# First names: the good, the bad and the fugly **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 21, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423 "2015-08-21T12:34:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/81 "2015-08-24T16:16:14Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > If we’re allowed non-English names in this thread, I’ll nominate the French female name “Lourdes.” I don’t like it because it sounds too much like “lourd,” French for “heavy.” > Also, I think the French female name “Manon” sounds too masculine, but maybe that’s just because I’m and English speaker. I’m never sure exactly how to pronounce “Lourdes”. I’ve always pronounced the French town something like “lured” while I always think of the name as “LOR-diss”. I have no idea if I’m correct about either one as I, believe it or not, have never heard them pronounced; no, not even Madonna’s daughter. Either way, not pretty. Don’t think I’ve seen / heard of “Manon”. It makes me think of The Muppets _Manamana_ though I imagine it has that nasally French thing, a la “mignon”. Also not lyrical, imo. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/82 "2015-08-24T22:50:08Z")
On my dads side I had aunts…Velma, Elva, Winifred and Martha and an uncle Cecil. My dad was named John. On my Moms side my Grandfather and uncle were Mortimer. I worked with twin Bosnian brothers… Elvis and Melvis and knew siblings Adel and Adella. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/83 "2015-08-25T06:38:40Z")
Doing some low-level research in the family I found a cousin named…wait for it…Bluebell Memorial Butcher. She had six siblings but as far as I could tell she was the only one with a bizarre name. I wonder what her parents–Ghormenghast and Cappodocia–were thinking? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/84 "2015-08-25T06:42:44Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > kambuckta: > Maybe he went by “Rod”? When I met them, Nimrod was already nearly 10yrs old (IIRC) and was going by Nim. Now Nim is a perfectly good name…but I wonder about when the roll was called in the classroom in later years. 😛 ---
**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:** [August 25, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/85 "2015-08-25T23:25:40Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I’m never sure exactly how to pronounce “Lourdes”. I’ve always pronounced the French town something like “lured” while I always think of the name as “LOR-diss”. I have no idea if I’m correct about either one as I, believe it or not, have never heard them pronounced; no, not even Madonna’s daughter. Either way, not pretty. > > Don’t think I’ve seen / heard of “Manon”. It makes me think of The Muppets _Manamana_ though I imagine it has that nasally French thing, a la “mignon”. Also not lyrical, imo. And now you’ll get that song stuck in my head. 🙂 Another French name I don’t like is “Hugues.” I think it has an ugly pronunciation - something like “oog,” but the French U sound doesn’t exist in English. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/86 "2015-08-26T03:37:52Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > If we’re allowed non-English names in this thread, I’ll nominate the French female name “Lourdes.” I don’t like it because it sounds too much like “lourd,” French for “heavy.” > Also, I think the French female name “Manon” sounds too masculine, but maybe that’s just because I’m and English speaker. Perhaps it’s ironic, then, that it was the name of [the first woman to ever play for an NHL team.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manon_Rh%C3%A9aume) > [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > I worked with twin Bosnian brothers… Elvis and Melvis and knew siblings Adel and Adella. I used to get my hair cut by a stylist named Mark Grbac. He told me that his aunt and uncle were immigrants from Croatia, and wanted their two sons two have “American” names. So one of his cousins, who was a starting quarterback for the Forty-Niners, Chiefs, and Ravens, was [Elvis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Grbac). They also named their other son for an American rock star - Engelbert Humperdinck. > [@kambuckta](#): > > When I met them, Nimrod was already nearly 10yrs old (IIRC) and was going by Nim. > > Now Nim is a perfectly good name…but I wonder about when the roll was called in the classroom in later years. 😛 On the other hand, he’ll probably be very excited if he ever sees _Henry V._ ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/87 "2015-08-26T12:32:21Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > \ They also named their other son for an American rock star - Engelbert Humperdinck. > > On the other hand, he’ll probably be very excited if he ever sees _Henry V._ A little nitpick / fun fact; Mr. Englebert Humperdinck is English and appropriated his stage name from a German opera singer. His real name is Arnold Dorsey. Their is no evidence that Arnold the pig was named after him. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/88 "2015-08-26T12:59:59Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > What, you mean like “Cecil”? > > Some are nice, like Tristan and St. John, but I don’t think we need to revisit the likes of Archiblad or Bertram. I would think that “Old English” names are names like Hrothgar, Hrodbeorht, Aethelbert, Aedwig, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/89 "2015-08-26T14:09:33Z")
Five random thoughts after reading the thread to date: 1. I’ve known several extremely hot “Judiths” in my life. Most of them went by “Judy.” 2. My grandfather had a sheepdog named “Gretchen.” It’s a terrific dog name. 3. One of my friends is a perfecting stunning woman named “Esther,” after a great-aunt. She uses her middle name, “Theresa.” 4. In about 30 years, every woman in the nursing homes will be named “Debbie.” 5. I can see a serious problem with “Regina.” Can you? Hint: “Mulva.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/90 "2015-08-26T14:12:37Z")
