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What will be the hottest baby name in 2016? If you're currently expecting and tearing out your hair as you pour over name sites, deliberate no more. Nameberry has whipped out its crystal ball and predicted trends for the new year ahead.
As per usual, pop culture and celebrity happenings influence our baby name choices. Gone are the odes to Harper Lee's 'Mockingbird.'
The two biggest trends for 2016 have Caitlyn Jenner and Star Wars to thank for their surge in popularity:
While you ponder the name your child will wear for the rest of their life, please be kind and consider this sage advice from YMC's editor.
If you ask most kids what their favourite part of Christmas is, it's safe to assume most will answer: PRESENTS.
But children have the power to surprise, and surprise they did in a video by the agency, Rob Bliss Creative.
"I created this video because I felt that there's an assumption that all kids care about regarding Christmas is getting presents," said Bliss. "I wanted to put that idea to the test and find out the truth."
In the segment, kids from low-income families in Georgia are asked what they and their parents would like for Christmas.
It's amazing to see the kids' faces light up and their eyes pop as their wish list items are brought out. Lego... Xbox... Laptops...
Yet - of course - there is a catch. The kids are then given an agonizing ultimatum. You can have one gift but not both.
Sure, the cameras are rolling. Nonetheless, their responses are guaranteed to get the waterworks going. Out of 18 kids, 80 per cent chose to give rather than to receive.
"Legos don't matter," says nine-year-old Aaron. "Your family matters - not Legos, not toys - your family. So, it's either family or Legos, and I choose family."
What is truly moving are the reasons kids list for giving back to their parents. Some of these families can't even afford Christmas trees, so it's wondrous to see where their hearts are at.
You can probably predict what happens next, yet it's still well worth the watch and all the feels that follow.
Happy holidays everyone!
Star Wars fans are a diehard loyal bunch, and that's a pretty admirable thing. Yet here's where I confess, I'm not one of them.
I didn't countdown the days until the release of the latest installment of the franchise, The Force Awakens. I can't remember with any clarity anything much about the movies from my childhood, except for Princess Leia's hair buns and a young Harrison Ford as Han Solo.
And I have gladly sidestepped the last, I dunno, four or five sequels and prequels. (Actually, the fact that I don't even know how many Star Wars movies there have been in total shows the extent of my disengagement...)
But for those of you schooled in the ways of the Jedi, your Christmas gift came a day early.
Even though I'm not a fan of intergalactic warfare, I am a fan of over-the-top holiday light displays and even more so when that display happens to be set to a powerful score like that of Star Wars.
Last year, YouTuber and Star Wars megafan Tom BetGeorge programmed a mere 100,000 Christmas lights to the sounds of Star Wars. This year, he upped the ante with a new show, complete with rooftop lightsaber action. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Incredibly, BetGeorge estimates the show only costs him $80 to run for a few hours each night. And probably another $20 to buy the goodwill of his long-suffering neighbours.
I'm kidding. BetGeorge is blessed with a community that shares his passion. At least until next year or when the next Star Wars movie comes out - whichever comes sooner.
May the Force stay with him. His dark powers are seriously awesome.