Posted on May 28, 2009 - by Nate

Online: Common Names Trump. Offline: Unique Names Take Stage

Last week I posted an article on how common name searches are more prevalent online. While this is true, I read an interesting article today saying the exact opposite was found in a recent study on names when it comes to children. 

Marketing Charts cited a recent study wherein they spoke about how common baby names are slowly dying. This sad, but true phenomenon has been happening over the last several decades. 

From the report: 

“Unique names may have some benefits such as creating a more individual identity, but they run the risk of promoting separateness, which is linked to narcissism,” said Campbell, psychology professor at the University of Georgia and co-author of The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement.

“These days, you don’t have to be the child of a celebrity to get a name as unique as Shiloh, Suri or Apple,” said Jean Twenge, SDSU psychology professor and co-author.

Twenge links the shift toward unique names to the increasing value of uniqueness in today’s society. “Parents used to give their children common names so they would fit in and their names would be easy to pronounce and spell. Now, they give their child a unique name so their kid will stand out and be a star.”

While this may be true for children, it is certainly not true for online search. When it comes to online search engine targeting, the more common names, phrases, monikers and acronyms you can use, the better. Perhpas parents can learn something from search engine optimization. 

My little sister is expecting here in a few months and the chosen name for her son-to-be is “William Thomas.” Seems common, but it seems that the common will one day be uncommon.