# Parents, be more original when naming your sons! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405 "2008-09-13T04:38:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/1 "2008-09-13T04:38:59Z")
I work in a large warehouse. My department is labor intensive and has had only one female in three years. She is no longer there. We have maybe 30-40 men in our department. We mostly work on our own and communicate intradepartmentally by walkie. This can be difficult/annoying because we have two Williams, two Patricks, two Fransiscos, two Anthonys, and we had two Ryans. Yesterday, I joined the double named when we got a second Jacob. Worse, I got turned into JB. Why can’t the new guy get the fucking nickname. I’ve been Jacob longer here and probably longer period. I won’t remember to answer to JB and it sounds like a lot of other names we have. Sadly, this will probably get only worse as I get older. Growing up, I knew a few Jakes, but I was the only Jacob (although I was almost a Jake too.) Now, it is the most popular boys’ name in the fuckin’ country! I have a hard time understanding how in a group of 30 or 40, we can have 5 doubles. It’s probably more probable than I think. It probably doesn’t happen as often with women because parents use a wider naming pool with girls. If I ever have kids, I like Vladimir for a boy and also boys’ names that end with s, such as Magnus, Linus, and Lazarus. Don’t use these or they too will get double named. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/2 "2008-09-13T04:42:16Z")
Change your name to Shirley. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/3 "2008-09-13T04:43:45Z")
Sue would be better. ---
**Author:** ![Pyper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pyper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pyper)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/4 "2008-09-13T04:45:25Z")
I swear, every young man I’ve met in the past few months has been named Jonathan, Kevin, or Josh. Seriously, people! ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/5 "2008-09-13T04:47:15Z")
When I was growing up, any classroom was likely to contain at least two Debbies and two Cathies, out of 10-15 girls. I don’t know if it’s still that way - obviously different names would be popular now. What I mean is, I don’t think this is just a male phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/6 "2008-09-13T04:51:08Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Sue would be better. Bill or George! Anything but Sue! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/7 "2008-09-13T04:52:14Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > When I was growing up, any classroom was likely to contain at least two Debbies and two Cathies, out of 10-15 girls. In my grammar school 90% of the girls were named some variation on Mary. That was the 60s. I named my eldest Mary in 1985 and she was the only one in her grammar school and one of three in middle and high school. Of course, that was comparing a Catholic grade school with public schools, but I think the pattern probably held. ETA: Okay, it was probably more like 60%, but it seemed like more. And some of the Debbies and Cathies were really Mary Deborah and Mary Catherine. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/8 "2008-09-13T04:57:08Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > When I was growing up, any classroom was likely to contain at least two Debbies and two Cathies, out of 10-15 girls. I don’t know if it’s still that way - obviously different names would be popular now. What I mean is, I don’t think this is just a male phenomenon. You’re dating yourself with your Debbies and Cathies. Also, dropzone dated him/herself with his/her Marys. I’ll date myself and say that I knew lots o’ Jasons growing up. Also, lots of Sarah/Saras and Stephanies. Surprisingly, the only Jennifer I knew was my sister. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/9 "2008-09-13T04:58:22Z")
My last job had three Davids. There were also three Lindas, three Susans, and two Cathys. Hard to know who anyone was referring to. On the other hand, too much originality in names means I can’t spell half the ones I come across at my current job. Tricky stuff. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/10 "2008-09-13T05:05:56Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > Also, dropzone dated him/herself with his/her Marys. His own damned self. And I’ll refer you to my “That was the 60s.” to date myself more specifically. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/11 "2008-09-13T05:06:44Z")
Yeah, name em Track or Trig or Bristol. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/12 "2008-09-13T05:07:33Z")
I had an English class in high school (mid '90s) where, out of 24 students, seven of us were named Mike. That got confusing. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/13 "2008-09-13T05:09:13Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Yeah, name em Track or Trig or Bristol. Dammit, you beat me to that one. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/14 "2008-09-13T05:18:09Z")
But if “Trig” were short for “Trigonometry,” would you feel better? Yeah, I know that is unlikely, but what if? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/15 "2008-09-13T06:07:56Z")
Out of the 9 girls in my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, out of 9 girls, three were named Rachel and two of the three were Rachel Elizabeth. Names come into vogue. Right now the elementary schools are _full_ of Mackenzies (spelled a hundred different ways, unfortunately). I’m not sure what the most popular boy’s name is currently, but I’m sure there’s a bunch of them, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/16 "2008-09-13T06:10:24Z")
I worked in a company with about 10 office staff - four of them were named Ken. Sometimes it just bes like that. If I were naming children, I would get the lists of the 100 most popular names, and go about 50 down the list - I think the best names are not too unusual, but not too common, either. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/17 "2008-09-13T06:25:40Z")
When I was in school there were always - in every class - multiple instances of the names Joanne, Katrina, Sharon, Karen, Mark, Matthew, Michael and Damien. Oh, and almost every girl had the middle name of ‘Anne’ or ‘Marie’. It was practically mandatory. In the last 10 years or so the name of choice has been Caitlin. I worked for a private school at one point and I swear there were a minimum of three to four Caitlins (of various spellings) PER CLASS. One of my good friends has 3 kids each with unusual but lovely names, but my other good friend has … a Caitlin. Worse, a _Caitlin Rose_, which was without a doubt the most common name pairing in the Caitlin set. (True story: in a classic foot-in-mouth moment, I responded to their statement about having chosen a name with, “As long as it’s not another generic Caitlin!” The look on their faces said it all. Er…oops?) Thankfully the Mad(dy/i)s(si/on) and Brit(ta)n(n/e)y, etc variants don’t seem as prevalent around here as they are elsewhere. I guess that’s a small mercy. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/18 "2008-09-13T06:27:58Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > Why can’t the new guy get the fucking nickname. I’ve been Jacob longer here and probably longer period. I won’t remember to answer to JB and it sounds like a lot of other names we have. Michael Bolton: There was nothing wrong with it… until I was about 12 years old and that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Grammys. Samir: Hmm… well why don’t you just go by Mike instead of Michael? Michael Bolton: No way. Why should I change? He’s the one who sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/19 "2008-09-13T06:37:53Z")
My manager, Steven. The manager of a project I’m working pretty much full time on, Steven The DBA supporting this project, Steven. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405/20 "2008-09-13T06:40:07Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > My last job had three Davids. There were also three Lindas, three Susans, and two Cathys. Hard to know who anyone was referring to. There were 3 Davids in my 7th grade English class of 15 kids. And then a 4th came to visit one day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-be-more-original-when-naming-your-sons/463405.md?page=2)