When 800 children were asked why and how they came up with the name for their doll, 521 gave the following answers:
- The number one reason to rename a doll or just name it… 199 children said their doll was named after a friend.
- 87 children said they chose their doll’s name because they thought it was pretty or fancy.
- Fifty-four children said they chose the name for their doll because the doll sounded like someone they knew by that name.
- Thirty-five children said their doll was named after a story they had heard.
- 33 children said the doll was named after the person who gave it to them as well.
- 34 children said their doll had no name at all and was called simply, Dolly.
- 21 children said they always give their doll a new name, not the one that came with the doll.
- 20 children surveyed said their doll was given a name that described a quality they thought their doll had. The name of the doll was not a typical noun but an adjective such as: precious, patient, sleepy, etc…
- 9 dolls have been given exactly the same name as their owner.
- 6 dolls are given a name after the place where they received the doll.
- 5 dolls are named after semi-fake.
- 4 dolls have purely fictional names.
- Two dolls that had very “ugly names” because they were so hated!
- In two cases, the dolls were named after the materials from which they were made.
- Ten dolls were given formal christenings with their names.
- Sometimes the dolls bore the same last name.
- Frequently renamed dolls rarely seem to have distinct personalities attached to them upon further discussion.
How to name a doll…