The United States Social Security Administration has revealed the top baby names for 2007, and much of the list is unsurprisingly banal. The top three boy names are Jacob, Michael, and Ethan; the top three girl names are Emily, Isabella, and Emma. Nothing to see here, move along.
But most surprising -- and something that made me pause and say "What the f**k, why?" -- was that the name "Raiden" actually made the list. Surely it was only number 931, but the fact that it's even on there at all is a real head-scratcher, and makes me question the sanity of some American parents.
According to Wikipedia, "raiden" is Japanese for "thunder and lighting," which is a pretty frightening name for a child in itself. But let us not forget the popular Mortal Kombat character. Or the Raiden in Metal Gear. Or Fatal Fury. Or the several side-scrolling shooters. The list goes on.
But I'm not one to judge -- my wife (seriously) wants to name our potential future son Lincoln so that we can call him "Link" for short. I put a stop to that thinking real quick. But the question remains -- is anyone here named Raiden? Or have you or are you thinking about naming your son after a videogame or a character in a videogame?
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Contest:
5:49 PM on 05.14.2008
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My family has a history of odd names though, in order of seniority:
Rafat, Jaser, Munir, Seraj, Thayer (thaaaats me), Sarah (??), Gabriel, Farris, Xavier (named after the good ol' professor), and Hanna (Hahn-uh, not hannah montana)
Whats classier than being named after the medium's favorite megalomaniac?
Unless....you named your kid Kefka.
Name a kid Orion, it's awesome, and he can just be Ryan to his friends if he doesn't like having a Greek god as a namesake. It's a stealth awesome name.
Yeah, the kids will call him octopus, but who will be laughing when he sacks Carthage?
Hmmm, Chad Chester has quite a ring to it!
Or fucking Zeus. No one messes with a kid named Zeus.
In Scottish culture, for females mind you, Bridget means goddess. A good choice indeed.
I would NOT name my child raiden... Sub-Zero yeah but not Raiden. Male names: Aram (My great grand father)
Females (Much preferred): Bridget, Alice, Olivia, Shayna
These fuckers don't deserve children.
Ding and Grats, ROFL.
& my daughter.......nariko or jade .
Now i just gotta find the other main ingrediant of this baby making thing .