Celebrities inspire our top baby names

Celebrities inspire our top baby names

3.07.2009
Celebrities inspire our top baby names
Come from nowhere ... Mia, the name of Bec and Lleyton Hewitt`s daughter, is our most popular girls` name.
MIA has come from nowhere to be Australia`s most popular girls` name, possibly thanks to tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt and his wife Bec.

Experts predict a surge in Michaels since the death of Michael Jackson.

A McCrindle Research survey found traditional names dominated, but some parents chose the unusual, such as Mickayla, Jaedyn, Me-a, Thai-son, Ty`Ana and Al`Bert, the Herald Sun reports.

McCrindle looked at birth records nationally and found Jack, William and Lachlan were the most popular boys` names registered last year. Mia, Chloe and Isabella topped the girls.

Some star-struck parents added a celebrity angle. They included: Sienna (Miller), Lily (Allen), Ruby (Rose), Imogen (Bailey), Eva (Mendes/Longoria Parker), Scarlett (Johansson), Isla (Fisher), Charli (Delaney), Keira (Knightley), Isabel (Lucas), Angelina (Jolie), Jack (Black), (Prince) William, Harrison (Ford), (Prince) Harry, Seth (Green) Ashton (Kutcher) and (Prince) Charles.

Social researcher Mark McCrindle said Michael Jackson`s death would result in more Michaels.

Mr McCrindle said Mia had "come from nowhere" in 2000 to top the list, possibly due to Mia Hewitt.

He said Generation X parents were conservative with names, and few opted for the unusual or gender neutral like Robyn and Peta.

His poll of parents found the most important considerations were sound, spelling and possible teasing. But one in four dared to be different.

Victorian parents have recently named their children Kyashia, Nivek, Shaneen, Cameo, Aliyana, Nykiyah Lezley, Tyallah, Bodelle, Teyanah, Zahn, Desten (girl), Zaclan, Aiyahna (boy), Abileine, Jyda Mark, Nikaylah, Bekam, Zaaran, Bae (boy), Rad Ryko, J.J. and Jynia.

After strongly considering the name Xavier, Amy and Stuart Brent instead decided to call their son Xander Charlie when he was born on June 18, hoping his name would give him the X-factor and separate him from the crowd.

"We wanted something that was a little bit different and more modern," Mr Brent said.

"We didn`t think there would be too many people in his class with the same name."

Shayella Grace Tennick was born on June 24 - her mum Allison made up the name: "A person`s personality has a lot to do with their name and I figured that if she has something different then she will be free to be her own personality as she grows up."

Mr McCrindle said odd names could make life difficult in the internet age.

"I`ve got reservations about it because now your name ends up being your ... social networking brand for life. It just gets very confusing.

"We found that parents who gave their children a creative first name tend to give a more normal or traditional middle name. It does give an option to the child to change."

Jack has been the most popular boys` name in seven of the past nine years, beaten only by Joshua in 2000 and `03.

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Perth Wildcats became the NBL`s most successful team, securing their fifth championship with a 96-72 victory over Wollongong Hawks in the deciding game three of the grand final series in Perth.

In a fiery encounter, Perth trailed by 11 points early in the second term but clawed their way out of trouble courtesy of an inspirational performance from US import Kevin Lisch, who drained a game-high 29 points, including five of nine from long range.

Wildcats guard Damian Martin (17 points, four steals) was also influential and combined with fellow antagonist Brad Robbins to eventually wear down the Hawks.

Wollongong forward Cameron Tragardh, who nailed 28 points in game two, had 12 first-half points but failed to add to his tally after that, while Glen Saville (13) and Rhys Martin (12) were the other notable scorers for the visitors.

Young guns Jesse Wagstaff and Luke Martin almost came to blows in an off-the-ball incident late in the opening quarter and tempers threatened to boil over as players from both sides rushed in to join the grappling pair.

Calm was restored and it was the Hawks who finished the term the stronger, going on a 12-2 run to take a handy 31-25 lead into the first break.

The Wildcats looked to be in big trouble when Mat Campbell`s three-pointer extended the margin to 11 points three minutes into the second term.

But amazingly just four minutes later the Wildcats were back on level terms, with two long bombs from Damian Martin and another to Lisch inspiring the quick comeback.

The Hawks took a one-point lead into half-time but from there it was the Lisch show.

Perth led 75-63 as the three-quarter time siren sounded and the musical entertainment began.

But Perth skipper Shawn Redhage approached the referees complaining the Cats were denied the final play of the quarter, with the Cats failing to get possession despite an offensive foul being called against Wollongong with 1.7 seconds left in the term.

Perth were eventually granted the 1.7 seconds to launch a final play and Lisch made the most of it, draining a three-pointer from close to half-court to extend the margin to 15 at the final break.

The Hawks had to do everything right in the final term but turned the ball over time and again as Perth cruised to the win.

Lisch`s host hand ended the hopes of Wollongong completing a fairytale season.

The Hawks were on the verge of folding before the season started but were bailed out by the Wollongong community.

And the foundation club defied all expectations by reaching the grand final, winning game two to send the series to a deciding third game.

But the Cats, urged on by a parochial crowd at `The Jungle`, were simply too good, showing character to come back from their second-quarter deficit before showing their class in a dominant third term.

Lisch, who posted 15 points in game one and 11 in game two, was awarded the Larry Sengstock medal for MVP in the grand final series.

"I`ve never won a championship before so I don`t know what to say right now," Lisch said.

"This is an honour but more than anything. It`s just amazing to win a championship. Thank you so much."

Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod said Perth deserved to win the title.

"You have been the benchmark all year and you showed us that tonight," McLeod said.

Hawks skipper Mat Campbell echoed his coach`s sentiments.

"We threw everything at them tonight," Campbell said.

"In that first half we gave them everything and they were able to withstand that to prove they are the champions this year."

AAP

Wildcats claim NBL crown   03/12/2010
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