True. The most picked on kids in my elementary school were Brian and Ken. In High School, it was probably Craig, JJ, and Paul.

JZ has been pimping for Eleanor pretty hard.

It's one of my favorite girl names, too. I had the biggest historical girl crush on Eleanor d'Aquitane.

call him Al. (as Paul Simon would say)

And again with the tasty earworms!

Alistair doesn't really rock my boat. A name I'm kind of liking lately is Conrad, mostly because there's a doctor here named Conrad who is just an absurdly stellar human being in almost every way. I have no idea whatever, though, of what the general world-out-there's opinion of the name Conrad is, whether it's dorky or tweedy or ossified or completely nondescript or what.

There is vast disagreement chez Zmayhem about acceptable names (we've given up completely on a list of Names We Both Like and shifted to a list of Names One Of Us Likes That Don't Make The Other Want To Barf), hence all the discussion far in advance of any actual sproggage. If we wait until one actually appears on the horizon to begin narrowing it down, the poor kid'll be in third grade before anyone can properly call it "You. You. Not Emmett. The other one."

A name I'm kind of liking lately is Conrad, mostly because there's a doctor here named Conrad who is just an absurdly stellar human being in almost every way.

The one Conrad I know was also totally incredibly awesome as well. Aw, I miss him!

It's one of my favorite girl names, too. I had the biggest historical girl crush on Eleanor d'Aquitane.

Me too. Fascinating woman.

A name I'm kind of liking lately is Conrad, mostly because there's a doctor here named Conrad who is just an absurdly stellar human being in almost every way.

When I hear the name "Conrad," the first thing that pops to mind is an image of a guy with a battery on his shoulder.

Please know that I really like the name Emmett, and as your Emmett is the first modern Emmett I "know" I like it even more. But, I would think it has as much kick-me quality to it, as does Alistair.

Emmett is an Irish name not a British name. Much less of a kick-me factor. And while he hasn't had any classmates named Emmett, it is a name which is heard around the Bay Area.

I think an Alistair would be JUST FINE.

Somebody else's child named Alistair can do just fine, because there's no freakin' way I'd name my son Alistair. I'd sooner name my kid Poncey Fruitbucket.

Though I did talk to Alistair Cooke on the phone once when I worked at WGBH and he was very cordial.

Conrad gives me a Bye-Bye, Birdie earworm.

connie, actual pirate? Coolness. You know, Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming up. Arr.

I think what sounds odd to my ears might not to others'. Just my perception, of course, but when I was growing up, in the rural deep South, the only names I ever heard were Biblical or "traditional" Scots-Irish and Teutonic names. (Unless, like my grandmother's name, somebody just made it up.) The oddest ones were the obscure Biblical ones, especially if the parent got creative with the spelling. I remember the woman named Vashti pronounced it "vash-TYE" and I always thought it was "VASH-tee". Anyone know the correct pronounciation?

So, ita, going from what you just said, is ita your actual name? As opposed to an internet name?

Dammit, now I'm going to have to dig up the family tree, which is in my keeping and so I should probably keep track of where it is. I just know there's some men with odd names that I'm forgetting.

Much less of a kick-me factor.

Dude, if you think the kids care about British vs. Irish, you're delusional.