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To Really Shake Up Your Life, Change Your Name

Anonymity offers the chance for a fresh start: Alina Simone

(Newser) - Twelve years ago, Alina Vilenkin took her mother's maiden name and became Alina Simone, and with the switch came a whole new life. She went from being a person who never followed through on anything to one who finally pursued her true passion: singing. "I changed my name... More »

Can Your Name Influence Your Job Choice?

Experts say yes in new study

(Newser) - Ever noticed how perfect the name Wordsworth is for a poet, or wondered whether Usain Bolt's last name prompted his running career? Researchers are currently investigating whether one's name can influence one's choice of job, with one study already suggesting it can. Indeed, it's become a... More »

In Western States, Weirder Baby Names

You'll find more traditional names in the original 13 states

(Newser) - Sarah Palin's brood—Bristol, Willow, Track, Piper, and Trig—are more typical than you think, at least when it comes to their names. Babies born in the youngest of the 50 states have more unusual names than newborns in the original 13 states and their neighbors, finds a new study.... More »

Japanese Women Sue to Keep Maiden Names

Group is challenging requirement to take husband's name

(Newser) - Reminiscent of the Shogun TV miniseries set in 17th-century Japan, women there still must change their last names to that of their husbands when they marry. So a number of happily married women are suing the government over the requirement, seeking to use their maiden names instead, reports the Guardian... More »

Dads' Names Demoted in Spain

Father's surname won't get automatic priority

(Newser) - A planned change to Spain’s baby-naming laws means dads’ monikers will no longer automatically take precedence, the Guardian reports. In Spain, people typically have two last names, with the father’s traditionally appearing first—and automatically taking the first slot if the parents can’t agree on an order.... More »

Mohammed: Top Brit Baby Name?

'Oliver' tops official list

(Newser) - Mohammed is now the most popular name for baby boys in England, according to some calculations. Official figures released this week reveal that Oliver is now the country's most popular boy's name—ending Jack's 14-year-reign—but some publications have noted that if the various spellings of the prophet's name were... More »

Yes, I'm a Mom— But That's Not My Name

(Newser) - The latest trend in nomenclature rings false to at least one person who recently realized that "Mom" has become "the now generic name for every female parent in our country." Thinking it over, Anne Albeck dates the phenomenon to the early '90s, but familiarity—and overfamiliarity—... More »

Same-Name Couple to Wed After Meeting on Facebook

Kelly Hildebrandt (F) made the first move

(Newser) - Kelly Hildebrandt found her soon-to-be husband on Facebook—but not in the usual ways, such as through college or friends in common, the AP reports. The 20-year-old Floridian plugged her name into the social-networking site’s search engine and found the only match at the time—Texan Kelly Carl Hildebrandt.... More »

Ozzy Sues Bandmate Over Sabbath Name

(Newser) - Trouble in heavy metal land. Ozzy Osbourne is suing Black Sabbath bandmate Tommy Iommi over rights to the band's name—and its lucrative merchandise, reports Rolling Stone. Ozzy says Iommi illegally took ownership of the name when he toured in the 1990s without the original band members. The prince of... More »

Rahm's Secret Service Name Is ...

(Newser) - Oh, the possibilities. Marc Ambinder in the Atlantic, says he’s learned the Secret Service code name for White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. Rahmbo? Nope. A play on his favorite expletive? Sorry. It’s actually the rather dull Black Hawk. The agency assigned it to him during the... More »

Emma Dethrones Emily as Most Popular Girls Name

Emma upsets Emily after 12 years at the top

(Newser) - Emma was the most popular baby name for girls in the US last year, knocking Emily out of the top spot after 12 years, the AP reports. Jacob remains the most popular boys name for the 10th straight year. President Obama’s uncommon given name didn’t make it into... More »

Scientists Name Beetle After Colbert

Researchers honor comedian on his birthday

(Newser) - Scientists who bestowed names of Bush administration officials on a trio of bugs have named a new Venezuelan beetle after Stephen Colbert, the Washington Times reports. "Last year, Stephen shamelessly asked the science community to name something cooler than a spider to honor him," said one of the... More »

German Court Says Nein to Long Last Names

Ruling upholds ban on "chain names" with more than one hyphen

(Newser) - Germany's highest court has upheld the country's ban on triple-barreled surnames, the BBC reports. The court ruled that limiting surnames to two did not violate freedom of expression laws. Frieda Thalheim and Hans-Peter Kunz-Hallstein—who have been married for 12 years but legally couldn't take their preferred last name, Thalheim-Kunz-Hallstein—... More »

NASA to Reveal Module's Name on Colbert Tomorrow

(Newser) - The name of the new life-support node for the International Space Station will be announced tomorrow night on The Colbert Report by a NASA astronaut, InformationWeek reports. At the host’s urging, Colbert fans stuffed online ballot boxes to name the unit, though NASA doesn’t have to comply. “... More »

Facebook Identity Cops Diss Real Yodas, Batmans

(Newser) - Facebook has a thing against funny names, particularly if they’re actually yours, the Washington Post reports. Caitlin Shaw, who wanted to add her maiden name, Batman, to her profile, endured weeks of back-and-forth emails, while Starkiller Unleashed sails through. Facebook says it scrutinizes the real applicants because they are... More »

'Rockefeller' Fights False Name Charges

Con man just gave cops name he'd used for 15 years: defense

(Newser) - The con man who went by “Clark Rockefeller” attempted today to dismiss charges he gave police a fake name when arrested last year, the Boston Globe reports. Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter told police arresting him for absconding with his 7-year-old daughter that he was Clark Rockefeller—as he had told... More »

Sticks, Stones Break Bones, But Odd Names May Jail You

Boys with uncommon monikers act out more

(Newser) - The more unusual a teenage boy’s name is, the more likely he is to run afoul of the law, a study finds. Irrespective of race, uncommon names like Ivan, Malcolm, and Alec—as opposed to Michael or David—more often belong to kids who act up, researchers say. It’... More »

Aging Boomers Want Hipper Label Than 'Grandpa'

Forever Young generation outgrows stereotypical grandparent tags

(Newser) - As baby boomers become grandparents, the generation that never wanted to get old is grappling with maturity. Many new grandparents are dodging the bullets of age by avoiding typical “Grandma,” “Grandpa,” and “Bubbe” labels, the Wall Street Journal reports. Preferring to retain her glamour, one... More »

Name This Species—for a Fee

Purdue auctions rights on newly discovered bats, turtles to raise research cash

(Newser) - Purdue University has some recently discovered bats and turtles to name, and you can be the one to do it—if you’re willing to pony up some cash, the Chicago Tribune reports. The university is auctioning off naming rights to a number of species, planning to use the money... More »

When Did Bombay Become Mumbai?

Locals have always called it that, but city made it official in 1995

(Newser) - The terrorist attacks last week saw Mumbai dominate headlines across the world. But when did Bombay become Mumbai? For locals it’s always been Mumbai, in honor of Mumbadevi, the city’s deity, writes Christopher Beam for Slate. But the city’s official name change happened in 1995, when the... More »

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