# Should you give your baby a unique name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017 "2022-02-07T00:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/101 "2022-02-08T14:59:00Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@kitap](#): > > > > This can easily be construed, in the US, as “use white Western European names”. > > I mean, you’re speaking a Western European language, aren’t you? Do you think that means that people must abandon every iota of their previous culture, in order to communicate in their current country? I choose to use the Yiddish version of my name in part specifically because there’s so little else that’s Jewish about me. It’s a deliberate recognition of that heritage. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/102 "2022-02-08T15:05:44Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > I used to think you should also pick something that sounds OK when you put “Supreme Court Justice…” in front of it, but then I found out there was an actual Supreme Court Justice named [Bushrod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushrod_Washington), which seems, um, inadvisable. At least his parents didn’t name him [Salmon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase). ---
**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:** [February 8, 2022, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/103 "2022-02-08T15:20:12Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Do you think that means that people must abandon every iota of their previous culture, in order to communicate in their current country? > > I choose to use the Yiddish version of my name in part specifically because there’s so little else that’s Jewish about me. It’s a deliberate recognition of that heritage. I’m just saying that people should adapt. I’m a citizen of two countries and a speaker of two languages, and I have a different version of my name in each language. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/104 "2022-02-08T15:31:39Z")
Parents who give their children ridiculous names are astonishingly insensitive, almost sadistic. They want the “perks” of having a kid with a unique name (whatever the perks may be) while making their child bear all the suffering and mockery. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/105 "2022-02-08T15:39:59Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m just saying that people should adapt. I’m a citizen of two countries and a speaker of two languages, and I have a different version of my name in each language. You can do that if you want. But expecting everyone else to rename themselves in order to “adapt” is IMO way over the line. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2022, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/106 "2022-02-08T15:52:38Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > You can do that if you want. But expecting everyone else to rename themselves in order to “adapt” is IMO way over the line. I think that if you’re speaking a language, you should use a name that speakers of that language can pronounce. That applies to any language. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/107 "2022-02-08T15:55:45Z")
There is wide disagreement about the pronunciation of many words in English. Why should names be any different – and how can names be any different? Also: Speakers of any language should expect to learn the pronunciation of additional words from time to time. If the name’s got one or more sounds that don’t exist in the language in question, then people can make their best stab at it. This doesn’t mean that the name ought to be changed. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/108 "2022-02-08T16:34:34Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > In my place of work, there were at one time five people with my first name, out of about probably 25 men. It’s just plain unnecessarily irritating when every time someone says “Princhester” you have to say “which Princhester?” “Oh, sorry I mean Princhester G”. In my small sub-group at work (about nine people) we once had two Carls. But one was spelled Karl. To avoid ambiguity it was always Cee-Carl or Kay-Karl. That worked until we got a second Cee-Carl. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > If the name’s got one or more sounds that don’t exist in the language in question, then people can make their best stab at it. This doesn’t mean that the name ought to be changed. I agree. Two Thai sisters started working on the floor in the hospital where my sister was secretary. The other nurses decided to call them Susie and some other common first name instead of their easy-to-pronounce, but unusual Thai names. They went along to get along, but my sister pushed them to use their real names. They did, and everybody adjusted. I mean, just _try_ for crissakes. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/109 "2022-02-08T16:41:43Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Parents who give their children ridiculous names are astonishingly insensitive, almost sadistic. They want the “perks” of having a kid with a unique name (whatever the perks may be) while making their child bear all the suffering and mockery. [Marijuana Pepsi](https://www.npr.org/2019/06/21/734839666/dr-marijuana-pepsi-wont-change-her-name-to-make-other-people-happy) might disagree with you. Honestly, I think both the perks and the costs of having an unusual name accrue to the person who uses it, and not to the parents. I don’t think parents are looking for “perks” when they name their kids. Some might pick badly. But overall, I’m quite happy to have my own name, and not one that I share with lots of friends and co-workers. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > If the name’s got one or more sounds that don’t exist in the language in question, then people can make their best stab at it. This doesn’t mean that the name ought to be changed. Eh, I think the owner of the name should give people something they can pronounce. It doesn’t have to be a radical change, just modify the sounds enough to make it manageable. I expect non-native English speakers to use a different vowel sound for the first syllable of my name, and when I’m in countries where that’s the case, I try to pronounce my name that way when I’m introduced. I don’t always remember, but if I lived there I would. I agree that renaming someone “Susie” because you can’t be arsed the attempt their name is disrespectful, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/110 "2022-02-08T16:43:54Z")
