2017 Top Baby Name is Corbyn

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Frostie

Over half of parents vote for Corbyn as political baby names become hot new trend

53% of parents find it ‘very hard’ to choose the right name for their baby – and a third disagree with their partner over what to pick

70% believe children are judged by their name

23% say political names are on the rise with Corbyn and Cameron the top picks

Surge in popularity of Muslim names used by non-Muslim families

Wacky new naming trends include ‘unicorn names’, ‘tough names’ and even ‘text message names’

7% of families regret their child’s name

New parents are electing to name their children after politicians – with Corbyn the hottest new baby-naming trend, a new poll by video parenting website www.channelmum.com reveals.
After the Labour leader’s post-General Election popularity surge, over half of parents (52%) would consider using the name Corbyn for their child. The name has already soared 50 percent in popularity between 2014 and 2015, but is now expected to see an even sharper rise.

Overall, political names are one of the fastest-growing new UK baby naming trends with 23 percent of mums and dads seeing more politically-inspired names in their area.

Interestingly, while 38 percent of parents would consider the name May, only four percent would use Theresa for a newborn. Cameron was the next most popular, liked by a third of parents, followed by Jeremy, enjoying fresh popularity with 15 percent of families.

However, only five percent would name their baby Boris or Diane, six percent Donald and just one percent believe Nigel will become a fashionable name again. But Nicola was especially popular in Scotland, where 13 percent of mums and dads report its popularity is increasing, and 12 percent of Welsh parents are seeing more Leannes locally.

Across Britain, 1,305 parents were asked which names were increasing in popularity in their local area. The poll revealed a huge 70 percent of parents believe people judge a child by their name – and as a result, seven percent ‘regret’ their choice of baby name. However, three quarters of parents (75%) would be upset if their child wanted to change their name.

A third of couples quizzed admitted they disagreed and even rowed over naming their baby, with 53 percent admitting choosing a name is ‘very hard’. And while two thirds (65%) eventually settled on a name while still pregnant, 19 percent wait until they see the baby’s face when born – and an indecisive four percent wait six weeks until the legal limit for registering the baby’s birth and name.

The study also found that while over a third (35%) of parents use family names to honour relatives, one in five (20%) opt for unique spellings no-one else has to ensure their child stands out.

And with over 62,000 different baby names used annually in the UK, there are a number of wacky new baby-naming trends starting to break through.

The fastest-growing up-and-coming trends revealed by the poll include traditional Muslim names going mainstream, with six percent of the parents quizzed seeing more non-Muslim families using Muslim names. The most commonly-used Muslim monikers include Zane, Zahra, Ayesha, Farah, Anila, Omar and Jana.

One in ten has seen an increase in babies with ‘tough names’ including Axl, Maverick and Diesel, and by contrast, Unicorn names including Rainbow, Twinkle, Sassy, Sparkle and Princess are also beginning to gain popularity (4%).

Football ace Paul Pogba and Towie star Sam Faiers have helped to repopularise the name Paul, with one in 25 parents seeing it used again. There is also renewed interest in 1970s names including Michelle, Susan and even Gary is making a comeback.

And Viking and Scandi names are on the march, with Magnus, Agnes, Linnea, Freya, Annika, Astrid and Britta more popular, according to 13 percent of parents.

Meanwhile, the more bizarre name phenomenons include text message abbreviation names like Ily – meaning I Love You – spotted by one percent of parents – and three percent who have seen US place names including Texas, Miami, Arizona and Tennessee used as baby names.

However, the most common current trend is surnames as first names. Two thirds of parents report this is on the rise in their area, with top names including Cooper, Grayson, Parker, Quinn, Jones, Carter, Mason, Jackson, Hunter and Riley.

Traditional but not twee English names are undergoing a revival, with 61 percent of parents embracing monikers includingSarah, Penelope, Emma and Lucy.

The rise of gender-fluid culture means Gender Neutral names are becoming more popular. Alex, Charlie, Elliott, Ellis, Max and Sydney are among the names spotted more often by 41 percent of parents.

