# Does this license plate mean what I think it does? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054 "2017-11-08T14:59:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/1 "2017-11-08T14:59:21Z")
I recently saw this personalized license plate on a car: BEKKK 8. (I won’t mention the state, but let me emphasize that this is NOT the configuration for standard-issue plates. This was specifically requested.) It was a black SUV, and it had masonic badges on its back window. What do you think it means? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/2 "2017-11-08T15:09:51Z")
What do YOU think it means? You seem to think it obvious, but I’m drawing a blank, unless the “KKK” part is “Ku Klux Klan”. But I don’t see how it fits in with the rest. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/3 "2017-11-08T17:08:42Z")
Yes, that’s what I think, because I don’t see why anyone who _didn’t_ want to refer to the KKK would include those letters and assume that the inference _wouldn’t_ be made. And white nationalists are fairly well known for using “secret” codes like [14 and 88.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/10/white_supremacists_by_the_numbers.html) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/4 "2017-11-08T17:18:01Z")
Seems like “Be KKK”, like a recruitment poster. Obviously, they ran out of room for “88”, so they settled for one “8”. Did they mean “heil!” or “hitler” with it? I’m open to other interpretations. Kweens Kouncil of Krusaders? KOA Kampsite Kommandant? They really really like Beck but can’t spell? They have a daughter named Bekkah but that plate was taken so they got as close as they could (if you live in Illinois, you’d understand). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/5 "2017-11-08T17:40:35Z")
I [see several people going by Bekkk](https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=aUEDWpO6Gunl0gKCkJ64Bw&q=BEKKK) on social media–at least a few of them seem to be a nickname for Rebbeccas. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/6 "2017-11-08T17:57:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Seems like “Be KKK”, like a recruitment poster. Obviously, they ran out of room for “88”, so they settled for one “8”. Did they mean “heil!” or “hitler” with it? Exactly what I thought. There was room for 88, but maybe they thought that would be \*too \*obvious. I really don’t know. I think if you didn’t want to suggest the Klan, you’d have to be pretty clueless to choose that message. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/7 "2017-11-08T19:52:22Z")
Who was driving it? That should help out. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/8 "2017-11-08T20:11:22Z")
Couldn’t see clearly. It might have been a woman. Wasn’t wearing a pointed hood. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![slightly\_askew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@slightly\_askew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slightly_askew)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/9 "2017-11-08T20:32:44Z")
With the mention of the masonic symbols, I wonder if it is a reference to the Daughters of Rebekah, the auxiliary organization of the International Order of Odd Fellows. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International\_Association\_of\_Rebekah\_Assemblies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Rebekah_Assemblies) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/10 "2017-11-08T21:11:30Z")
Interesting. That could be a possible connection. Thanks for mentioning it, **slightly askew**. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/11 "2017-11-08T21:23:39Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I [see several people going by Bekkk](https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=aUEDWpO6Gunl0gKCkJ64Bw&q=BEKKK) on social media–at least a few of them seem to be a nickname for Rebbeccas. Hey!!?? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/12 "2017-11-08T21:44:26Z")
A big chasm between Bec, Becca, Beck, Becks, and Becky on the one side and Bekkk on the other. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/13 "2017-11-08T22:00:55Z")
Long ago when I was in the marketing profession a colleague was doing an identity for a woman who was opening a custom bakery. She wanted to call it KKKatie’s (for cake-cake-Katie’s, or some such). My colleague talked her into something else but she never seemed to realize why this might be a bad idea. But it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the OP, especially with the 8, that would rhyme. It’s Katie, back to her original name for her business. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/14 "2017-11-08T22:09:05Z")
The KKK part is for [Krusty Komedy Klassic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNtWrC7vfI). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/15 "2017-11-09T05:59:15Z")
The only non-KKK interpretation I can come up with is that it’s supposed to be BEKK K8, for Rebekkah Kate. And even then I’d think the owner would be pushing really hard to have it changed, once they saw it. I get some kids on social media not seeing it, especially if it’s in lowercase and they aren’t from the U.S. I’m sure the DeviantArt profile I found is just someone who added an extra k because the name bekk was already taken. Heck, her last name may even start with a K. The best KKK-related one I can think of is that it’s someone being edgy and wants people to get mad at them about their license plate, so they can then tell them what it “really” stands for. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/16 "2017-11-09T06:23:33Z")
It just has to be someones attempt at shortening their names to fit on a plate, it was a poor decision if it is, though. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/17 "2017-11-09T06:26:29Z")
Oh, I think I got it… their last name is Beckett! ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/18 "2017-11-09T17:34:01Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Oh, I think I got it… their last name is Beckett! That’s the first thing I thought but as I read thru the responses I thought backkkkkache:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/19 "2017-11-09T18:53:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The only non-KKK interpretation I can come up with is that it’s supposed to be BEKK K8, for Rebekkah Kate. And even then I’d think the owner would be pushing really hard to have it changed, once they saw it. Well, there was a space between the last K and the 8: BEKKK 8, not BEKKK8, so there shouldn’t have been a surprise. And I’m pretty sure the plate had room for at least two more characters, so there’s no reason it couldn’t have been BEKK K8, unless that had already been taken. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054/20 "2017-11-09T20:02:19Z")
yeah, I (optimistically?) doubt it means what it looks like initially. AFAIK when you request a personalized plate, you have to explain what it means before they’ll approve it. I don’t think even the reddest of red states would let something through that refers to the Klan, and it would have to be a pretty convincing explanation for what it really means. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-license-plate-mean-what-i-think-it-does/801054.md?page=2)