# Help me convince my wife to name our hypothetical son "Lester." **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150 "2010-09-26T23:08:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/81 "2010-09-28T13:37:04Z")
I think parents should think of a name their kid would be happy with, not a name they’ll be happy with. The name isn’t for them. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/82 "2010-09-28T13:48:09Z")
Sirius would be a cromulent star replacement name. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/83 "2010-09-28T14:08:18Z")
Old fashioned is not necessarily bad. Emily, Emma, Elizabeth and Grace are all old fashioned names that sound pleasing to the modern ear. Certain names, however, simply sound so awful to most people that you’re probably much better off leaving them alone. Hester, Minerva, Alvin, Shirley, Verna Irving, Clarence, Myron, Wilbur all don’t work today. Most people think they’re ugly. Don’t saddle a kid with that problem. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/84 "2010-09-28T15:50:38Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Sirius would be a cromulent star replacement name. As a spaced-out old fan of Philip K. Dick, Robert Anton Wilson, and Paul Quarrington, I’d be tempted (maybe as a middle name) but I think most people would snape about it coming from Rowling. [quote=LavenderBlue] Certain names, however, simply sound so awful to most people that you’re probably much better off leaving them alone.This objection has been raised in connection with “Stella.” “It sounds like an old lady’s name! She’ll be driven to cat’s eye spectacles!” I don’t see it, really - but then, I like “Minerva,” too. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/85 "2010-09-28T16:03:40Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > This objection has been raised in connection with “Stella.” “It sounds like an old lady’s name! She’ll be driven to cat’s eye spectacles!” Yeah, it’s not much of an objection. Any name that goes through a surge in popularity is going to be seen as an old person name when that cohort ages. Forty years from now you could see the same thing happen to Jennifer, and then Caitlin [and variants] and Emily a few decades later. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/86 "2010-09-28T16:11:31Z")
If you want a star name, choose something like “XP 3597”. A star so random it doesn’t even have a proper name is preferable to Lester. And personally, I think there’s a “cool factor” in having a string of numbers as part of your name. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/87 "2010-09-28T16:26:23Z")
I think objections to the name Lester on the basis that he’ll be known as “Lester the Molester” is just silly. It doesn’t matter what you name your kid, if he’s going to get bullied, they’ll come up with something, and if he’s not, he won’t. It’s one thing to name your kid something utterly bizarre, as it seems many in Hollywood do, but Lester isn’t bizarre. That said, I don’t think I would ever name my son that, but I certainly don’t object to it like the others in the thread have. I think the Aleister option is probably a little more likely to fly, but it’s still pretty similar. Another option that I would recommend would be to try to stick to the sounds, but rather than going with a meaning of “star” look for something of a theme. On this, one name I would suggest would be Lucine, which shares the similar sounds and shares a similar theme of “moon”. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/88 "2010-09-28T16:29:42Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > So your first child is named (essentially) “Star”, and now you want to name your second child (essentially) “Less Star”…? > > Who could have a problem with that, other than the kid whose life you’re screwing up from the get go? I have an old family motto as part of a tattoo: STELLA FUTURA MICAT DIVINO LUMINE If hypo-boy (or girl) has a name that means “star,” I won’t necessarily have to submit to more tattooing in order ensure parity. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/89 "2010-09-28T16:37:30Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > It doesn’t matter what you name your kid, if he’s going to get bullied, they’ll come up with something, and if he’s not, he won’t. This may overlook kids just being opportunistic. > [@](#): > > Lester isn’t bizarre. It’s not bizarre in that it is an established name and not just a combination of syllables or the name of a Japanese detergent or something. That’s true. On the other hand it’s become very rare. In 2009 it was not one of the 1,000 most popular boys’ names in the U.S. and hasn’t been there any time in the last 10 years. I don’t know exactly how many Lesters were born last year, but it was fewer than 200. That made it less popular than Juelz, Deegen, Zavion, Tyshawn, and Eliezer to name a few. The last time it was in the top 1,000 was 1999, when the world was blessed with 165 Lesters. It was tied with Donnie (not Donald, Donnie), Jeff (not Jeffrey), Judah, Kennedy, Myron, Rick, Sonny, and Vance. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/90 "2010-09-28T16:53:41Z")
Lesters are not born. They are made. Do you REALLY want to make a Lester? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/91 "2010-09-28T16:57:13Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Do you REALLY want to make a Lester? Hmmm. **Larry Mudd** , how do you feel about Macaleister? 😛 ---
**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:** [September 28, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/92 "2010-09-28T17:03:27Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Another option that I would recommend would be to try to stick to the sounds, but rather than going with a meaning of “star” look for something of a theme. On this, one name I would suggest would be Lucine, which shares the similar sounds and shares a similar theme of “moon”. For a boy? No way. “Lucine” is a very feminine sounding name, and the poor kid would be “Lucy” before he could talk enough to defend himself! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/93 "2010-09-28T17:04:35Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > Do you REALLY want to make a Lester? > > Hmmm. **Larry Mudd** , how do you feel about Macaleister? 😛 Way too Scottish. Leicester Stilton Surname, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/94 "2010-09-28T17:08:53Z")
I think Stilton can be a cheese or a wrench. I think that’s a solid middle name. Leicester? Better than Lester, but no one will know how it’s pronounced. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/95 "2010-09-28T17:41:04Z")
I don’t get it- Stella literally means “star” Lester doesn’t mean star at all, it means “from Leicester”. There’s just some letters in there that almost sound like star. How the heck is that symmetry? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/96 "2010-09-28T17:56:30Z")
uh, how shall I put this? You do know about Lester the Molester? Right? > **[Urban Dictionary: Lester The Molester](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Lester%20The%20Molester)** > > Grand theft auto term I can’t imagine naming a kid Lester these days. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/97 "2010-09-28T18:08:47Z")
> [@Bootis](#): > > Lester doesn’t mean star at all, it means “from Leicester”. _blink_ _blink_ Jeez, what a terrible name. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/98 "2010-09-28T18:26:51Z")
If you do have a son, don’t tell him you wanted to name him Lester until he’s old enough to have a drink. 😉 [Here’s a list of names with definitions or backgrounds that include “star.”](http://www.behindthename.com/php/search.php?terms=star&nmd=m&gender=both&operator=or) Since you’re dealing with a son and the English language, I’d say Sterling is pretty much your only choice. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/99 "2010-09-28T18:51:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > If you do have a son, don’t tell him you wanted to name him Lester until he’s old enough to have a drink. 😉 > > [Here’s a list of names with definitions or backgrounds that include “star.”](http://www.behindthename.com/php/search.php?terms=star&nmd=m&gender=both&operator=or) Since you’re dealing with a son and the English language, I’d say Sterling is pretty much your only choice. Ah, but come on…what kid wouldn’t want to be named “Elrond”? 😃 (seriously, I think that would be pretty cool. I once worked for a guy whose wife was named “Galadriel”…this was in the 80s, and she was probably in her 50s at the time.) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150/100 "2010-09-28T19:05:26Z")
(I like Minerva. I read an article a few years back, about an English bigwig, whose young daughter was Lady Minerva Soandso, and I thought: cool!) I like Galadriel, too. trouble with exotic names, there’s usually no built in nick-name. What would you call your little Galadriel: “Gal, pick up your socks!”. Gal? might as well be the daughter of a mountaineer who calls his daughter ‘Gal’, his son ‘Boy’, and his wife ‘Maw’! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-convince-my-wife-to-name-our-hypothetical-son-lester/555150.md?page=6)