestions I detest, but I wanted to put across my point that this name truly is a default.

First/Middle suggestions for Michael-

Michael Weston
Michael Bradley
Michael Hayden
Michael Sean
Michael Donovan
Michael Chase
Michael Rikker
Michael Brody
Michael Connor
Michael Jaydon
Michael Camden

Felix Michael
Aidan Michael
Henry Michael
Phoenix Michael
Bronx Michael
Thomas Michael
James Michael
Foxx Michael
Finley Michael
Rainier Michael
Warren Michael
Tennyson Michael

etc.

Alternatives for Michael (are much much nicer than Michael IMHO and should be considered more often and more seriously!)

Micah
Michel (French, pronounced Mee-shell)
Michon (mee-shawn)
Micaiah (muh-kye-uh)
Miguel
Mika (mee-kuh)
Mikhail
Mikko
Mitchell
Mitch
Marshall
(a stretch the last 3, but still)

The alternatives that I like the most are Micah and Mitchell. Micah is such a wonderfully under used name on boys, and I'd love to stop this trend with using it on girls. I find nothing about that name girly in the least. It's a darn shame how we are butchering our traditional boys names today into "tryndee" garbage for girls.

Overall I find the name Michael DOA in this day and age. I don't think it's an awful or socially awkward name, but it's boring non-the-less. I would highly recommend an alternative name or a different one all together. I would really love to see this name drop in popularity and other names like Marshall and Mitchell, even Micah and Mikhail take some of the brunt of the Michael over load. It's about time for a refreshing change to the SS leader board!

J. Kristen

What is the most overused name poll winner- Aiden

Today's Baby name is the poll winner. My poll- What name is overused. The winner- Aiden.

AIDEN
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: AY-dən [key]
Variant of AIDAN

AIDAN
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Irish, Scottish, English (Modern)
Pronounced: AY-dən [key]
Anglicized form of AODHÁN. In the latter part of the 20th century it became popular in America due to its sound, since it uses the same fashionable aden suffix sound found in such names as Braden and Jayden.

The SS list, lists Aiden at the number 16 spot for 2008. Aiden first appeared in 1995 at the number 935 spot. Aiden has steadily gained popularity ever since. Within the last 5 years Aiden has become the new "It" name among baby boys. It's peek is at the number 16 spot for 2008, and at the rate it's going it looks like Aiden will be moving up into the top ten very soon.

I personally think the popularity of this name will make it an easy contender for the top 5. I have met many little Aiden/Aaden/Aden/Ayden/Aidan's. The name is a very nice masculine one. It matches a wide variety of middles/firsts. It's one of those names which could be used with any name really. I think this is the main reason for it's appeal, the ease in which it is to pair it with a middle/first name. I think Aiden might be the new Michael.
I do fear that the popularity of this name will be it's ultimate demise. It will rise and rise, and then ultimately fade into "trend" name history. I do find that a shame because it really is a very fine sounding name. It's hard NOT to like Aiden, but the turn off for people lately is its very popularity. For public opinion of this name please click the link below to read a question I asked about it in Yahoo!Answers-
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091012101539AAC4LlR

Middle/First names for Aiden are quite easy to come up with. The ease in which Aiden flows with just about any name makes it a tempting choice indeed. Some suggestions I would say for a middle/first name for Aiden-

Aiden Thomas
Aiden Mitchell
Aiden Lucas
Aiden Brennan
Aiden Blaine
Aiden Charles
Aiden Collin
James Aiden
Douglas Aiden
Keaton Aiden
Henry Aiden
Edward Aiden
Patrick Aiden
Christopher Aiden

Alternatives for Aiden are vast as well. Aiden has spurred a menagerie of "like-sound" names, such as: Jayden, Braden, Caiden, Zayden, etc. These would be obvious alternatives to Aiden. Some different alternatives might be-

Aden
Ayden
Aidan
Adam
Adrian
Afron
Aimon
Alan
Aldan
Alden
Aldon
Altan
Alton
Aaron
Arden
Aren
Auden

Some of these alternatives are more literal than others, but for the most part they have the same feel of "freshness" that Aiden had the first couple of years it gained popularity. Now it seems that Aiden has become too common place, and people are starting to branch out, searching for that next "It" name. These alternatives have that potiental. Some old classics that could come back into favor, and some little used classics that cold be nice to an audience of fresh ears.

Over all I tend to agree with the majority of voters here that Aiden is over used. Though My vote would have gone to the well over used name Michael, Aiden is an up and coming "once a nice name" contender. It's a shame too, because Aiden has such a lovely sound, and ease of speech. It also pairs nicely with a wide variety of first/middle names. I can see it's appeal, but it's continued over use is making it one of the most disappointing fast risers that's ever hit the top 20 list in a long while.

J. Kristen

Baby Name Day Off

I am taking today off. I will resume my baby name reviews tomorrow with a new girl's name. Thank you for browsing my site, and don't forget to vote on -The Most Over Used- Poll...the winner of the polls will be reviewed in a blog. :)

J. Kristen