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“It’s rare for me to outright reject a name or name trend, but I cannot get behind weapon-inspired names,” Kihm said. “They glamorize violence and, particularly in the wake of so much violence in the U.S., feel out of touch. In name consulting, I’ve never encountered a parent who wants to use these names, but I would advise any client against it.” Moss noted that parents have been using dictionary words as names for their children for centuries, pointing to examples like Faith and Angel, as well as occupation-based picks like Mason and Thatcher. But she emphasized the importance of being cognizant of the meanings of these kinds of names and the public association with them. “I find the weapon names particularly alarming because it’s tying your child to an instrument of destruction or death ― or at the least a word that’s associated with violence,” Moss said. “Another reason not to use a name with an immediately identifiable meaning is that it can become a joke. People’s first response might be to laugh at it, or assume that you do belong to a particular culture that favors weaponry or violence. It comes with baggage.” Not every weapon-related name carries the exact same meaning or weight, however. “It’s just like any other category in naming ― it’s great to honor what we love and value, but the name has to leave space for our child to become their own person,” Sandel said. “So, yes to Remington or Archer. A cautious maybe to Gatlin and Gunner. But Beretta? I think that crosses a line.” Although distinctive names can be great, she noted that Beretta is both uncommon as a given name and immediately recognizable for its association with weapons, lending it an aggressive feel that might be a burden on a child. Still, Sandel added that the weapon trend is consistent with an overall shift in the baby name sphere. After generations of parents sticking to familiar names for their sons while taking a more daring approach for their daughters, there’s finally a little more creativity in the realm of boy names. “Weapons-related names are novel, but so are lots of name categories we’re exploring for boys now,” Sandel said. “If that means we have a few Remingtons mixed in with boys named Bodhi, Onyx and Ellis, I think that’s part of figuring out what it means to name our sons for the 2020s and beyond.” However creative you want to be with your children’s names, it’s important to remember that parents are naming future adults. “We recommend that when choosing baby names, check your personal fears and biases before you instill them into your baby’s name,” Moss said. “As most parents come to realize, our expectations for our child don’t necessarily align with the child’s individual identity. Give your child a name that evokes positivity, that will grow with them and they can make their own instead of conforming to your expectations.”This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