And while it may be the least-used letter of the alphabet, X names are in-vogue, with Jaxxon, Xanthe, Xander and Jaxton the most picked for new babies, and voted more popular by 35 percent of parents.

Meanwhile, 16 percent of mums and dads have seen a flood of babies with water names including River, Lake, Delta and Coast, while 13 percent report meeting tots named after the cast of the film Frozen, such as Elsa, Kai, Anna and Olaf.

However, the study also showed the most disliked baby name trend is text-message names, shunned by 71 percent of parents, followed by double-barrelled names such as Lily-Mae, which half of parents refuse to use.

A further 44 percent wouldn’t name their child after a sports team while 38 percent loathe unusual or unique spellings. And the Kardashian trend of using the same first letter for each child was turned down by 27 percent of families.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com said: “What’s in a name? Well rather a lot. Names reflect both changing fashions and our changing society, such as the rise in use of many beautiful Muslim names. With 70 percent of families believing their child is judged on their name, a vast amount of love, care and attention is poured into picking the right moniker.

“Corbyn is the stand-out naming trend this year, and we expect to see lots of babies conceived at Glastonbury or over the election period named after the Labour leader.

“But remember a week is a long time in politics and your child will have that name for a lifetime, so do consider the effects of naming a child after any politician.”

HOTTEST UP AND COMING TRENDS

Political names (23%)
Viking / Scandi names (11%)
Tough names (10% are seeing an increase in this)
Non-Muslim families using Muslim names (6%)
Unicorn names (4%)
70s names (4%)
US place names (3%)
Text abbreviation names (e.g. ILY for I Love You) – 1%

Mansfield Park Still Least Favourite Jane Austen Novel After 200 Years

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Frostie

Mansfield Park attracted just two per cent of votes in a poll.

Some things change, but sadly for celebrated author Jane Austen some things don’t.

A new survey by book recommendation website LoveReading.co.uk has found that 200 years on from its publication in May 1814, Mansfield Park is still Austen’s least-liked novel.

The novel garnered just two per cent of a poll to find readers’ favourite Austen book.

The outright winner – with nearly 60 per cent of the vote – was Pride and Prejudice – the tale of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage that featured the iconic Mr Darcy.

Second most-popular was Jane Austen’s first novel, Sense and Sensibility, followed in third place by her fourth book, Emma – the last to be published while she was still alive.

Peter Crawshaw, Director and Co-Founder of Lovereading.co.uk said “Since its first publication 200 years ago, Mansfield Park has always been a divisive novel — the Jane Austen equivalent of Marmite.

“But least liked doesn’t necessarily mean worst and even though the Pygmalion morality epic that is Mansfield Park doesn’t have the glamorous appeal of Pride and Prejudice it certainly has some resonance today.

“Perhaps it just needs a Hollywood makeover to finally get a popularity boost.”

Mansfield Park is noted for being the most controversial of Austen’s major novels

Published in May 1814, her third novel was praised by Regency critics for its “wholesome morality”, but has since earned the dubious distinction of being the most disliked among Jane Austen fans.

Many readers find the book’s protagonist, Fanny Price, too “timid” and “priggish” to be likeable, for example, with Jane Austen’s own mother, Cassandra, herself complaining that Fanny was “insipid”.

Heated debates about the novel’s literary worth have even spawned so-called ‘Fanny Wars’ on internet discussion forums.

Crawshaw added: “Discussions between Austen fans often get heated while discussing the literary value of Mansfield Park.

“Mansfield Park is quite a complex work in comparison to Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, and this often puts readers off, as does the unsympathetic lead character, Fanny,”

Jane Austen, who lived from 1775 to 1817, is regarded as one of English literature’s greatest authors.

Her novels include Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility.

The Bank of England has announced that it will feature Austen’s face on £10 notes from 2017.

