# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:23am 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/682572/21 "2014-03-01T06:23:03Z")
> [@Ayatollah Yawuntz](#): > > Carrie Anne > > Saw this on a girl’s name tag at a Safeway. What kind of parent would hang a name like this on their kid? Knowing (or at least they ought to know) that the kid is thereby doomed for the rest of her life to hear the inevitable “Hey what’s your game now, can anybody play?” Only if she manages to become a time traveler. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:29am 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/682572/22 "2014-03-01T07:29:10Z")
Reminds me of something Rincewind the Wizzard once said, “Luck is my middle name! Mind you, my first name is Bad.” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 10:10am 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/682572/23 "2014-03-01T10:10:11Z")
> [@Ayatollah Yawuntz](#): > > Carrie Anne > > Saw this on a girl’s name tag at a Safeway. What kind of parent would hang a name like this on their kid? Knowing (or at least they ought to know) that the kid is thereby doomed for the rest of her life to hear the inevitable “Hey what’s your game now, can anybody play?” I have a 2nd cousin named Sherry. Yes, she’s sick of hearing it. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 10:35am 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/682572/24 "2014-03-01T10:35:36Z")
I had a student last year called Azimuth Jenkins. I thought he sounded like a Terry Pratchett character. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 10:36am 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/682572/25 "2014-03-01T10:36:55Z")
They are called “kira kira” names in Japan, “sparkly names” and there are some doozies. My son’s best friend is called Tomorou with the kanji for “ashita”, tomorrow, as his name. It’s so weird. And we take the piss constantly. “When you see Tomorou tomorrow, ask him where he was yesterday” 🙂 The kids sang a song at school and the chorus had a line in English - “search for tomorrow…” and the entire school year turns and yells “found him!” There is another kid called Hot(o). I asked the mother why, she said that in the future when the girl travels abroad foreigners will hear her name and think she’s a nice friendly personality. “Hi! I’m Hot!” Yep, that works. My friend is a teacher and she has a kid called Earth whose kanji are the ones for Chikyu, or earth in Japanese. But when said with a Japanese accent it comes out as Arse. GREAT name! A student of mine is a public health nurse in another town and she swears up and down there is a baby called Pikachu! She’s a serious person so I don’t doubt her. Apparently the kanji are for light and space but when he’s 90 it’s going to be really odd. Then there are our near neighbours with kids called Kirin (giraffe) Raion (lion) Usagi (rabbit) and Sai (rhinocerous). I have no idea what the hell they were thinking. Again the kanji mean different things - Sai has the kanji for matsuri, or festival (celebration) so it’s not tooooo bad but en masse they have raised a zoo! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 11:02am 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/682572/26 "2014-03-01T11:02:07Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Back when I saw some names in the legal system, I always wondered if they were setting their kids up to fail. > > Juan Hummingbird > Crystl Skydancer > Lots of Darths, lots of Lukes, but the ones who always confused me were the kids named Chance. Chance: destined to be a landscape architect. As for Juan Hummingbird…might be Native American (many have some Hispanic influence), which would make it okay, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 11:22am 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/682572/27 "2014-03-01T11:22:42Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > Harding I used to know a man named Harding. He was in his mid-40s when I knew him during the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 11:30am 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/682572/28 "2014-03-01T11:30:07Z")
**Rumer** seems a very strange name to me, although I’ve just seen that it’s more common in the UK. Is it not unusual in the UK, then? I’ve also just noticed that Bruce and Demi’s kid’s middle name is Glen. Doesn’t help much, IMO, although I guess she’s the only one who has to like it. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 11:49am 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/682572/29 "2014-03-01T11:49:08Z")
i suspect odd names are common now and if your class list looks like the OP’s, then you wouldn’t bat an eyelid at most of these names. that said, i’m not sure i could address a 60-year-old whose name is Pikachu. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 12:03pm 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/682572/30 "2014-03-01T12:03:27Z")
Kelton is a traditional, Old English name. It’s the name of a 50 yo friend of ours, so it’s not some new thing. They gave their daughter a pretty, Old English name as well. I worked with an Azriel. He was Israeli. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 1:10pm 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/682572/31 "2014-03-01T13:10:31Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > **Rumer** seems a very strange name to me, although I’ve just seen that it’s more common in the UK. Is it not unusual in the UK, then? I’ve also just noticed that Bruce and Demi’s kid’s middle name is Glen. Doesn’t help much, IMO, although I guess she’s the only one who has to like it. There was a pretty well known (British) author named Rumer Godden. I’ve read several of her books. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 1:25pm 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/682572/32 "2014-03-01T13:25:42Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Yes, because everyone under the age of 50 totally knows that song. (I’m 36. Pretty sure I’m the only one I know who knows it). I’m 43 and my first thought was the actress [Carrie-Anne Moss](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005251/?ref_=nv_sr_3). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 2:40pm 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/682572/33 "2014-03-01T14:40:33Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Yes, because everyone under the age of 50 totally knows that song. (I’m 36. Pretty sure I’m the only one I know who knows it). Is it really that obscure? I’m 38 and I’m pretty sure almost all my friends know it. Now, an 18 year old, maybe not. But even my brother, at 31, knows it. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 3:19pm 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/682572/34 "2014-03-01T15:19:48Z")
In high school, I knew a kid named Richard Beiter (pro. “biter”). His parents called him Dick. Poor bastard; he was a good guy, and very few let him get past that unfortunate name. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 3:26pm 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/682572/35 "2014-03-01T15:26:58Z")
There are plenty of good names that are featured in songs. Is someone supposed to not name their kid “Gloria” for fear that the kids will sing, “GLORIIAAAA, in te domine!” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 4:07pm 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/682572/36 "2014-03-01T16:07:49Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > … the ones who always confused me were the kids named Chance. The parents were fans of BEING THERE. Add points if the kid is taught to garden. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 4:30pm 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/682572/37 "2014-03-01T16:30:36Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Is it really that obscure? I’m 38 and I’m pretty sure almost all my friends know it. Now, an 18 year old, maybe not. But even my brother, at 31, knows it. I’m 31 and I have no idea what song you are talking about. The only thing I thought of was the actress from “The Matrix,” Carrie Anne Moss. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:01pm 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/682572/38 "2014-03-01T17:01:12Z")
What would you do if your parents named you [Daisy Cowit](http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cdc_1383667391)? ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:12pm 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/682572/39 "2014-03-01T17:12:56Z")
A woman I work for has a son whose middle name is Theseus (I saw his diploma hanging on the wall in her house). She is Greek, so maybe it is more common there than here. I for one think it’s pretty bad-ass. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:14pm 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/682572/40 "2014-03-01T17:14:07Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > In high school, I knew a kid named Richard Beiter (pro. “biter”). His parents called him Dick. > > Poor bastard; he was a good guy, and very few let him get past that unfortunate name. That should be considered child abuse. I’m not even kidding. [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=1) [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=3)