Ace

Surprisingly Ace has been used as a masculine given name in the United States since at least the late 19th century up through 1903. However, as we moved into the 20th century, Ace pretty much disappeared from the charts for what seemed like an eternity. The name finally reemerged in 2006 after a 100+ year hiatus. What reminded American parents of this idiomatic moniker was a contestant on the 2006 season of American Idol, Ace Young (born Brett Asa Young). In this case, Ace could be considered a nickname for names like Asa, Jace, Trace or Chace (or, if you’re a fan of subtlety, you could create a name like Andrew Charles Edwards and get the A.C.E. initials that way). Although it appears that more and more American parents are choosing Ace as a bona fide given name which is a bold move indeed. Many people point to the fact that Ace sounds more like a well-earned nickname or a commonly used dog’s name. If you decide that Ace will be your son’s legally given first name then you better hope he’s really good at something otherwise the name runs the risk of being ironic (which could ultimately become a source of embarrassment and ridicule). Because the word “ace” is so strongly associated with being the very best, many people consider this name choice slightly arrogant (but we have to admit, it’s also pretty cute). Of course your son is your number one, so it’s hard to blame overly confident parents. Still, parents only seem to want to name their sons Ace and not their daughters. What's up with that?