6: I had a couple of co-workers once named “Yuri” and “Lara.” Both of them born in 1968. I had no idea that **Doctor Zhivago** was THAT popular. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/91 "2015-08-26T14:49:26Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > 6: I had a couple of co-workers once named “Yuri” and “Lara.” Both of them born in 1968. I had no idea that **Doctor Zhivago** was THAT popular. You sure Yuri wasn’t named after the [astronaut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin)? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/92 "2015-08-26T15:27:30Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > You sure Yuri wasn’t named after the [astronaut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin)? I started to post the same thing but thought it unlikely that someone would name their child after a pinko, commie russkie back then. It is an ugly name in any era. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/93 "2015-08-26T16:01:56Z")
My parents initially intended to name me after my paternal grandmother, Hilda, who basically declared “You are not inflicting that name on an innocent baby”. Thanks Nana! ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/94 "2015-08-26T19:24:07Z")
Most Italian names are beautiful. Then there’s Guglielmo (William in English). It sounds ugly (gool-yell-mo) and it looks ugly. It’s no better in Spanish, either (Guillermo). I also loathe Guido and Guy, no matter how you pronounce the latter. Gu- names: just don’t. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/95 "2015-08-26T19:26:34Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > 1. I can see a serious problem with “Regina.” Can you? Hint: “Mulva.” As the Regina in this thread: oh boy, can I! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/96 "2015-08-26T19:48:54Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > Most Italian names are beautiful. Then there’s Guglielmo (William in English). It sounds ugly (gool-yell-mo) and it looks ugly. It’s no better in Spanish, either (Guillermo). > > I also loathe Guido and Guy, no matter how you pronounce the latter. > > Gu- names: just don’t. Well, the proper pronunciation of Guglielmo isn’t too bad but “Googly Elmo” as most people say it; not so much. Guillermo sounds rather nice to my ears and Guido can go back to Jersey 😛 [QUOTE=gallows fodder] As the Regina in this thread: oh boy, can I! [/QUOTE] I meant to tell you when you originally posted that I think you have a lovely name. But now I’m wondering if you pronounce it like the capitol of Saskatchewan or like ra JEEN a ? There’s nothing wrong with the first way really, I’ve just never heard it pronounced that way except for the city. ---
**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:** [August 26, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/97 "2015-08-26T22:12:53Z")
My child’s classmate pronounces it reg-EEna. Watching the news this morning, I couldn’t help but reflect that the name Vester sounds like a bitter, resentful, chip on the shoulder name. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/98 "2015-08-26T22:51:43Z")
I pronouce “Regina” like Brian Eno did in one of his best rock songs, pre-“Discreet Music” days, “Burning Airlines Give You So Much More.” On the album **Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)**. So it rhymes with “vagina.” _When I got back home I found a message on the door Sweet Regina’s gone to China Cross-legged on the floor Of a burning jet that’s smoothly flying Burning airlines give you so much more._ ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/99 "2015-08-27T01:20:46Z")
I pronounce it the Italian way – reJEEna. Fortunately, the vast majority of people who have read my name out loud in front of an audience have also pronounced it that way, but I had a 7th grade math teacher who stubbornly insisted on using what he called the “proper British pronunciation,” to my classmates’ delight and my great humiliation. I hated that guy. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423/100 "2015-08-27T15:32:01Z")
**Names I Hate:** Trendy names: Mackenzie, Ashley, Emma, Colton, Connor. Bizarre spellings of same, or bizarre spellings of names that aren’t trendy: Aerin, Keighlay, Mickaelah. Made-up names: Caden, Jarquan. Names with superfluous punctuation (see also: “Made-up Names” above): J’Amari, 'Demetrius. Old-Man or Old-Lady names: Floyd, Herkimer, Gladys, Ethyl. Obscure Biblical Names: Hezekiah, Gomer, Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz **Names I Love** : Traditional names based on concepts: Autumn, Grace, Victor. Old-Man or Old-Lady names that stand the test of time: Grace, Jean, Carla. Not-obscure Biblical names: Aaron, Elias, Abigail, Leah. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-names-the-good-the-bad-and-the-fugly/728423.md?page=6)