Top Cosmetic Surgeries of 2013

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Frostie

· 473% increase in arm lifts as patients wave goodbye to bingo wings

· Buffalo hump removal up 350% in 2013

· ‘Moobs’ a hot topic as enquiries for male breast removal doubles

· 221% increase in those opting for buttock lifts

From Kim Kardashian’s infamous derriere tweet sparking surgery rumours, to Heidi Montag’s breast reduction –in 2013 cosmetic surgery was a talking point. New statistics from clinic comparison site WhatClinic.com, shows what cosmetic treatments were hot or not in 2013.

Arm lifts saw a whopping 473% increase in 2013 as many patients waved goodbye to those dreaded bingo wings. Fluctuations in weight and growing older can cause the upper arm skin to sag, which is what the surgery – also known as brachioplasty – corrects. The cost, however, is not for the faint hearted – averaging £3,872 – over a third (35%) more than it cost in 2012.

With Beyonce’s booty once again taking centre stage in her raunchy new video, ‘Partition’, it’s not surprising that enquiries into buttock lifts more than tripled (221%) last year. However, the surgery, which aims to contour and sculpt patients’ rears, comes with a hefty price tag of around £4,226 and experts recommend no physical exertion for three to six weeks following treatment.

One of the more unusual procedures trending in 2013 was buffalo hump removal, which had no interest in 2012, but saw a 350% increase in 2013. This surgery removes the fatty build-up at the base of the neck caused by excessive weight gain. Although it’s still not widely available in the UK, demand amongst British patients is certainly on the up.

It wasn’t just women going under the knife in 2013, as male breast reduction enquiries more than doubled (119%) last year. However, over a third (35%) of those looking to banish their ‘moobs’, went overseas to countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Belgium, where surgeries are considerably cheaper.

Full abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, saw enquiries fall by half (46%) last year, while abdominal etching dropped by almost a fifth (17%). Etching, hugely popular in the 1990s, is aimed at people who are quite fit but have a small amount of fat covering their abs. Demand for both procedures is now falling as many patients opt for alternatives like fat transfer, which saw a 126% increase in the past 12 months.

Mini-facelifts also dropped by 60% as less invasive treatments, such as non-surgical facelifts and dermal fillers (both up 93%) and Thermage skin tightening (up 80%) proved more popular with patients.

The following table shows the treatments that have seen the biggest increases in enquiries in 2013:

Treatment	% increase in enquiries over past 12 months	Average price
Arm lift	473%	£3,872
Buffalo hump removal	350%	£3,315
Cleft lip palate	260%	£350
Buttock lift	221%	£4,226
Eyelid surgery	158%	£2,125
Thigh lift	141%	£4,298
Fat transfer	126%	£2,548
Neck liposuction	123%	£2,142
Male breast reduction	119%	£3,493
Neck lift	110%	£3,258

The following table shows the treatments that have seen the biggest decreases in enquiries in 2013:

Treatment	% decrease in past 12 months	Average price
Genital reshaping	-74%	£4,707
Mini facelift	-60%	£4,299
Asian bkepharoplasty	-57%	£1,000
Full abdominoplasty	-46%	£4,912
Breast reconstruction	-41%	£5,794
Eye lift	-32%	£1,191
Pectoral implants	-28%	n/a
Nasal tip surgery	-18%	£2,317
Abdominal etching	-17%	£5,313
Jaw contouring	-16%	£1,625

Psychologies Reveals The New Year Resolutions We’re Already Planning To Break

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Frostie

… And why the New Year is the worst time to make them

I have given up making New Year Resolutions. Instead I reevaluate my life when I have a birthday, making lists of goals and plans. It seems that other people are not good with resolutions either. In fact, my resolution last year was not to make a resolution.

Nationwide research by UK lifestyle magazine, Psychologies, has revealed that a surprising 70% of us will already be thinking about the opportunity that the New Year presents to make changes in our lives, by the first week of November. The findings indicate that we’re holding out for January 1^st, despite the fact that one in five of us admit that we’re currently ‘desperate’ to make a change – and that we’re also almost certainly doomed to fail.

