# Given Names -- What were they thinking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 14, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759 "2012-04-14T14:32:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pabstist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@pabstist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pabstist)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/81 "2012-04-15T02:41:05Z")
I know a girl named Kayenta- sounds like a Mexican convertible, not a white girl in Vermont. Also a Siobhan- pronounced shevon. My wife’s friend is named Tara, but you must say tar-ah. Then again my name is Barrett, and I once picked up a pizza with Parrot written on the box. Who the hell would name their kid… never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/82 "2012-04-15T02:46:18Z")
> [@pabstist](#): > > Also a Siobhan- pronounced shevon. . That’s a common Irish name, and the correct pronunciation, more or less. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/83 "2012-04-15T02:58:39Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > That’s a common Irish name, and the correct pronunciation, more or less. Yeah stick the fada on and you’re good to go, Siobhán. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/84 "2012-04-15T02:59:13Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > They do, & when they can’t find it, they think it’s unique & original & go with it. 😃 > > Bruce Willis’s kids are Rumer & Scout. Rumer is named for author Rumer Godden. I’m not sure where Scout came from but Bruce made a movie named The Last Boy Scout. Or maybe it’s from To Kill a Mockingbird? Anyway, not all that unusual in the name world. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/85 "2012-04-15T03:26:27Z")
My ex-wife’s friend, who was a social worker in L.A, swore she once had to deal with a family with a daughter called Latrina. In (IIRC) 4th grade, my daughter had a classmate whose name was spelled Blaize, but pronounced Blasé. He didn’t care, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lor213](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@Lor213](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lor213)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/86 "2012-04-15T03:30:05Z")
In my first grade class there was a boy called Name…yes Name pronounced just like “my name is…”. I often wondered why his parents did that. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/87 "2012-04-15T03:35:51Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I was just reminded yesterday that Nicole Richie named her son Sparrow. Yeah, he’s not going to get his ass kicked on a daily basis with that, nosiree. Jeez, wouldn’t it be awesome if he were 6’4", 240? Working at McDonald’s or something, with “Sparrow” on his nametag? Joe ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/88 "2012-04-15T03:42:12Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > Melina. Yes, I know it’s an OK name - just not for a nurse. It could have been worse: her surname could’ve been Stool. Can you explain this? Maybe I’m dense or else I don’t know how Melina is pronounced. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2012, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/89 "2012-04-15T03:54:15Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I’m not sure where Scout came from but Bruce made a movie named The Last Boy Scout. Or maybe it’s from To Kill a Mockingbird? It is from _To Kill A Mockingbird._ It was widely known at the time of her birth, which I notice was 20 years ago, which makes me feel old. There’s also a third daughter, Tallulah. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/90 "2012-04-15T04:03:49Z")
I know a guy named Jason. Now you may be thinking, “Zebra, that is not an unusual name” and you would be right but this young man’s last name is KIRK. How the fuck do you name your kid _Jason_ Kirk. That is just plain mean. ---
**Author:** ![OldnCrinkly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@OldnCrinkly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldnCrinkly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/91 "2012-04-15T04:08:13Z")
Oh I just remembered another favorite. Someone I know had a probation officer named Precious. He was a large man, not to say fat just a big massive guy. I kind of liked that one though, as I’m sure he was precious to his Mama. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/92 "2012-04-15T04:25:39Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > How the fuck do you name your kid _Jason_ Kirk. That is just plain mean. …what is it I’m not getting..? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/93 "2012-04-15T04:45:29Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > [li] **Amandla** (Yes, it’s Amanda. With an L. Why??)[/li] Amandla is not like the other names in your list. It’s a Zulu word for “power” and was a common refrain of the anti-Apartheid movement. So in that way, it’s actually kind of cool. It’s awkward only because of its similarity with “Amanda”. As someone who has a name that’s always confused with another, I find this more problematic than it’s exoticness. ---
**Author:** ![Suil\_Dubh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Suil\_Dubh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suil_Dubh)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/94 "2012-04-15T04:57:16Z")
Marijuana Pepsi [http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34641678/ns/today-today\_news/t/marijuana-pepsi-will-see-you-now/#.T4pUwZiXvHg](http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34641678/ns/today-today_news/t/marijuana-pepsi-will-see-you-now/#.T4pUwZiXvHg) ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/95 "2012-04-15T04:59:33Z")
I know a guy with the first name of Cupid, but “Buddy” likes to keep that a secret. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/96 "2012-04-15T05:02:23Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > I’m looking for further evidence of the Orangejello. [Snopes article here](http://www.snopes.com/racial/language/names.asp). And for a site that is supposed to be fighting ignorance, there seems to be a buttload of urban legends on this thread. So do [these](http://www.facebook.com/people/Orangejello-Jerome/100001413468755) [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/people/Lemonjello-Williams/100003099465542) pages count? I know. The evidence is wobbly, but still… ---
**Author:** ![ecseas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ecseas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecseas)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/97 "2012-04-15T05:22:08Z")
My sister goes by apple something something on facebook, but her real name is Ciara ( NOT pronounced sierra! ) so no, facebook pages don’t really count. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/98 "2012-04-15T05:28:16Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I know a guy named Jason. Now you may be thinking, “Zebra, that is not an unusual name” and you would be right but this young man’s last name is KIRK. How the fuck do you name your kid _Jason_ Kirk. That is just plain mean. > [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > …what is it I’m not getting..? W.A.G.: [Jason Kirk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kirk) is a character from a British soap opera who is gay. Here in the U.S., it would probably be more noteworthy if he were named James Kirk, but I doubt it would be seen as a burdensome name. Of course, I could be talking completely out of my ass, as I do from time to time ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/99 "2012-04-15T05:54:13Z")
A guy my dad used to work with always had trouble when telling people his (Samoan) name as they thought he was trying to spell it: Tifa Thom. Nice guy, \*very \*patient. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/100 "2012-04-15T06:09:16Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > So do [these](http://www.facebook.com/people/Orangejello-Jerome/100001413468755) [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/people/Lemonjello-Williams/100003099465542) pages count? > > I know. The evidence is wobbly, but still… Yes, all Facebook pages are real. Let’s see what Lemonjello Williams has been up to lately: > [@](#): > > Lemonjello Williams wrote a recommendation for Zuccotti Park. > It smells funny. It reminds me of home. > > Lemonjello Williams wrote a recommendation for Trump Organization. > he owns many buldings > > Lemonjello Williams > is slapping that fine ass tonight. women be out tonight and looking fine and i have two bottles of wine. — at Zuccotti Park. > > Lemonjello Williams > It is spring and I am out of jail. I need to find a job and make money. Nayone have a nine for sales. — at Apple Store. :rolleyes: As for Orangejello, like **ecseas** pointed out, many many people go by made-up names on Facebook. Facebook != Social Security Register [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759.md?page=6)