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Is My Nephew the Spawn of Satan?
Filed under: Baby Names, Opinions
My nephew's baby has already been born, but the name they chose will give you goosebumps. Damien. Are they in their right minds? I find it truly embarrassing. I think so many people have seen all the "Omen" movies. I know there is nothing you can do. I just felt like talking about it.
- Spooked Great Aunt
Don't give up hope, there may be something I can do after all. I can persuade you that a demonic child in a horror movie isn't a bad association for your grand-nephew's name.
No, I'm not coming down on the side of demons. I'm just reporting on the realities of fashion. Strange as it may seem, a film appearance as the spawn of Satan is a reliable recipe for a fashionable baby name. Take a look at this lineup of classic horror movie kids:
"Rosemary's Baby" (1968): Adrian
"The Exorcist" (1973): Regan
"The Omen" (1976): Damien
"Pet Sematary" (1989): Gage
Every one of these names soared in popularity after the movies came out. Somehow, parents were able to look past the glowing eyes, spinning heads and projectile vomit to say "Hey, that's a catchy name!" Damien is an especially clear case, because of the spelling. Damien-with-an-e is the French version of the old saint's name Damian. After "The Omen" came out, it quickly leapfrogged the traditional English spelling.
Why the craze for cursed kiddies? I don't think it's a national turn to the dark side. It's about the way screenwriters came up with those names to begin with. They aimed for names that were unusual but not weird, with a slight air of formality or mystery about them. That's a mighty stylish recipe -- unusual and formal are totally in. So rest easy. The same ingredients that made Damien a perfect choice for a '70s horror movie also make it a perfect choice for a 21st-century American family.
Have you disagreed with relatives' name choices? Share your experiences here. And if you have your own question to Ask the Name Lady, drop her a line!
Related: Is the World Ready for Another Grace Kelly?
- Spooked Great Aunt
Don't give up hope, there may be something I can do after all. I can persuade you that a demonic child in a horror movie isn't a bad association for your grand-nephew's name.
No, I'm not coming down on the side of demons. I'm just reporting on the realities of fashion. Strange as it may seem, a film appearance as the spawn of Satan is a reliable recipe for a fashionable baby name. Take a look at this lineup of classic horror movie kids:
"Rosemary's Baby" (1968): Adrian
"The Exorcist" (1973): Regan
"The Omen" (1976): Damien
"Pet Sematary" (1989): Gage
Every one of these names soared in popularity after the movies came out. Somehow, parents were able to look past the glowing eyes, spinning heads and projectile vomit to say "Hey, that's a catchy name!" Damien is an especially clear case, because of the spelling. Damien-with-an-e is the French version of the old saint's name Damian. After "The Omen" came out, it quickly leapfrogged the traditional English spelling.
Why the craze for cursed kiddies? I don't think it's a national turn to the dark side. It's about the way screenwriters came up with those names to begin with. They aimed for names that were unusual but not weird, with a slight air of formality or mystery about them. That's a mighty stylish recipe -- unusual and formal are totally in. So rest easy. The same ingredients that made Damien a perfect choice for a '70s horror movie also make it a perfect choice for a 21st-century American family.
Have you disagreed with relatives' name choices? Share your experiences here. And if you have your own question to Ask the Name Lady, drop her a line!
Related: Is the World Ready for Another Grace Kelly?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 6)
8-05-2010 @ 1:37PM
RM said...THE MOVIE DUMB AND DUMBER, THE STORY OF THE CURRENT WHITE HOUSE WANNA BE PRESIDENT AND THE DEVILS NAME IS OBAMA!
Reply
8-05-2010 @ 3:17PM
JANSACTO54 said...WHY DO IDIOTS LIKE THIS ONE ^^^ THINK THEY HAVE TO WRITE OFF THE TOPIC??
8-05-2010 @ 5:12PM
Alicia said...Why is everyone typing in caps lock? Has no one else read the internet etiquette manual?
8-08-2010 @ 7:07AM
Fran said...I feel bad for the poor children stuck with stupid names - not that I think Damian is a stupid name - but how about Apple? or Seven? In the end it really doesn't matter as long as they grow up to be great people. Http://www.spiritualangel.com
8-08-2010 @ 7:30AM
c said...Damien was the name of the caring missionary.