Nearly three quarters (72%) of the UK makes New Year resolutions, but the majority of us admit that we’ve failed to succeed in the past, with a staggering 68% giving up within the month of January itself. It’s not surprising, then, that only a depressing 11% of us believe that we’re very likely to stick to the changes that we’re already planning for 2014.

Life coach and editor of Psychologies, Suzy Greaves, believes that the problem lies with the New Year tradition itself and is urging her readers to boycott January resolutions and just start right now, instead, “It’s not just the post-festivity blues, empty wallets and grim weather that make January a bad time to make positive changes. The January 1^st tradition focuses us on one huge goal, like ‘being healthy’ and we feel that we should be able to magically transform our behaviour overnight, rather than implementing smaller changes that work towards the bigger goal, over a realistic time period.

“When we fail to meet this inflated demand, feelings of ‘failure’ negatively reinforce our behaviour to the extent that, as our research has found, over a third of us (39%) don’t try again for another year. Simply put, January 1^st creates a vicious loop when it comes to making important – and often vital – changes in our lives. My advice as a life coach is simply to forget January and start now – our current issue has a special report to help readers ditch bad habits and take up good ones by making tiny changes that deliver huge results.”

The Psychologies research found personal finance to be the most common area for desired change, with over half of us citing this as something we were resolving to change. But whilst a third (33%) wish to save more, only 10% want to resolve to spend less. 49% want to find a way to earn more.

Despite the focus on our finances and perhaps suggesting an over reliance on hopes for a lottery win, only a quarter of us are considering making a change within our careers. Of these people, 39% are hoping to initiate promotion, 26% are wishing to change career paths entirely and 23% want to start a business.

The orthodox resolution to ‘lose weight’ was the second most popular desired change and on the minds of over half of Brits surveyed. Weight loss features again amongst those who want to improve their health with 28% acknowledging that it’s the change that’s required. 20% more women prioritised weight loss as a desired change, than men.

The Psychologies research found that when it comes to those wishing to make changes to social and family relationships, 43% want to prioritise improving the relationship and sex life that they share with their partner. Whilst that may sound gloomy at first glance, these statistics can be viewed more positively when compared to the fact that only 7% want to leave a relationship with a partner. Looking at sex lives specifically, 16% more men want to improve their sex life, than women, but an equal percentage of men and women (27%) want to improve the relationship with their partner.

What is your New Year Resolution?

Pre Cannes Festival 2013 | Social Diary

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

May 2nd saw the Pre Cannes Festival. The press release said, “With the very special participation of celebrity guests Carol Cleveland (Monthy Pythons), Patricia Inder (John Lennon’s & Lemmy of Motorhead’s). And Jonathan Hansler (Axed the movie, Cadbury ads), British actress and writer Catherine Balavage, Zoe Griffin author of the book “Get Rich Blogging”, Andrea Iervolino the youngest and most successful Italian producer all the way from Italy.”

Yes, yours truly was honoured to be presented for my acting work. I was quite thrown when Paola Berta told me I would be presented at the event. Lots of thanks to her and congratulations on the event. I was interviewed by Fashion TV amongst others and I had a wonderful time.

Catherine Balavage being interviewed by Fashion TV.

The event was held at No 5, 5 Cavendish square. It is a beautiful and classy venue. I mingled with Zoe and actor Jonathan Hansler while Fabio Tedde & Paul Wiffen played piano.

Pointing out the Frost logo. We have sponsored the event for the past two years.

I bumped into the vivacious and beautiful Zoe Griffin, author of “Get Rich Blogging” and owner of excellent blog Live Like a VIP, who were kind enough to mention me in the coverage of the event.

I also had a great chat with the makers of new energy drink Think Drink, an energy drink that is natural and tastes great. We also chatted with Delights of Italy who make amazing cupcakes and entirely edible flowers. They were beautiful and delicious.

We also saw some great films from the Cannes Short Corner Official Selections.

