What's in a name?

As an adoption attorney, I enjoy participating in the process of helping families grow. And as families add a new member, it is fascinating to observe the naming process, since most of my adoptions are of infants.

Of course, when it comes to a surname, or "last name," most people just roll with the punches, but I think some folks (pun not initially intended) fail to appreciate the implications of the name you choose for your child.

My perception is that most people don't want any input about the name they are going to choose for their child--even if they explicitly ask for input. Indeed, I have kind of followed the advice I received from close friends (from way back) that you should keep the name of your child a secret until it is unveiled, because the opinion of others won't affect whether you choose that name and because you don't want to give any ideas to others who might be naming a child before you are. So in the spirit of "why did you ask if you didn't want to hear my opinion," I present these intriguing articles I've come across over the years about what's in a name: The Name Pronunciation Effect h/t Freakonomics Do Uncommon Names Turn Kids Into Criminals? Happy baby naming!

Using orphaned children as political fodder

Russian dictator, er, President, Vladimir Putin has signed a law prohibiting adoption of Russian orphans by Americans (article here). It also appears that some adoptions which were already in process may not be allowed to go forward. The purported measures to make it easier for Russians to adopt the children are certainly welcome, but this politically-motivated prohibition is despicable.

Report on "closed" adoptions released . . .

Internet reveals secrets of 'closed' adoptions, report says

It's hard to keep secrets in the age of social media and the adoption world is no exception. Cadieux's story is just one that shows how the Internet is making it easier for birth relatives to find each other, hastening the end of the era of "closed" adoption, the nonprofit Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute said in a report released Thursday. Birth parents are seeking out their kids and adopted children are going online to find biological relatives, often without their adoptive parents' knowledge, according to the report, "Untangling the Web: The Internet's Transformative Impact on Adoption." Adam Pertman, executive director of the Adoption Institute, said he hopes the report will help shape policies and practices that harness the new technology while protecting vulnerable children and parents. "We hope this report will serve as a wake-up call that something historic is happening that demands the attention of legislators, practitioners, law-enforcement officials and the affected parties themselves," Pertman said.

Here's the PDF report . . .