Far out!
In the name game, Nevaeh is heavenly – Americas – International Herald Tribune — Who said word of mouth marketing doesn’t work?
The spectacular rise of “Nevaeh” (commonly pronounced “na-VAY-uh”) is nearly unheard of, name experts say. It broke into the top 1,000 girls names in 2001. Four years later it cracked the top 100 with 4,457 newborn Nevaehs – the fastest climb for any name since the Social Security Administration started keeping track of American names over a century ago, naming analysts say.
Nevaeh isn’t in the Bible or any religious text. It’s not from a foreign language. It’s not the name of a well- known celebrity – real or fictional. Nevaeh is “Heaven” spelled backward.
The sudden surge of Nevaeh can be traced to a single catalyzing event: the appearance of a heavily tattooed Christian rock star, Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D., on MTV in October 2000 with his newborn daughter, Nevaeh. “Heaven spelled backwards,” he said. Internet chatboards lit up. Within months, Nevaeh began its ascent.
Now there’s your marketing niche. Christian hippy rocker chicks who are susceptible to group-think.
I blame TV.
Have you checked to see how many of your readers have named their children “Lirpa”…?
I hate parents that name their kids with ridiculous names. Don’t they realize these kids have to go to school someday.
It could be worse. We could have more kids named Shithead. Pronounced “Sha-thay”
Or Asshole. Pronounced “Ash-ola.”
Or Abcde. Pronounced “Ab-seay-day.”
Thanks, Lewis Black.
“na-VAY-uh”, huh?
I think there is some confusion here – this is the name of a well-known skin cream from Germany.
They spell it Nivea.
So this goofy name actually came from reverse spelling the reverse of Nivea – namely, “aevin”, pounced “even”.
My best guess is that this is derived from “evan” and refers to Dale Evans, the beloved cowgirl sidekick of Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys.
Make more sense now, doesn’t it?
At least the kids will learn how to defend themselves at an early age.
I blame Bush. Or should I say Hsub.
Speaking of crazy names, the story was written by NY Times very own Jennifer 8. Lee (yes, her middle name is a number “8” that’s a name she gave herself and the Times indulges her with in her byline)
I named by dog “Deeogee” and my cat “Ceaytee”. Should I name my son “Esohen” or “Beeohwhi”? I like “Esohen”.
I hate when people get creative on the spelling, I know someone whose name is said “Ray”, but is spelled “Rhea”. It is more commonly done to girls names, but I have and ear infection and my antibiotics (levaquin) are making me all dizzy and I can think of them right now.
I worked with a guy named Fred Leibe, who liked the nickname “Derf” – because when he was growing-up his Dad had a knack for pronouncing words backwards, and would often refer to him as “Derf” or “Derf Ebiel”.
Worst one I’ve ever heard of was 2nd-hand, but the guy swears he knew a couple named “Lear”, and that they named their daughter “Crystal Shanda”. Sad, if true.
I grew-up with enough “hippie” kids in Northern California [southern-Humbolt “Home-grown” area] where kids had names based on trees, flowers, and fruit. And they all disliked the other kids asking “… why’d they call you that…”?
One thing is certain. Whichever way you spell it, Dad and Mom will always be the same.
What’s Nevaeh’s brother’s name? Lleh?
I tend to call these people “unemployed”.
Those names remind me of American/european RPGs, whoever created them had a fetish for tossing scrabble chips into the air and then used it to rename things and ppl.
BTW here are some screwed up names for your delight http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/eng-m.php
MIke, I don;t think Lirpa has ever caught on as a name as many times as I’ve used it in a column.
I blame Bush. Or should I say Hsub.
Comment by Sounds the Alarm — 5/18/2006 @ 10:17 am
Honestly Sounds, are you trolling again? Anyone with more then pea for a brain knows that this is Cheney’s fault. Yenehc (Ee-yen-ik) proudly uses the moniker “Dick (aka Kcid, or Sid) not only lives up the the proper spelling of his name, but is a big one too.
But hey, I like the way you think.
I went to school with a guy named Sonny Beech. His real name was Charles Beech, but even his mother called him Sonny. I haven’t heard anything about him in 30 years. he probably snapped and killed somebody.
Paul.
Angel means “messenger.”
“Speaking of crazy names, the story was written by NY Times very own Jennifer 8. Lee (yes, her middle name is a number “8″ that’s a name she gave herself and the Times indulges her with in her byline)”
She must have watched Logans Run too many times. “Logan 5, approached and identify”
GOD spelled backwards is DOG (man’s best friend).God should have named Himself a single letter like G, as in “In G we Trust” and “thanks be to G” and “G bless you” and “Gdammit”.
Nevaeh is an awesome name.
P.O.D. (Payable On Death) is an awesome band.
Rock on for Christ P.O.D.!!!
Mark