In the century of informational technologies the thought of the great “combinator” should sound differently. It should sound approximately this way: “Internet is not luxury”. It’s hard to say what exactly it is. All I can say that Internet is an unrealistic space, where one can find unlimited interesting and strange information. For example the website of the RA National Statistics Service also gives interesting information. It shows the most frequently used names of newly born babies of Armenia 2005-2006. Six or seven years ago Armenians started to name their in weird names. In 1930-1940 it was even accepted to hold a “red christening” and change the name given by a clerical blessing. Most famous one is the example of Gevorg Emin. It was time when he was named Karlen through red christening to honor Karl and Marx. The poet only years later was able to retrieve his name. During Soviet times there was a family, which named their children this way: the names of the brothers were Shchors and Sniper and the daughter’s name was Medsestra. Shchors and Sniper were perhaps entitled to find against capitalism. Medsestra was supposed to cure them if necessary. Besides those names new strange names appeared in Armenia, such as Galanterea, Dezinteria, Chevrolet, etc. The fashion of those strange names was prevented by Hovhannes Shiraz with his humorous poem, which was included in the school books of the 60s. However, new strange names were created especially in rural areas. Many years ago one of my favorite occupations was to read phone books of villages. In village phone books the names and patronymic names of subscribers were fully written. You could find all kinds of names – Washington, Sector, London, Industrialization, Dorvard, Gavrosh, etc. The information placed in the website of the NSS enables us to see what has changed over years. The information is publicized in accordance with genders, which shows the attitude of Armenians to genders. The names of the boys are more Armenian. When choosing names for children we don’t much support pluralism. The NSS publicized 46 names for girls and boys respectively. We have named those names 62% of our newborn babies. So please agree that many names repeat. Most popular boy’s name is Narek (4.25 of newborn babies has this name). Same with the name Davit. Erik occupies the third place in the hit parade of names. This is slightly strange because the list of 46 names has only 13 international names. During the last two years 230 babies were names Zhora. It’s worth mentioning that during the registration of the babies the employees of the Registration Bureau try to convince the parents to choose more Armenian names for their children. However, it’s noticable that such names are picked to honor the great grandpa. This is how the names Sergey, Edward, Artyom, Albert, Hamlet are registered. Erik can not be a name of the parent. The statistical data prove that the grandfathers have become younger now. As a rule the young grandpas not quite often agree to name their grandchildren in their names. Young grandmas with greater difficulties agree to give their names to their grandchildren. This is noticeable from the list. There is almost no Soviet time names. Kima, Roza and other communistic names are not included in the list at all. Instead 20 out of the 46 names of the list are international ones. Why do the Armenian parents use international names for male babies more often than female ones? Of course this phenomenon has its scientific explanation. Armenians envision their continuation with the sons. Let’s mention that the name list doesn’t include any names from soap operas. The female babis born in 2006 are mostly names Milena. Second popular female name is Ani, the third one is Elen. The most famous female name of the world Anna occupies only the fifth place in our list. Years ago there was joke when people where saying that if one forgot a girl’s name there is a great chance that her name is Anna. Tata however doesn’t have a chance like that any more. He only sings, “Name, say your name.”
