Do you think there are any kids named Manhattan in Manhattan? How about Queens? You can bet there’s no one named Staten Island in Staten Island. Or Bronx in the Bronx.
But there are quite a few kids named Brooklyn in Brooklyn. There are even kids who don’t live in Brooklyn named Brooklyn. In fact, in Andalusia, Alabama, Thousand Oaks, California and Fort Worth, Texas, there are kids named Brooklyn.
Wow. If I lived in Andalusia, Alabama I would want to name my daughter Andalusia.
The filmmaker Jonathan Demme, was the first person I ever heard of to name his child Brooklyn. I thought it was one of those pretentious Hollywood names. Sort of interesting. Sort of strange. Then I heard about the grandson of a family friend who was named Brooklyn.
Turned out my son, now 14, was in elementary school with this Brooklyn. Never in the same class. But I was aware that there was a kid named Brooklyn at PS 321.
Later, when my daughter was a baby, one of the parents in my post-partum exercise class had a daughter named Brooklyn. For some reason, I imagined it was spelled Brook Lynn. She is the best friend of one of my daughter’s friends and it’s interesting to hear the name in common use: Brooklyn and I have a playdate…I’m going to Brooklyn’s house…Brooklyn is coming to my party…
Just another name. But one that is growing in popularity. It might not be up there with Brittany and Taylor. Yet. But in 2004, 3,211 baby girls were named Brookyn in the U.S. And in a ranking of popular names for girls, Brooklyn was listed as #84.
In this week’s City Section, there was a story about those kids. I love what George Hagen wrote about his son’s name:
I developed an elaborate rationale why the name Brooklyn was good, and
it had to do with the fact that Brooklyn is a very auspicious beginning. Lots of people in American began their lives in Brooklyn. It’s sort of
a point where great things begin.
It’s really not all that unusual to name a child after a place. Think of Savannah, Paris, Jasper, Jackson…
If the place holds meaning for you, why not?
One of the Spice Girls named her kid Brooklyn because she was in NYC when she found out she was pregnant. Of all the place names, I suppose it’s one of the better ones – at least Brooke and Lynn are real names.
In Prospect Park you’ll find at least one dog named Brooklyn, and it just ain’t easy on the ears. We cringe!
It doesn’t help that the people who perpetrate this little language crime appear to be arrivistas . . . Brooklyn certainly attracts that kind of thing.