Living on the other side of the Atlantic there seems to be a growing fashion for, to my Western European up-bringing, children to be given what appear to be made-up names; or highly unconventional spellings; or for names to lose their gender (apparently Michael is non gender-specific name).

Is this a fashion that has been around for years and years and just becoming more popular? Or is it more recent than that? Why is it happen? Is it that the parents can give their children a unique name that no-one else has got? Are these, if fact, real names with real cultural backgrounds?

What are your favourites?