What's In A Name?

I really like the name Lola - i think it's one of the sexiest names out there. This is probably the result of a mix of my love for Nobokov's Lolita (just the first paragraph gives me chills: Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.), the Kinks' Lola, and the Levi's commercial featuring the Damn Yankees' Whatever Lola Wants . *

Update: Esther reminded me of another Lola - from Run Lola Run (Lola Rennt). This chick made me want to color my hair red and learn how to run without getting winded. On a side note: I went to the first showing of Run Lola Run in Boston. I introduced all my friends to the film. I even met Tom Tykwer (very sweet man). But as my professor says, telling someone you saw/heard something first is as impressive (and useful) as dick measuring.

A few year back a friend told she wanted to name her child Lola. I didn't like the name at the time, but even then i associated with sensuality, it was weird to think of a baby possessing it. This was the kind of name that needed to be shouted from sweat drenched sheets not whispered into a pristine baby crib.

So there is the dilemma name your child a name that later would prove irresistible or make it cute a cuddly forever.

Names have personalities, especially girl names. Bethany and Martha are prune eating, plastic hoody wearing, old names. My name in Russian totally falls into this category - an old-spinster-aunt name. From time to time i'll get some fourth generation Russian/Polish American person tell me, i share the name with their great-aunt from the Old Country. How flattering, thanks Mom and Dad.

Then there are the prissy names the Ashlies and Victorias of the world. White trash stripper names like Trixie. Black pride names like Shanequa. WASPy names like Megan and Jennifer (fun fact, in 1983 Jennifer was the most popular girl's name in America, Boys - Mike). Jewish names like Rachel and Rebecca. You get the picture.

I also despise naming the child the same name as the parents. There are thousands of names in the world, pick one that doesn't require Jr. after it.

So does choosing the name of your child based on the later attractive qualities of the name seem a little bit fucked up? Or the fact that i think a name is sexy because of how a pedophile described his love for nymphite? I don't know, but i think "Lola" will be my chosen pseudonym as of now.

*Although Barry Manilow's Copacabana threatens to ruin all romance with the name.