# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 10:52pm 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/682572/121 "2014-03-03T22:52:54Z")
Creative spelling or just made-up names that appear to be some sort of inappropriate compromise (like the aforementioned “Timberly”) irritate me a little more than is strictly justified. Sometimes it appears to be a genuine mistake. I’m constantly perplexed by people who would submit essays or print signs without checking their spelling, but it takes a completely incomprehensible level of casualness to misspell the name you chose for your baby. My weak contribution: A little while ago I knew a woman who was pregnant. Someone suggested the name “Eloise”, but misspelled it as “Elloise”. The mother-to-be had apparently never heard the name before, and liked it, but unfortunately (in my opinion) she insisted on the first spelling she had seen. So now there is probably a girl out there who will go through life telling people her name, then explain that one L is not enough for her. ---
**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 3, 2014, 10:59pm 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/682572/122 "2014-03-03T22:59:53Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > … it takes a completely incomprehensible level of casualness to misspell the name you chose for your baby… I took ballet lessons with a girl named Orpah. Yes, her parents wanted to name her after {talk show host} and mis-spelled it. :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 3, 2014, 11:11pm 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/682572/123 "2014-03-03T23:11:06Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I took ballet lessons with a girl named Orpah. Yes, her parents wanted to name her after {talk show host} and mis-spelled it. :smack: [Or did they?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpah) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 11:25pm 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/682572/124 "2014-03-03T23:25:22Z")
Some interesting names in Utah (can’t vouch for the accuracy): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BfIehCrO4Zs/hqdefault.jpg "Utah Names") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfIehCrO4Zs) Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 11:35pm 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/682572/125 "2014-03-03T23:35:11Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > My weak contribution: A little while ago I knew a woman who was pregnant. Someone suggested the name “Eloise”, but misspelled it as “Elloise”. The mother-to-be had apparently never heard the name before, and liked it, but unfortunately (in my opinion) she insisted on the first spelling she had seen. So now there is probably a girl out there who will go through life telling people her name, then explain that one L is not enough for her. Eloise is commonly misspelled anyway, so even when she gets to say “Two L’s!”, she’ll still frequently end up as Ellouise 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 11:42pm 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/682572/126 "2014-03-03T23:42:38Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > 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. That is a kick ass name! I met a Sophocles once – very handsome young Greek guy 😃 At work I had a customer who’s legal name is Candy Valentine (saw it when I checked her credit card and ID). Thinking she had changed her name, I asked her about it and she said its her birth name. I tried to make a lame joke and asked if her siblings had equally interesting names. “No,” she said, looking a little sad. “No, they all got normal names.” ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 11:53pm 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/682572/127 "2014-03-03T23:53:55Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > Eloise is commonly misspelled anyway, so even when she gets to say “Two L’s!”, she’ll still frequently end up as Ellouise 🙂 Yeah, I don’t know about the rest of the world, but in the U.S., you’re going to have to spell and pronounce Eloise 100% of the time. Approximately .01% of people will know that Elloise isn’t the traditional spelling. Either way, pretty name. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 12:06am 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/682572/128 "2014-03-04T00:06:24Z")
> [@zev\_steinhardt](#): > > Some interesting names in Utah (can’t vouch for the accuracy): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfIehCrO4Zs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfIehCrO4Zs) > Zev Steinhardt While those are clearly actresses I can vouch (living among the locals as I do here in Utah) those are Utahn names alright. Panquitch is a real place as well. Some LDS also don’t bother giving girls middle names so they’ll have nothing to worry about usurping when they move their maiden name to a middle name on marrying. ---
**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 4, 2014, 12:45am 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/682572/129 "2014-03-04T00:45:35Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Yeah, I don’t know about the rest of the world, but in the U.S., you’re going to have to spell and pronounce Eloise 100% of the time. Approximately .01% of people will know that Elloise isn’t the traditional spelling. Not that I know a lot of Eloises (two), but that’s the only spelling I’m familiar with. So Elloise is the usual US spelling? Or Ellouise? ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 1:34am 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/682572/130 "2014-03-04T01:34:22Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > 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. > [@Mississippienne](#): > > That is a kick ass name! Having a little more fun with middle names seems much better, to me. And names of mythical heroes are pretty cool, if done right (“Hercules” might be a bit much). I like “Odin”. I (vaguely) met a girl named “Afroditi” (the spelling was something like that anyway) but she was Greek - maybe it’s normal there. It kind of works for a woman - from a man’s perspective - but seems a little “sexy” when I consider it from the point of view of the parents. ---
**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 4, 2014, 1:41am 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/682572/131 "2014-03-04T01:41:07Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > Even better, I later saw the child’s name on a roster of kids at the daycare. I was wrong about the spelling. Apparently it’s “Hyrum.” Maybe they’re [Mormons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyrum_Smith). ---
**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 4, 2014, 2:04am 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/682572/132 "2014-03-04T02:04:49Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I took ballet lessons with a girl named Orpah. Yes, her parents wanted to name her after {talk show host} and mis-spelled it. :smack: Well, Oprah is a mispronunciation of the name her parents intended to give her: Orpah > **[Oprah Winfrey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey#Early_life)** > > Oprah Gail Winfrey (/ˈoʊprə/; born Orpah Gail Winfrey;\[a\] January 29, 1954), also known mononymously as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media", she was the richest African-American of the 20th century and was once the world's only black billi Winfrey wa... ---
**Author:** ![r\_u\_serious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5e925/32.png) [@r\_u\_serious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/r_u_serious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 2:41am 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/682572/133 "2014-03-04T02:41:25Z")
I went to school with a girl named Dainy Rae and a friend of mine has a niece named Seven. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:44am 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/682572/134 "2014-03-04T06:44:18Z")
I think my favourite has to be “Neveah”. Spelled exactly like that. ---
**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 4, 2014, 7:05am 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/682572/135 "2014-03-04T07:05:33Z")
> [@Trick\_Rider](#): > > I think my favourite has to be “Neveah”. Spelled exactly like that. I used to think so, until I saw one worse: “Rehtaeh.” Seriously. Sadly, though, I saw this name in a story about a girl who committed suicide due to rape and bullying, so I feel bad about bagging on her name. ☹ And I believe the other name is “Nevaeh” (heaven backwards). I always wondered about that-- isn’t heaven backwards “Hell”? ---
**Author:** ![tesseract](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tesseract](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tesseract)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:14am 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/682572/136 "2014-03-04T08:14:50Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > And I believe the other name is “Nevaeh” (heaven backwards). I always wondered about that-- isn’t heaven backwards “Hell”? **Infovore,** that’s \*\*Trick’s \*\*whole point. It’s supposed to be heaven spelled backwards – but they f’d it up. So it’s just…a weird name that isn’t anything spelled backwards, and shows they messed up. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:37am 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/682572/137 "2014-03-04T08:37:36Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > I knew of a kid whose parents wanted to name him after the dad, but not “Jr.” or 'II" like normal people. Instead they gave him the legal first name Deuce. How is that even supposed to be after his dad??? His dad’s name wasn’t in it anywhere. Deuce means “two”. I could see a person given the nickname “Deuce” instead of “Junior”. Never heard of it being given as a legal name. It’s like the name Trey used instead of III or the Third. Dick Sargent, who played the second Durwood, er Darwin, er Dumbo on “Bewitched” was born Richard Cox. Yeah, that’s right, Dick Cox. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:02am 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/682572/138 "2014-03-04T10:02:35Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Deuce means “two”. I could see a person given the nickname “Deuce” instead of “Junior”. Never heard of it being given as a legal name. It’s like the name Trey used instead of III or the Third. Yeah, it would be okay (maybe a little questionable due to the potty humor aspect) as a nickname. As a real name it just makes no sense. I know of another little kid called “Five”. But it’s a nickname and his real name is Whatever, V. Because his parents understand how naming people after someone works. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:09am 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/682572/139 "2014-03-04T10:09:38Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > Melaena (or Melena in the US) is tarry stool (faeces which is black because it contains old blood). Malena and melaena are pronounced the same way. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:00pm 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/682572/140 "2014-03-04T15:00:15Z")
The worst offenders in this trend of “cutesy spellings of trendy names” have got to be the parents of McKayla, Makayla, Mikayla, etc. I bet most of these people don’t even know it started as Michaela, a feminine form of Michael. They just heard it, like the sound of it, and made up their own spelling. [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=6) [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=8)