# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:20pm 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/682572/41 "2014-03-01T17:20:53Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > 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!” Diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks, I suppose. I got 2/3 of the way through your post and totally thought you were going to go with “G-L-O-R-I-A Gllllllllllloriaaaaaaa!” But hey, the Rolling Stones don’t figure into pop culture nearly as much as medieval religious hymns do … Then again, I married into a family that included a guy named Richard. Not usually such a problem, but his last name is pronounced (not spelled) “Semen.” ---
**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, 5:30pm 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/682572/42 "2014-03-01T17:30:11Z")
Lots of parents name girls after flowers. There’s Rose, Lily, and so on. I was in second grade with a girl named Anemone. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:33pm 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/682572/43 "2014-03-01T17:33:04Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > My old boss named her daughter Riley. No, excuse me, Rylie. SHUT UP. There’s no excuse, that’s SPELLED WRONG. I’m not a big fan of last names as first names anyway, but yeah. Riley, I can see. Reilly - sure. Rylee? What were you thinking, parents? (Of course, the same parents named their first one Emily when that was the number one name in the country. Clearly we are not on the same naming wavelength at all.) My friend’s daughter was being harassed at school by a girl named **Starioana**. Did her parents want her to grow up to be a drag queen? Who can’t spell? My friend’s kids are Ireland, Lincoln, and Georgia. I’ve never summoned the nerve to ask if it was a deliberate choice to give them all place names. ---
**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, 5:50pm 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/682572/44 "2014-03-01T17:50:59Z")
My sister has three girls. The first, they chose to name something they hadn’t heard for a long time so felt it was reasonably original: **Hannah**. There were two other Hannahs in her _class_, let alone her _year_. The second they were more careful and checked popularity lists. **Georgia** was in a class with _three_ others. _Four_ in total! They just seemed to unintentionally pick names right on the cusp of the zeitgeist. So the next time they went a little, but not too severely, unusual: **Briar**. Success at last. And I really like that name. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:52pm 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/682572/45 "2014-03-01T17:52:04Z")
> [@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 40 and have no idea what song you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 5:53pm 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/682572/46 "2014-03-01T17:53:56Z")
An article in the paper last week about a former addict/felon trying to better his life and get a better job and how hard it is to provide for his son with his record. It was pretty sympathetic until I saw the kid’s name was Jaccobb. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:00pm 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/682572/47 "2014-03-01T18:00:32Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > 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!” Maybe the parents really liked U2? 🙂 > [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I’m not a big fan of last names as first names anyway, but yeah. Riley, I can see. Reilly - sure. Rylee? What were you thinking, parents? They misspelled “R’lyeh”. _Iä iä Cthulhu fh’tagn!_ > [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > My friend’s daughter was being harassed at school by a girl named **Starioana**. Did her parents want her to grow up to be a drag queen? Who can’t spell? Star-ee-oh-anna? How do you even say that? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:22pm 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/682572/48 "2014-03-01T18:22:13Z")
> [@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). It makes me think, “Run to the light, Carol Anne!” Of course that’s to people above a certain age. Even so, the Matrix is dated a bit, as college freshmen were about 4 when it came out (!). > [@Sunspace](#): > > They misspelled “R’lyeh”. _Iä iä Cthulhu fh’tagn!_ The middle name is pronounced: “UaaGhaaarAAAluuuuUUUKHaaargHgHraaaah” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:16pm 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/682572/49 "2014-03-01T19:16:02Z")
> [@Lsura](#): > > I’m 40 and have no idea what song you’re talking about. I’m almost 37. It rings the vaguest bell that it’s an old people’s song my parents didn’t like but might’ve played once or twice in my presence. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:19pm 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/682572/50 "2014-03-01T19:19:47Z")
I’m pregnant and have been laughing my ass off at the Baby Names board at Babycenter. My favorite so far has got to be the thread on “What do you think about Timberly?” which you KNOW I had to open. It wasn’t even “is Timberly a good name or a bad name”, it was “I saw a boy Timberly and really liked the name but I think it’s a better name for a girl.” ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 7:54pm 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/682572/51 "2014-03-01T19:54:14Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > My friend’s daughter was being harassed at school by a girl named **Starioana**. Did her parents want her to grow up to be a drag queen? Who can’t spell? That is one of the worst I have heard in a while, sounds like a strain of bacteria. “I’m sorry, the tests came back your rectum is infected with Starioana Crixus, you are going to die in great pain and shame” ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 11:18pm 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/682572/52 "2014-03-01T23:18:07Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I’m pregnant and have been laughing my ass off at the Baby Names board at Babycenter. My favorite so far has got to be the thread on “What do you think about Timberly?” which you KNOW I had to open. It wasn’t even “is Timberly a good name or a bad name”, it was “I saw a boy Timberly and really liked the name but I think it’s a better name for a girl.” It reminds me of a clash between Kimberly and Tinkerbell. That poor kid is probably going to go through life calling himself Tim. The weirdest name I’ve ever heard was never actually given - it wasn’t registered officially, but was in protest of [Swedish naming laws](Swedish naming laws). Behold: Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 11:54pm 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/682572/53 "2014-03-01T23:54:26Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > The weirdest name I’ve ever heard was never actually given - it wasn’t registered officially, but was in protest of [Swedish naming laws](Swedish naming laws). > Behold: Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116. [Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii in New Zealand](http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/24/familyandrelationships.newzealand), got famous, that didn’t work out well either. Of course there are Utah names: [the Mormon Name Generator](http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/mormon/). There are plenty of these or lists of real names (replace Mormon with Utah in search also). ---
**Author:** ![PeskiPiksi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@PeskiPiksi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeskiPiksi)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 12:28am 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/682572/54 "2014-03-02T00:28:07Z")
I’m 37, _my_ name is Carrie and I have no idea what song Carrie Anne refers to. To add to the thread, my daughter goes to kindergarten with a Cedryche, pronounced the same as Cedric. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 12:46am 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/682572/55 "2014-03-02T00:46:27Z")
A friend of a friend has a small son name Apollo. There’s no Greek heritage, they just wanted to name him Apollo. Yes, he was born right after the Olympics that Apollo Ohno did well in. We enjoy giving our kids middle names that are actually audio/electrical measurement units. Our daughter’s middle name is Bel. If we have a son, his middle name will be Henry. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 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/682572/56 "2014-03-02T00:48:58Z")
Apollo, oh no! ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 12:50am 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/682572/57 "2014-03-02T00:50:07Z")
SirRomeo Howard is a high school wrestler from East St. Louis. Just came in second place in his division at the Illinois State HS Championships. Maybe a little “A Boy Named Sue” incentive to be a good wrestler… ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 1:21am 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/682572/58 "2014-03-02T01:21:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “Let’s **go** , Bort!” Excuse me, why are you calling my son? ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 1:52am 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/682572/59 "2014-03-02T01:52:34Z")
I work with a woman whose name is Rayne. Pronounced like Rene’ (Renay). ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 2:01am 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/682572/60 "2014-03-02T02:01:06Z")
I bet little Crixus’s parents were watching Sparticus a year ago on Starz. Landry is a fairly common last name in Louisiana so it really doesn’t surprise me as a given name. I gave my son an extremely uncommon first name. He’s the fifth generation in my husband’s family to have it. It’s easy to spell and pronounce and I love it. 🙂 [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=2) [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=4)