Parents in the US are naming their babies after GUNS the headline screams at Ireland’s evoke.ie, hovering above an incendiary image of a young girl reaching for a handgun. [Note: she needs that extended mag like she needs a hole in the head.] “Gung ho parents in the US are naming their kids after weapons and guns,” the article begins. I wonder how Galen English resisted the urge to write “Gun ho parents in the US.” Maybe Ms. English thought using the word “ho” with the “gung” prefix would have labelled her racist. Anyway, “More children are being given names related to guns, knives, historical warriors, dark goddesses and macho movie stars, according to a survey by [an ironically unnamed] US baby name website. Shooting its way to the top of the list [ED: Atta girl!] . . .
Gunner, which was given to more than 1,500 babies in the US last year.
Whoa! Only 1500 Gunners out of just under four million U.S. births. That’s not exactly what I’d call a trend – although I’m not a left-leaning elitist writing in a country where only the police, terrorists and aristocratic grouse hunters have guns. More to the point … no wait, that is my point.
Here’s another one. If you’re going to make gun – I mean, fun of American baby names, there’s plenty of non-firearms fodder. Gunner (which could very well be an Americanization of the Nordic Gunnar) is nowhere near as popular in America as . . . wait for it . . . Bethzy. Or Jamarion. Or Sincere. No really.
Ms. English – saddled as she is with an unfortunate surname for any Irishwoman working for a Dublin-based website – felt compelled to evoke the specter of American “gun violence” in her revelation that some Yanks opt for ballistic baby names. Like this . . .
Also on the rise in the US – a nation which has seen significant gun violence this year – for baby boys are Trigger, Shooter, Caliber, Magnum and Pistol. There has also been a rise in the use of gun manufacturers such as Barrett, Remington, Kimber, Ruger, Wesson, Browning, Benelli and Beretta.
Other weapons are also finding favour as baby names.
The traditional Lance has been joined by Mace, Blade, Saw and Dagger, whilst Sabre has been trending for girls.
Define “significant.” One thing’s for sure: this article ain’t it. Funny though, in its own special way. Did you know that “Galen” means tranquil? How apt is that? [h/t AM]