13 Jul 2025

The burden of choosing the perfect baby name

From Sunday Morning, 8:30 am on 13 July 2025

Naming a child is important, as we know. And it can attract unwelcome opinions from friends, family, and even strangers. In an effort to alleviate some of that pressure, there are baby-naming consultants that can usher you towards the perfect nomenclature for your newborn, something classic yet quirky.  

Laurel MacKenzie is an associate professor at New York University who teaches a  linguistics class about names. She joins Jim to discuss why and how names come and go from popularity. 

newborn baby

Photo: pixabay