OK - Imagine YOU are the schoolteacher and on the first day of class you are faced with pronouncing: PRYBYTZ. (Real name, not mine - but within my heritage. And even I haven’t developed the right vocal muscles to give it the correct pronounciation.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/111 "2022-02-08T16:45:25Z")
I’d ask. 🤷‍♂️ Or I might try “Pri bootz” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/112 "2022-02-08T16:46:04Z")
I’d apologize first, then say “Pribits.” ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/113 "2022-02-08T16:54:24Z")
For real? Someone said, “Hi, I’m Busarakham,” and the response was “I’ll call you Susie”? I can’t see that conversation ending well. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/114 "2022-02-08T16:57:28Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > For real? Someone said, “Hi, I’m Busarakham” and the response was “I’ll call you Susie”? I can’t see that conversation ending well. Yeah, for real. My sister said the sisters were rather shy and not pushy. As new employees, they didn’t want to make a fuss. When my sister said it was o.k. it gave them that little extra courage to push back. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/115 "2022-02-08T17:10:20Z")
An Asian classmate, who had a seemingly difficult name was called Inky by the teacher😳 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/116 "2022-02-08T17:11:47Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > OK - Imagine YOU are the schoolteacher and on the first day of class you are faced with pronouncing: PRYBYTZ. I would say “prih-bitz,” but probably ask. It looks vaguely Polish, but that’s not a Polish name I know of. That would not require any vocal straining. Przybysz I know, though – that one’s a little tougher on an English speaker. That one I definitely would ask because, even though I know the Polish pronunciation, I have no idea what pronunciation the student settled on, and it’s unlikely to be the Polish one if it’s not someone from Poland. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/117 "2022-02-08T18:33:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@kitap](#): > > > > This can easily be construed, in the US, as “use white Western European names”. > > I mean, you’re speaking a Western European language, aren’t you? You might ask Hawaiians - or Native Americans - how they feel about only using Western European names. I accept there are sounds people have problems pronouncing. I accept that people may want their kids to “blend in” better. I find names like Paizlin and Ryatt ridiculous. But don’t tell me Djimon Hounsou should change his name to Bob Smith because “it’s too hard to pronounce”. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/118 "2022-02-08T18:50:38Z")
My husband used to teach at Bronx Science. Most of the kids were from one of three ethnic groups: - American Blacks - Chinese Americans (or they might have been Korean, but i think mostly Chinese) - Recent immigrants from the Soviet Disunion (this was shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union, so there were a lot of recent immigrants.) It was easy to tell the groups apart by looking at the list of names. The immigrants all had Slavic names. The Chinese all had extremely boring, and slightly old-fashioned English names. And the Blacks had unique names, that I’d never seen or heard before. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/119 "2022-02-08T19:04:51Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > This can easily be construed, in the US, as “use white Western European names”. It’s not even that. It’s specifically Anglo names. I mean, I used to work with a guy from Germany whose name was Dieter. We were working in a place where we wore name tags. After about 6 months, he requested a name tag with “Dexter” on it. He said at least it was only one letter off, and he was done with people being confused by or not remembering or pronouncing his name correctly. And the earlier example of someone wanting their Scandinavian name pronounced correctly is similar. Same for Spanish or Italian or French names. Some people in the US, at least, feel entitled to never have to say unfamiliar sounds, or learn even the tiniest bit about another language, like how a name is pronounced. For myself, I try my best to remember and pronounce correctly, and I’ve never asked someone with a difficult – for me – name to use a nickname. But, I am terrible with names, and I admit that unfamiliar names are even harder for me to remember. I have tried hard to overcome this because people deserve to have others’ use their correct name (or really try to). I memorized Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s name, and can say it without stumbling on it, because I admire him as a ukulele player, I and think it’s a shame that people don’t bother to say his name. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017/120 "2022-02-08T19:08:23Z")
There’s a guy at work named Amblessed… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-give-your-baby-a-unique-name/959017.md?page=7)