SOMEBODY TO LOVE by Braine Hownd FilmsCAVIAR 2 by Beluga Films

COLONEL BADD by Tiger Dreams

UNSPOKEN by Oakman Films

KIR ROYALE by Beluga Films

There were also great talks from marketing specialist Kathy Ennis, LA producer and entrepreneur CHRISTIE HSIAO of SERENITY MEDIA GROUP, British actress and theatre producer VICKY MCKELLER, Gentiane Piovanacci, editor of MAMARAZZI news magazine, popular french artist LADYKAT and from Spain, Mac Chakaveh, president of the MARBELLA FILM FESTIVAL.

Keep an eye out for more photos from the event.

2013 Travel Trends

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Frostie

Intelligent travel search and convenience key

In September 2012, Momondo introduced a new flight rating technology. Unique to the market, the system aimed to take travel search to the next level – the second generation of meta-search.

By combining several factors into a single rating system – to get past cheap, but longer flights, momondo’s new technology instantly spots the best flights available, saving consumers time and money, with every search.

Every flight is rated with a smiley and a score between 0 (bad) and 10 (good) to help the user find the flight with the best balance between price and flight duration.

From its introduction in September, momondo noticed their rating technology, with price/time scores and new user interfaces with ‘smileys’, also made a significant change in the way users interacted with travel meta-search information, and made their travel decisions.

In the process, momondo discovered two new travel trends, which will affect travel in 2013:

1. Meta-search sites will need to be intelligent

Over the last four months, momondo saw a 24% drop in refined travel searches, since it introduced the rating system – as it is now easier for momondo users to make the right decisions based on travel needs. This information told momondo that moving into 2013, more consumers are looking for ‘intelligent’ travel search sites, which help with their travel decision making – by turning raw flight data into actionable information.

2. Convenience factors key

Secondly, momondo has seen a change in consumer buying habits. momondo observed that over the course of 2012 people steadily have been spending more money on flights, which in turn confirms that the traveller’s focus on a whole, is not now on booking the cheapest ticket, moreover convenience factors – such as time, play an important role. Users will act as ‘smart-buyers’, that seek insight and want to compare several factors, before they purchase.

The Most Searched 2012

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Catherine Balavage

who did brits search for in 2012?

TULISA HAS THE X FACTOR, KATE AND HARRY REIGN, VIC PENDLETON GOES FOR GOLD AND BIEBER LOSES HIS GRIP AS BING RELEASES ITS UK MOST-SEARCHED LISTS FOR 2012

Bing UK searches show 2012 was a year in which Britons clamoured to see more (literally) of their favourite people than ever before. The search engine today releases its most-searched lists, based on the aggregation of billions of search queries conducted by Brits on Bing.com this year.

Singer Tulisa Contostavlos shows she has the X Factor as the UK’s most searched person in 2012, beating 2011 winner Justin Bieber, who dropped to fifth place this year. And while Tulisa’s singing career and role as X Factor judge no doubt inspired many of these searches, the leak of a certain video in March might also have played a part.

It was also a big year for 2012’s second-most-searched person, Kate Middleton, with not just the Royal Wedding but some unauthorised holiday snaps sending people online in their droves to find out more. Prince Harry also got people searching after his right royal Vegas antics. The third in line to the throne was the UK’s sixth most-searched person, behind Cheryl Cole, the late Whitney Houston and Justin Bieber.

Robert Pattinson, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and disgraced TV presenter Jimmy Savile round out the top 10.

In the afterglow of the Games, it’s to be expected that Olympics and London 2012 were the most-searched events of 2012, with Olympians leading the most-searched sports stars list. Gold-winning cyclist and Strictly Come Dancing star Victoria Pendleton raced to the top, followed by sprinter Usain Bolt and gold medallist tennis star Andy Murray. Stricken footballer Fabrice Muamba was the fourth most searched sportsperson, with heptathlete Jessica Ennis in fifth place.

