Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
In 1888, an Atlantic contributor made the case for a “science of names.”
“Parents are strangely careless and unscientific in giving names to children,” the contributor complained. “They forget that not only from the social point of view it is very advantageous to have one’s name remembered, but that from the business point of view notoriety is capital, and must be obtained by persistent and ingenious advertising.” Indeed, the contributor argued, a good name will give a child “a start in life equivalent to a cash capital of at least fifteen thousand dollars.” One way to ensure this head start? “Be guided by euphonic quality only.”
Although not all of this contributor’s guidance can or should still apply today, the importance of a name to a child’s identity has stayed front of mind for many parents. A name can determine whether a child fits in or stands out—and many parents differ on which of those outcomes is preferable.