The Name Game

Naming babies is fun — and funny. One Web site debates the wild and the weird when it comes to kids’ names

When I share my daughter’s name, people often say “Like the movie?” or “That’s so different!” Honestly, neither response is entirely accurate. While there is a movie called Coraline (which is based on a book of the same name), we came upon the name via “Caroline.” And my eight-year-old neighbor says there’s a little girl named Coraline on his soccer team, so that’s at least two Coralines in one county. But the fact that my daughter’s name is not one-of-a-kind does not bother me — it suits her, it sounds nice, and as far as I know it doesn’t lend itself to cruel nicknames.

In light of this Web site (which has had me in stitches for days), I feel pretty good knowing that the greatest grief Coraline’s name may bring her is having to correct people when they call her Caroline (well, that and her very long hyphenated last name). If you’re expecting and having a hard time narrowing the baby-name thing down, check out the site — consider it an educational tool and an ab workout in one. The perfect name is hard to come by, but thankfully for entertainment purposes, bad names are not!

That said, what’s the most ridiculous name you’ve ever heard? How did you choose your little one’s unique moniker? Let me know in the comments box below!

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