AT age 3, Timberland is too young to be embarrassed about being named after a bestselling brand of footwear, but his mother cringes.
Could the name Camry become the new John?
"His daddy insisted on it because Timberlands were the pride of his wardrobe. The alternative was Reebok," said the 32-year-old nurse, who is now divorced.
"I wanted Kevin."
The boy is not alone: five other Americans were named Timberland in 2000, according to social security records.
A trend for naming children after favourite possessions is accelerating in brand-driven America.
The records show that in 2000, 49 children were named Canon, followed by 11 Bentleys, five Jaguars and a Xerox.
There is also a Gouda and a Bologna, who are named after the cheese and the sausage rather than the places.
Foreign brands are regarded as increasingly chic: Chanel is popular among doting mothers, and several boys have been named after a Japanese family car called Camry.
Companies are ambivalent about the honour.
"It all depends on how the kids turn out, and who can predict that?" said Richard Laermer, who once represented a New York couple offering to name their child after a top brand for $US500,000 ($742,000).
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7403152^401,00.html
Could the name Camry become the new John?
"His daddy insisted on it because Timberlands were the pride of his wardrobe. The alternative was Reebok," said the 32-year-old nurse, who is now divorced.
"I wanted Kevin."
The boy is not alone: five other Americans were named Timberland in 2000, according to social security records.
A trend for naming children after favourite possessions is accelerating in brand-driven America.
The records show that in 2000, 49 children were named Canon, followed by 11 Bentleys, five Jaguars and a Xerox.
There is also a Gouda and a Bologna, who are named after the cheese and the sausage rather than the places.
Foreign brands are regarded as increasingly chic: Chanel is popular among doting mothers, and several boys have been named after a Japanese family car called Camry.
Companies are ambivalent about the honour.
"It all depends on how the kids turn out, and who can predict that?" said Richard Laermer, who once represented a New York couple offering to name their child after a top brand for $US500,000 ($742,000).
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7403152^401,00.html