Last night was the Honors Night at the junior high school where Sariah attends. As I often do when lists of local names are presented, I start browsing for “made-up Mormon” names. There’s a bizarre trend in Utah Mormon culture to give children made-up or creatively misspelled names — but there’s also a certain sameness, as if they’re trying to achieve uniqueness within a template.
Here’s my list from last night.
Addisun * Addyson * Alaysha * Alyssan * Annee * Ashlen * Baylee * Brecklyn * Brek * Brevin * Bridger * Briella * Brigg * Brighton * Brinley * Brylee * Brynnlee * Camryn * Cayden * Cheyanne * Coltan * Corbyn * Danyella * Daxton * Emalee * Erynn * Graysen * Halen * Harlee * Indion * Jadon * Jalen * Jaret * Jax * Jaxon * Jayla * Kalena * Kameron * Kaydree * Kelcee * Keldon * Kellan * Kenidee * Kennady * Kennli * Maddelyn * Madilyn * Madisen * Madyson * MaKayla * MaKelle * MaKenna * Makinlee * Maloree * McKayla * MeKell * Mekhael * MiKenna * Morgyn * Myah * Raimee * Ryker * Shaylee * Shyann * Siarah * Syndee * Taeja * Tannon * Taylinn * Tymiah * Xane
Most of these are (I believe) girls, although there are several boys in there.
As someone who grew up in Maritime Canada, where surnames like McDonald, McDonnell, McKenna MacRae, McAleer, etc. are thick on the ground, it always amuses me that people in the west like to make girls’ names out of a surname that literally means “son of X.”
And these, I remind you, are just from the honor roll, which means that mostly they’re from families with parents smart enough to encourage scholastic achievement. Imagine how many more there are from stupid people’s families!
(I will note, to forestall any “Yeah, but” comments, that my daughter’s name, “Sariah,” isn’t made-up. It’s uncommon, especially outside of Mormon circles, but it’s an authentic Hebrew name.)
“it always amuses me that people in the west like to make girls’ names out of a surname that literally means ‘son of X.'”
Is that actually any stranger than a girl having a *surname* that literally means “son of X”?
At this late date, after literal patronymics have long been converted to lineage surnames, not so much. But given that first names are supposed to be an individual designation, it’s a lot more in-your-face to me. (I tell people, “Imagine how you’d react to a girl whose first name was ‘Robertson.'”)
Well, yes, but most people are unaware of the literal meanings of both their given and family names. In that way, it’s no weirder as a given name than as a family name. I suppose the fact that Scotch-Irish surnames seem to be considered feminine is weird in itself, but that’s another issue.
“There’s a bizarre trend in Utah Mormon culture to give children made-up or creatively misspelled names…”
That’s also a popular trend among African-Americans. In fact, I see some of those exact same names on your list. I wonder if one preceded the other or if it’s a simultaneous generational thing.