I just finished reading one of the most ridiculous press releases I've seen in a while. According to Belly Ballot, a baby naming website, "Hispanic is definitely in" this fall when it comes to baby names–especially among white parents. Before I continue, I should clarify that they meant non-Hispanic whites because, as we all know, many Latinos are white. Anyhow, while the rise in popularity of Latino baby names among mainstream America should make me happy, the reason for this trend makes me want to cry.
Read more ¿Qué más?: Here are the 16 most popular baby names of 2013
According to the press release, one Caucasian mom from Colorado named her daughter Isabella so she can get her hands on scholarships and grants for college in the future–something she missed out because of her non-Hispanic name Shaina. She must be because this is what she told baby naming site Belly Ballot:
I did well in school with a 3.5 GPA … but doors didn't open, there were no scholarships for someone like me. My Hispanic friends on the other hand got scholarships and grants. Isabella will now have every opportunity available to her, and not go through what I did. Although she's already a quarter Hispanic, that name is the only thing I can do for her that will pave the way for her life.
Is this woman for real? First of all, someone should tell her that Isabella is not a Latino name, but rather an Italian one. The name in Spanish is Isabel. Secondly, does she really believe that her daughter will have an opportunity to apply for scholarships intended for Latinos because her name is Isabella? She obviously has no clue how that process works. ¡Pobrecita!
The other main reason why non-Hispanic whites are going for Latino baby names is that they want to make sure their children fit in, now that we've become the majority in many areas of the country. One mom of Irish-German descent living in Tennessee, thinks that "having a Latino name has helped her [daughter] make friends." I'm sorry, but I've never heard something so silly in my life! Unless you call your child Apple or North, you shouldn't really have to worry about whether or not they'll fit in because of their name.
Too bad that none of the reasons why Latino names are supposedly in this fall have to do with how beautiful they are …
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