# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/101 "2012-04-15T06:11:15Z")
One where the parent fortunately came to his senses in time: I had a math teacher in undergrad named Dr. Sprows. He told us that when he had his first son, he thought of naming him after the great mathematician Bertrand Russel. But of course, Bertrand is an uncommon enough name that the kid would probably go by his middle name. Which would make him B. Russel Sprows. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/102 "2012-04-15T06:16:30Z")
I was a clerk-secretary for an Army Reserve unit, for a year. There was a woman’s name in the files, and I can only assume her parents had wanted a boy, not a girl. She was Floydene Earlene Surname. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/103 "2012-04-15T06:59:36Z")
Recent delving in my family’s genealogy came up with a distant cousin named … …Bluebell Memorial Butcher. Also I recall my mother telling me that before she met my father one of her chums at work was Voda Clapsaddle. (This was back in the 'thirties, but come on; that had to be a weird name even then.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/104 "2012-04-15T08:11:05Z")
My dad used to tell of a couple of guys in his army unit where one of them was telling about the other’s name: “He name Pookum, but we calls him Buttercup for short.” I’m pretty sure that some other thread from a while back provided the opportunity for me to mention one that a guy at work told me about: T. Holygotham Temblance. The guy at work persuaded me that the name was for real. It’s been more like an observation than something I read about, but unusual names seem to recycle every other generation or so. The ones that are fashionable for a while fade away to be reused by the grandchildren’s group. Maybe it’s three generations, but the only tried-and-true names that stay popular are at least 50% from The Bible or from saints’ names. Respellings account for another 20-30%, so the count for the truly unusual and weird names is in the 25% range. And what’s weird today has a chance of being the in-thing 30-40 years from now. Look at all the weird names among the Founding Fathers, for a good example. My family tree is littered with names I’d have a hard time giving to house pets! Just for the thrill of it, try to think of a popular name that has more spellings than Katharine. We already mentioned Antoine! ---
**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, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/105 "2012-04-15T09:18:38Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Just for the thrill of it, try to think of a popular name that has more spellings than Katharine. “Elizabeth” would be in the running. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/106 "2012-04-15T09:26:53Z")
> [@iftheresaway](#): > > \*Kizzy From the book _Roots_, it was Kunta Kinte’s daughter. > [@](#): > > \*Jelani Means “great” or “powerful” in Swahili. > [@](#): > > \*Gysai “Wonderful boy” in Ghanian. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/107 "2012-04-15T10:08:29Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > a name like [Hilaria?](http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/jaunt/alec-baldwin-fiancee-hilaria-thomas-pack-pda-rome-230014454.html) I actually work with someone called Hilaria, the other day someone had to drop off something for her, explaining she was leaving it for … Hysteria! 😃 I also work with Nutillia. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/108 "2012-04-15T10:29:16Z")
I know two kids with sorta matching names: Shenika and Cherissa, I went to school with Wendy House, there’s a family I know with Laterre, Lapluie and Lasoliel as the kids, then the two brothers Blue and Q (different family, but from the same area). A friend was explaining she hated nicknames, and so gave her kid a name to avoid that: Montana ??? ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/109 "2012-04-15T10:32:59Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > The other one I’ve noticed that doesn’t seem to travel well is Aidan. Ha! I know someone called Aidan, people always say his name with a sort of affected piss take manner. I couldn’t figure it out why and I think you’ve just explained it. ---
**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, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/110 "2012-04-15T10:54:01Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 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 Ass talking or not, thanks for clearing that up for me **cochrane**. I thought I was missing something a bit more interesting! > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Facebook != Social Security Register Yeah, I know. I was just trifling with ya. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/111 "2012-04-15T11:28:47Z")
> [@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. **Melena** is the black, tarry stool found in newborns that indicates internal bleeding. > [@mcgato](#): > > there seems to be a buttload of urban legends on this thread. This is what I was going to post. Everyone knows their sister’s friend’s mailman’s kids’ names. I hear about Orangello and Lemongello regularly, as well as Le-a. Here are a few others not yet mentioned: **Chlamydia** **Syphillis** **Abcde** (pronounced AB-si-dee) **Nosmo King** (Mom’s surname is king, named baby after first thing she saw after giving birth, saw a sign on the wall) **Exit** (similar to Nosmo King story) Here are a few I’ve had first-hand experience with: **London England** **Calvin Hobbes** **Yvette** (pronounced Why-Vette) **Fanny Bender** **Ginger Rayle** **Fairy** mmm ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/112 "2012-04-15T12:00:54Z")
Oooh! Remembered one more. Friend of a kid I use to teach was named Mystic Powers. ---
**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, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/113 "2012-04-15T12:33:39Z")
…I hope that was her _imaginary_ friend, **saje**. ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/114 "2012-04-15T12:43:24Z")
I’ve got another one from my youth: Two sisters (a year apart) named Tracey Tracey and Tracey Tracey. Now…how cute is that??? What an awesome idea! The Tracey in my class switched to using her middle name as her first somewhere in high school. Some parents ought to be flogged. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/115 "2012-04-15T12:49:55Z")
I had a coworker whose last name was Winters, and she named her daughters Stormie and Summer. Maybe it’s just me, but those names screamed _stripper_… Another woman in a different office named her girls Star and Sparkle - yet her son had a more conventional name. They would all be in their 20s today - I wonder what they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/116 "2012-04-15T12:56:16Z")
Here our weird names are mostly English names, usually with Spanish spelling and weird variations. Also names that may or may not exist but sound “English” to the parents. And of course we have our quota of urban legends, like the kid called usnavy `cause the father was in the navy and that was the name of his ship \*facepalm When my brother was in med school he would tell me.of names he encountered in the e.r like gohan, goku etc. ---
**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, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/117 "2012-04-15T13:04:36Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Another woman in a different office named her girls Star and Sparkle…They would all be in their 20s today - I wonder what they’re doing. One has a lovely job as a cat, the other one has hooked up with Mr Sheen in the heady world of furniture polish. Star is bad enough - but _Sparkle_?! (Great username/post combo btw!) ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/118 "2012-04-15T13:08:15Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > ..I hope that was her _imaginary_ friend, **saje**. Alas, no. Mystic came to watch her friend’s lessons all the time, they were of an age where sleepovers were A Big Deal. Nice kid, but very woo-woo new agey parents, apparently (according to student’s mom). ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/119 "2012-04-15T13:15:48Z")
I’ve always liked Aidan because of Aidan Quinn; also, what on earth is wrong with the name Quentin? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759/120 "2012-04-15T13:18:54Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > Actually, in Italy, Ilaria is a standard name - not the most common, but it definitely wouldn’t be considered at all weird. Hilaria (or Hilary) is just the Anglicised form of that. If her parents were Italian, they may have been giving her a fairly standard name that turned out not to cross the culture border as well as they thought. Hilaria is also the Spanish spelling; I know a couple of guys named Hilario. There’s also a famous zarzuela character called Don Hilarión (his given name is actually Hilario, but because he’s such an important man it gets magnified). I had a coworker whose firstname was Alejandra Olimpia. When I found out her brother was an Alejandor Felipe, I kidded “what, both of your godfathers are history nerds?” Same godfather; a college professor of Ancient History. Let me see if I can guess his favorite period, omm… (The parents of Alexander the Great were called Filipo - in Spanish Felipe - and Olympia) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-names-what-were-they-thinking/618759.md?page=7)