During the 19th century he cared for the 'lepers' in Hawaii on the island of Moliki(not sure of spelling)
8-08-2010 @ 7:47AM
Robert Rapp said...Damien is NOT a bad name....In the 1800s therewas a priest who
took it upon himself to treat lepers...he went of his own accord to the Hawaiin island of Molokai and lived with and treated them He was made a saint --- Father Damain went to Galveston, TX before leaving the US and visited in the Catholic Cathedral there before sailing to Hawaii
8-08-2010 @ 10:12AM
AN AMERICAN said...THIS IS QUITE RICH. IT SEEMS YOU HAVE SELECTIVE MEMORY. THE LAST ADMINISTRATION UNDER BUSH AND CHENEY, AMONG MANY ATROCITIES COMMITED, INVADED TWO COUNTRIES. OVER 5,000 OF OUR BABIES HAD HONORABLY DIED BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S LIES. WE HAVE NOT FOUND BIN LADEN. YET HE PUT OUT MORE VIDEOS THAT THE HOTTEST RAPPER. GREED FROM BIG BUSINESS WAS BECOMING APPARENT, BUSH/CHENEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. THEY ACTUALLY PROFITED FROM IT. AMERICANS FROM MAIN STREETS AND SIDE STREETS ARE SUFFERING AS A RESULT. THE BUSH/CHENEY ADMINISTRATION TOOK US INTO HELL FOR 8 YEARS, AND CRAZIES LIKE YOU WANT TO BLAME THE OBAMA/BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHO HAVE BEEN IN LEADERSHIP LESS THAN 2 YEARS. YOU ARE REAL SMART. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH OBAMA/BIDEN. BUT LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD.
8-08-2010 @ 10:23AM
kittylit said...You are acting like an idiot! No one wants to hear your cracked political opinion and please stop shouting.
8-08-2010 @ 2:53PM
k said...the truth is stranger than fiction!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8-08-2010 @ 10:51AM
fred said...you give him to much credit when yopu say he is the devil, I would just add obama to the movie dumb dumber and dumbest
8-08-2010 @ 12:14PM
Messa said...I think we're all overlooking something here. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet". Is the child healthy? If the child is healthy and has loving parents, it really is rather peaty to worry about a name. Actually, I love that name and not because of the movie, just because I think it's a nice name, which is probably what the mother thought. Are children born today really going to know much about a movie made in the 70's?
There are children in hospitals and worse, stillborn all the time. Be glad you have a beautiful (and hopefully healthy) nephew. Nothing else matters.
8-08-2010 @ 12:24PM
tanya said...Obama is not a wanna be president...he is the president, whether you like it or not....the majority of America voted...just like they did when the clown Bozo got elected before him!
8-08-2010 @ 1:41PM
Tonja said...you are ignorant and if you have children they are THE SPAWN OF IGNORANCE!!!
8-08-2010 @ 1:53PM
Sandi said...The name Damien is of Greek origin and it means to 'subdue or to tame' .... I think it's a very masculine name and it's also quite popular as far as men's names go. This is fact, not my opinion only and can be checked out. I have a nephew who's name is Damien and he's just awesome in all ways.
8-08-2010 @ 2:06PM
Carrie said...I named my son Damian... I named him that because I like the sound of the name. At the time.. 14 yrs ago, I didn't know anyone with that name, which also appealed to me. Now it seems more popular. I got the same crap from people when I named him that. The Omen is just a movie people!! Get real!
8-09-2010 @ 4:11AM
withheart said...What does a 40 year old movie - I never even heard of it - and I'm a movie buff - have to do with naming a child today? Here are just a few of some really bad villains - hasn't hurt these popular names a bit:
Freddy - Elm Street
Michael - The Godfather
Michael - Halloween
Jack - The Shining
Jack - "The Ripper"
Richard - Richard III
Alex - Clockwork Orange
Alex - Fatal Attraction
8-05-2010 @ 7:33PM
joblo said...is it ok to use all lower case?
Reply
8-08-2010 @ 10:34AM
sunnyhoney1927 said...what is it with people and lower case? some of you make such a big deal of it gees let people type how they want is it really that big of a deal? I think not and that is not the topic here anyhow you never know why some use upper case maybe they can't see very well who cares it all reads the same no biggie in my book
8-08-2010 @ 10:58AM
Peace and Hope said...Sunny honey,
Okay we'll let the lower/upper case story pass. Instead, let's talk about people who can't use proper grammar? For instance, those who write those horrid run on sentences. You know the types; they can't seem to take a breath and put a period when a thought ends. It's like they have to be heard and they are on speed or have ADHD and can't stop talking long enough to take a breath!!!! And they don't know how to use a capital letter to begin a sentence.
I know, it's no biggie to you what your typing looks like. But you did want to let go of the upper/lower case thing. So I decided to go a different route :)
8-08-2010 @ 12:54PM
wwetmore said...To Peace and Hope.
For you being the grammar police I would think you would know you cant start a sentence with and. Thats BAD grammar... you know they can send you to jail for that. haha grow up who gives a shit how people are using grammar and proper english (now I will use caps lock. sorry guys" ITS THE INTERNET NOT A CLASS ROOM OR A LAB WRITE UP!