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Help[Opinions] Re: Beyonce
in reply to a message by StormySundae
Ok apparently I have some feelings about this
Stuff like this is tricky. I recognize the desire for a parent to name their child after someone they admire or who inspired them, made something that helped them get through hard times, etc. And part of me really likes time capsule names that fully embody the spirit of the period they are born in. Like, unpopular opinion alert: I think it will be neat to see how many 2020-2021 babies have "Corona" somewhere in their names. Because it was a world-wide event that affected everyone, and I am super curious to see how the pandemic affects naming styles, if at all.
Anyways, at the same time it's a lot for a kid to live up to. It's not exactly giving them a blank slate, when the name of the admired person is so strongly tied to one individual. Also, it's EXTRA tricky if that person is still alive. Living people have time to make mistakes and fall from grace or experience reversals of fortune. There is so much potential for the associations attached to the name to change. Also also, I feel like it sort of curses the child to a life of being not-as-good, overshadowed by the person they are named after. Even if little Beyoncé becomes as powerful and magnificent as First Beyoncé, First Beyoncé still gets top billing.
Something about this practice of naming feels unlucky to me. Unique aspirational names are kind of tragic. Like, naming your kid "Astronaut" is not going to help them become an astronaut. If anything I feel like it makes it far less likely. It's like the kid is offered up as a sacrifice to the original honoree or ambition.
In conclusion I think a child could "pull this off", sure, but if I met a little Beyoncé I would feel a bit bad for her.
Stuff like this is tricky. I recognize the desire for a parent to name their child after someone they admire or who inspired them, made something that helped them get through hard times, etc. And part of me really likes time capsule names that fully embody the spirit of the period they are born in. Like, unpopular opinion alert: I think it will be neat to see how many 2020-2021 babies have "Corona" somewhere in their names. Because it was a world-wide event that affected everyone, and I am super curious to see how the pandemic affects naming styles, if at all.
Anyways, at the same time it's a lot for a kid to live up to. It's not exactly giving them a blank slate, when the name of the admired person is so strongly tied to one individual. Also, it's EXTRA tricky if that person is still alive. Living people have time to make mistakes and fall from grace or experience reversals of fortune. There is so much potential for the associations attached to the name to change. Also also, I feel like it sort of curses the child to a life of being not-as-good, overshadowed by the person they are named after. Even if little Beyoncé becomes as powerful and magnificent as First Beyoncé, First Beyoncé still gets top billing.
Something about this practice of naming feels unlucky to me. Unique aspirational names are kind of tragic. Like, naming your kid "Astronaut" is not going to help them become an astronaut. If anything I feel like it makes it far less likely. It's like the kid is offered up as a sacrifice to the original honoree or ambition.
In conclusion I think a child could "pull this off", sure, but if I met a little Beyoncé I would feel a bit bad for her.
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