The sad truth is, we're probably a mere few decades away from seeing the storyline of I, Robot play out IRL. But until the android apocalypse, we might as well make the best of artificial intelligence. So here it is: LEVEL's new advice column, We Asked a Bot, the place where your pressing concerns and queries are treated with a tenderness and care befitting of a machine learning algorithm.
Dear Level,
My wife and I are halfway through a pregnancy for our first child. We're avoiding any gender revealing for the time being and have been actively debating baby names. We've gotten lots of suggestions from family members, but we want to choose a name that reflects our culture (I am African-American, born and raised in New York, my wife has family in Nigeria but was born in the U.S.). We're not completely opposed to more mainstream names, but would prefer something unique. Can you give us some suggestions?
—Expecting in Brooklyn
Related: New Dads: Beware of the Astronomical Cost of Daycare
<We asked Perplexity, a search engine that's not too different from ChatGPT, to answer this question in the voice of an expert on parenting and baby names. Let's see how Perplexity did:>
Dear Expecting in Brooklyn,
Congratulations on your pregnancy! It's wonderful that you and your wife are actively discussing baby names and seeking one that reflects your unique cultural background. Considering your African-American and Nigerian heritage, you may want to explore names that have significance in both cultures. Here are a few suggestions that might resonate with you:
For a boy:
- Amari: A name of African origin meaning "strength" or "builder."
- Kwame: A Ghanaian name given to a boy born on a Saturday.
- Chidi: A Nigerian name meaning "God exists" or "God lives."
For a girl:
- Zara: A name of Arabic, Hebrew, and African origin meaning "princess" or "flower."
- Nia: A name of Swahili origin meaning "purpose" or "resolve."
- Adanna: A Nigerian Igbo name meaning "father's daughter."
These are just a few examples, and there are many more beautiful and meaningful names to explore. It's important to choose a name that resonates with both of you and carries the cultural significance you desire. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and the exciting journey of parenthood!
Perplexity
Related: Why Naming a Child Can Be Complicated for Black Parents
<Those are some nice names, Perplexity, although maybe not as unusual as we might have hoped. Out of curiosity, we asked Perplexity, "What are white people naming their babies these days?" Perplexity balked.>
The search results do not provide a comprehensive or authoritative source on the most popular baby names for white people. As an AI language model, I don't have access to the most current data on baby names. However, I can suggest that popular baby names for white people often reflect broader cultural trends and may include a mix of traditional, trendy, and unique names. To find the most up-to-date information on this topic, I recommend consulting official sources such as the Social Security Administration's baby names database or other reputable demographic research organizations.
Related: My Newborn Baby Is Full of Crap
<We tried again when Perplexity suggested, in a list of links below the answer, that we ask about white baby names for 2022. Perplexity gave better results this time.>
The most popular baby names for white people in 2022 include a mix of traditional, trendy, and unique names. Some of the popular baby names for 2022, according to Nameberry, are:
- For boys: Arlo, August, Aurelius, Bruno, Calanthe, Chance, Cleo, Cosmo, Daphne, and Draco.
- For girls: Betty, Blythe, Bridger, Eloise, Emrys, and many others.
Additionally, the Social Security Administration's data for 2022 shows that names like Olivia and Liam have been consistently popular in recent years. It's important to note that baby names are diverse and can vary widely based on personal preference, cultural influences, and geographical regions. Therefore, the names mentioned here reflect popular trends and may not encompass all the names chosen by white parents.
<If you name your kid Bruno, Calanthe or Draco, he's definitely gonna be a bully. And what kind of name is "Bridger," anyway? Are they destined to become an architect specializing in structures that fill the gap between two areas? (Shaking our heads.) Well, this has given us plenty to think about. Until next time!>
LEVEL consulted Perplexity.ai for the aforementioned text. Need advice, insight, or just want to troll a chatbot? Hit us up with your questions at info@levelman.com. We'll feed it to the robots and see what it spits back out. (Disclaimer: YMMV!)