# Can we play another round of "What the hell were Mom and Dad thinking when they named the kid?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572 "2014-03-01T02:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/201 "2014-03-08T16:45:01Z")
Chinese thoracic surgeon’s wife (we called her “Dragon Lady”) named the 4 kids: Stefanni Tifanni Allfred Allbert So, 2 fannies and 2 alls. All spelled wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/202 "2014-03-08T17:06:26Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > Tifanni I keep getting spam email (one of those “cause” things where once you sign one petition they won’t leave you alone) from somebody named “Tiffaniy”. My inner editor grinds its teeth every time I see that. Couldn’t her parents decide between a “Y” and and “I”? My editor also has trouble with the basketball player Dwyane Wade. “Dwyane”? Did the nurse filling out the birth certificate transpose two letters and nobody caught it? ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/203 "2014-03-08T17:34:37Z")
Dont blame it on the nurse! Sometimes its all we can do to talk them out of some of the things they come up with! Like: “Vagina” and “Family”. Maybe they just picked some frilly sounding “American” word out of the Family Planning brochure. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/204 "2014-03-08T21:08:05Z")
Just discovered a relatively recent hire at work named Kendall Dolly. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/205 "2014-03-09T01:06:24Z")
I have said this before, but I think not in this thread. If you’re going to creatively name your kid, look up the new name in a dictionary to see if it’s a word you don’t want to name your kid. I knew a girl once named Chimera (pr. Shamera). In the close enough to raise a lot of eyebrows category, I have met a Euretha and a Maleria (pr. Mallory). This stuff isn’t new- I know a dear lady, 89, whose parents combined Mary and Wanda way back in '25. She has suffered all her life because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/206 "2014-03-09T02:24:34Z")
I saw a Shyann today. Presumably that’s supposed to be like Cheyanne (which oddly doesn’t bother me too much). This spelling makes me want to weep. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/207 "2014-03-09T15:28:24Z")
“Ken Doll Dolly” - sounds like a handsome white boy trying to be a rapper. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/208 "2014-03-09T16:46:01Z")
I have two brothers one named James and the other Jimmy. My folks really liked that name. James is retired Navy and goes by Jim. Jimmy is Jimmy. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/209 "2014-03-09T18:16:15Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I keep getting spam email (one of those “cause” things where once you sign one petition they won’t leave you alone) from somebody named “Tiffaniy”. My inner editor grinds its teeth every time I see that. Couldn’t her parents decide between a “Y” and and “I”?.. I get mailing-list-email from someone named Tiffiniy. Some of the oddly-spelled names in this thread make it seem like the parents picked a name, but not a spelling, and then when their kid was learning to write/spell, they asked their kid to pick the spelling of their own name. ---
**Author:** ![roxie\_monoxide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6bbea6/32.png) [@roxie\_monoxide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roxie_monoxide)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/210 "2014-03-09T18:20:39Z")
A friend’s job included filling in insurance forms. A woman comes in with her son, hands her the necessary paperwork . My friend looks at it, does a double take and asks the mother about the spelling and if the name is pronounced the way it looks. Mother gives her a condescending yes. My friend, after contemplating what a joy this child’s life will be, just shrugs her shoulders and fills in the form. The name? Creetin ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/211 "2014-03-09T18:21:27Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I get mailing-list-email from someone named Tiffiniy. Actually, now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure that’s the spelling in the spam I get as well. Maybe it’s the same person! I can’t imagine there are that many "Tiffiniy"s out there… ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/212 "2014-03-10T00:13:47Z")
My daughter has a good friend in school with the most interesting name I’ve ever heard. Her first name is Amunique. Middle name is Anprecious. I’m unique and precious. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/213 "2014-03-10T00:29:36Z")
I knew a Vageena. She was a teller at a teller at my old bank. Said so pinned right above her left breast. She was probably in her late 30s-early 40s and I couldn’t understand why she hadn’t changed it to something less…less…vagina-ish. Geena, perhaps. Or perhaps she was just a brave and stubborn woman and it was her name and dammit, she was keeping it. My sister named my niece Sara, but pronounced Sah-ra. Since (in my experience anyhow) the more common pronunciation is Say-ra, my niece is going to go through life correcting people’s pronunciation of her name. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/214 "2014-03-10T00:37:19Z")
Did she date Jerry Seinfeld once? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/215 "2014-03-10T00:43:43Z")
Neil Gaiman ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/216 "2014-03-10T00:48:45Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > My sister named my niece Sara, but pronounced Sah-ra. Since (in my experience anyhow) the more common pronunciation is Say-ra, my niece is going to go through life correcting people’s pronunciation of her name. But not completely made up. Just a pronunciation from another culture(s). > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Neil Gaiman Man, Anthony Weiner obviously wanted to show people, graphically, how his name was **not** pronounced (WYE-ner, not WEE-ner). And Scott Wiener wanted to [hide all the wieners](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Wiener#Board_of_Supervisors). ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/217 "2014-03-10T01:10:01Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > **My daughter has a good friend in school with the most interesting name I’ve ever heard**. Her first name is Amunique. Middle name is Anprecious. > > I’m unique and precious. Hmm. No, Aminteresting is her brother. Aminteresting Inabadway. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/218 "2014-03-10T01:10:31Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > My daughter has a good friend in school with the most interesting name I’ve ever heard. Her first name is Amunique. Middle name is Anprecious. > > I’m unique and precious. Hmm. Fitting, then that your username is **Ann Onimous**. 🙂 (Though I’m sure it’s not your real name.) ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/219 "2014-03-10T01:15:15Z")
When I taught as a grad student at UC Santa Cruz I had a Galadriel and a Mountain. I think there was a Rainbow too. ah, Santa Cruz 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572/220 "2014-03-10T01:25:13Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > When I taught as a grad student at UC Santa Cruz I had a Galadriel and a Mountain. I think there was a Rainbow too. ah, Santa Cruz 🙂 When I worked at the newspaper in San Luis Obispo, CA in the late 80s, the wife of the bigwig publisher was named Galadriel. She was a middle aged lady then, not a hippie kid. Very elegant, nice person. I always liked her name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-play-another-round-of-what-the-hell-were-mom-and-dad-thinking-when-they-named-the-kid/682572.md?page=12)