My daughter, Christine, and I take great deal of delight in baby names. It’s kind of a hobby – looking to see which names make the “top 10” list every year, and of course expressing our opinions on those top contenders. When the lists are published, a flurry of text messages go back and forth, expressing our weighty thoughts regarding Liam, Olivia, and Sophia. We marvel over the names that continue to stay on top, lambast the ones we just cannot abide that just never seem to go away.
I have been sitting off and on for the past 7 weeks with Christine’s son, my grandson, Jameson, in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Although Jameson was born way too early, it is a joy to see that he is growing and thriving. And what a joy to hold him.
Today’s NICU looks nothing like the NICU that they portray on television, and that we perhaps remember from our younger years. No more incubators lined up in rows in a great big room. Today, each child gets his/her own room, complete with their own little bassinette, plastic couch, and plastic recliner. It is really nice, if not a little lonely.
On my way in and our way out of the NICU, I walk slowly past each baby’s room, reading the names which are displayed over the door. In fact, one time I took the long route to the exit, allowing me to see the rest of the unit, all in the interest of completing my survey. I was promptly scolded by a nurse informing me that I was really not free to just wander the halls of a NICU. Hmm. Busted.
So, here is my delight in the time of COVID, in the time of my grandson’s confinement: baby names.
I can tell you that we are no longer in an era where a teacher calls out “Mike” or “Kathy” and 3 children answer, “What?” No, this generation is going for unique.
I will say there was one Ava, one Oliver, and one Sophia, which are all perennially topping the baby list. But here is what is coming up in the next generation: Sylas, Violet, Ro, Anders, Odin, Luca. Wilder, Parker, Asher, Denver. Watson, Greyson, Mason. Audra, Della, Stella. Emanuel, Star, August, Gabrielle, Jase, Remi, Eisla.
One name stopped me dead in my tracks: “John”. To think that the name John will now be unique. It boggles the mind.
So, it is a joy to see my Jameson growing and thriving and to believe that his little neighbors are doing the same.
And a joy to see the names of all the special and oh-so-unique children who are arriving to be a part of our world.