Most-searched celebrity couple Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart kept Britons guessing with their on-again, off-again romance this year, but their new movie, Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2, could only muster fifth place in the most-searched movies list, with the top spot taken out by The Avengers. EastEnders beat out reality TV rivals Big Brother and X Factor to become 2012’s most searched TV show.

Bing UK Director of Search Dave Coplin says: “Every year, the Bing search results give us a unique insight into what and who is top of mind for Brits. It’s always fascinating to see which celebrities have had the biggest impact on Britons throughout the year, and of course it’s no surprise to see that the 2012 Olympics and Olympians have captured our hearts and minds after such a golden summer.”

See below for more fascinating insights into what Brits searched for – from fashion to Facebook to food to festivals – this year on Bing.com.

2012’s most searched people
1. Tulisa Contostavlos

2. Kate Middleton

3. Cheryl Cole

4. Whitney Houston

5. Justin Bieber

6. Prince Harry

7. Robert Pattinson

8. Rihanna

9. Kim Kardashian

10. Jimmy Savile

2011 results1. Justin Bieber

2. Kim Kardashian

3. Lady Gaga

4. Jennifer Aniston

5. Pippa Middleton

6. Katy Perry

7. Kate Middleton

8. Tulisa Contostavlos

9. Scarlett Johansson

10. Angelina Jolie

2012’s most searched sports stars1. Victoria Pendleton

2. Usain Bolt

3. Andy Murray

4. Fabrice Muamba

5. Jessica Ennis

6. Tom Daley

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

8. Lance Armstrong

9. David Beckham

10. Mo Farah

2011 results1. David Beckham

2. Ryan Giggs

3. Lewis Hamilton

4. Andy Murray

5. Maria Sharapova

6. Wayne Rooney

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

8. Usain Bolt

9. Jessica Ennis

10. Jenson Button

2012’s most searched events

1. Olympics

2. London 2012

3. Euro 2012

4. Diamond Jubilee

5. Paralympics

6. Wimbledon

7. Tour de France

8. Hurricane Sandy

9. US election

10. Leveson Inquiry

iggs

2012’s most searched movies

1. The Avengers

2. The Hunger Games

3. Prometheus

4. Skyfall

5. Twilight Breaking Dawn II

6. Dark Knight Rises

7. The Amazing Spiderman

8. Snow White & The Huntsman

9. Taken 2

10. The Dictator

2012’s most searched TV shows

1. EastEnders

2. Big Brother

3. X Factor

4. Doctor Who

5. Coronation Street

6. Strictly Come Dancing

7. The Only Way Is Essex

8. Celebrity Big Brother

9. Game of Thrones

10. The Walking Dead

Most searched social networks

1. Facebook

2. YouTube

3. Twitter

4. LinkedIn

5. Tumblr

6. Spotify7. Pinterest

8. Myspace

9. Instagram

10. WordPress

Top searches:

Celebrity couple Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart

Celebrity wedding Jessica Biel’s pink wedding dress

Celebrity death Robin Gibb death

Celebrity divorce Katie Holmes divorce

Celebrity baby Robbie Williams baby pics

Celebrity pregnant Imogen Thomas pregnant

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver

Girl band Little Mix

Boy band One Direction

Lyrics Call Me Maybe

Festival V Festival

Fashion brand Next

Store Argos

Supermarket Tesco

Football club Liverpool FC

Movie trailer Skyfall

Politician David Cameron

US politician Barack Obama

Car model Nissan Qashqai

Car make BMW

Airline Ryanair

Holiday destination Turkey

Viral video Gangnam Style

Diet Cambridge diet

Recipe Pancakes

Astrologer Jonathan Cainer

Who… unfollowed me

What… car

How… I met your mother

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Tag Archives: popular

2017 Top Baby Name is Corbyn

Mansfield Park Still Least Favourite Jane Austen Novel After 200 Years

Top Cosmetic Surgeries of 2013

Psychologies Reveals The New Year Resolutions We’re Already Planning To Break

2013 Travel Trends

The Most Searched 2012

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