# Significant others that you dumped because they had a dumb name **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2000, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390 "2000-11-30T16:23:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BigGiantHead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@BigGiantHead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigGiantHead)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/81 "2000-12-02T00:44:51Z")
I feel for you, **Persephone** , I really do. My ex-wife’s name is your middle name. When we ordered our wedding cake (and the muptials were a very informal event, front to back) the person taking the order asked how to spell it. First she just said “the usual way,” then covered her ass: C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E. Fair enough, people are dumb. _Unbelieveably_ dumb, it turns out: what we ended up getting on the cake was C-R-I-S-T-E-E-N. Has anyone **ever** seen this spelling before? Sheesh. - Dave ---
**Author:** ![Arthur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@Arthur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arthur)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/82 "2000-12-02T00:54:47Z")
My name is, as you may have gathered, Arthur. I have always thought my name to be somewhat awkward, but I have never had the guts to ask anyone personally if they think my name is a weird name (especially for a boyfriend). But since this is a facless message board, I feel I can ask that question now. Is it? ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/83 "2000-12-02T01:31:59Z")
Anyway, I don’t think I could ever date a “Mike” ever again. The name Michael is charming, but no men ever go by this name! It’s always “Mike,” and it drives me insane. It’s just such a short, choppy name, and I don’t think it sounds very flowing. Some guys like my name–Erin–but once they hear my first and middle name–Erin Elizabeth–they usually fall for me 🙂 I don’t know why; some say that my name sounds really classy, elegant. ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/84 "2000-12-02T01:34:10Z")
Oh yeah, I would never date someone with the same name as my brother ever again. Well, the name was close. My brother is Benjamin and the guy’s name was Benton, but they both go by Ben. It was confusing talking to them both. He also had a last name that rhymed with “turtle” so it was weird. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/85 "2000-12-02T01:38:57Z")
Although I’ve never dumped anyone because of their names, I have dated some people with strange names. Lesseee…like Kate, Christi, Derrick… Everyone else had nice normal names likes Amara, Shadow, Coyote, Sierra, Brin…you know…normal. ---
**Author:** ![Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fairy\_Princess\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fairy_Princess_Kitty)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/86 "2000-12-02T03:44:46Z")
I would never dump a guy for his name, heck, I’d be delighted if he could pronounce mine. Why me? My parents had a very good reason to name me what they did but why did they have to name me after the oh so famous Mistress of the Dark? I’m actually named after my great grandmother and the name is pretty in Spanish when I say the whole thing but no one can pronounce it! Grrrr. I did go out with a guy named Carlos once, it was odd. My father’s name is Carlos, my ioldest brother’s name is Carlos, a very close male acquaintance of mine is named Carlos. Whenever I would say Carlos people would get confused and I’d end up having to say “No! Not THAT one” Now I’m going to end up with a Daniel, coming from a very Mexican family I’ll have no conflicts with my Daniel. Kitty ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/87 "2000-12-02T04:32:08Z")
I once dated a guy named Don Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/88 "2000-12-02T05:04:21Z")
A hijack reprise: My name is D-E-B-B-I (note ONE “E”). My mother named me Debra not Deborah (which she says is de-BOR-ah). She taught me to spell my name Debby, also wierd. So wierd, in fact, that I had to rebel by changing the spelling to Debbi when I was 12. I do hate not being able to get all the cute stuff with my name on it, never spelled right. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/89 "2000-12-02T05:39:37Z")
**Arthur:** Your name is a favorite of mine. In fact, I would like to name my future child Arthur, after a dear uncle. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t want to name the proverbial offspring Arthur, but can’t come up with anything better. So, yes, your name is unusual for people under a certain age, but it is neither awkward or weird. Have you read _Mysteries of Pittsburgh_? It’s not the greatest book in the world, but _both_ main characters are named Arthur. It was a trip. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/90 "2000-12-02T05:45:59Z")
Everyone who is complaining that they can’t get their name spelled right on little license plates and junk can just shut up right now. :: sigh :: Take a wild guess at how many trinkets with “Kyla” printed on them there are. I bet half of you have been mentally mispronouncing my name, too. (Yup, I have corrected people at Dopefests who had been reading it incorrectly.) I’m only 22 and I’m already exhausted with telling people that my name isn’t Kayla, and no, there is only one a. I like my name, but I’m thinking of changing at least my handle because the misspellings and mispronunciations got old long ago. It actually makes me _bitter_. ---
**Author:** ![Cumber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@Cumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumber)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/91 "2000-12-02T12:57:36Z")
If it means anything to you, I really like names like that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/92 "2000-12-02T15:16:06Z")
If you think Kyla is hard to find, try looking for Kora. Go ahead. I dare you. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/93 "2000-12-02T19:26:47Z")
If you think Kyla and Kora are hard, try finding Kara. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/94 "2000-12-02T20:14:10Z")
To answer the OP, I have always dated men with traditional names, in retaliation of my own last name, which I hate. It rhymes with a certain popular farm animal, and I was teased hideously as a child. Here’s a hint: People used to neigh at me! So horrifying. Ok, my last name is Coursey. It is always mispronounced - it’s not like courtesy, it’s an “OR” sound. I’ve always wanted to marry a “Montgomery” or a “Winslow.” Sarah Montgomery sounds so classy and elegant, not like Sarah Coursey, which sounds about as classy as a fart. We won’t discuss my middle name, which just makes those two even worse. Then I sound as classy as a hiccup. Anyway, back to the question, all the men I’ve dated have simple names. Sebastian was my favorite. I’ve dates Mikes, Dereks, a Joel, a Ben, a Kevin and even a Steven. I was madly in love with a James once, and luckily I never connected his name with my brother, Jimmy. The worst name ever was ERNIE. Yuck. He was so cute and manly, but that name…I never asked him if it was short for Ernest or Ernst…blech! It gives me chills. I could not imagine screaming “Oh Errrrrrrrrniiiiiiiee!” in the throws of passion. Luckily, he had a girlfriend he neglected to tell me about, so I never had the opportunity. My children, if male, will be named Benjamin, Elijah, and Noah. I love those names. I like Authur too, but I never know how to spell it - arthur vs. author. But I’m sure it’s a name you wear well. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/95 "2000-12-02T20:42:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nacho4Sara \* > …my own last name, which I hate. It rhymes with a certain popular farm animal, and I was teased hideously as a child. Here’s a hint: People used to neigh at me! So horrifying. Oh, boo hoo. My name (first + last) rhymes with “Lizard-breath Smeller.” ---
**Author:** ![tatertot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@tatertot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tatertot)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/96 "2000-12-02T20:56:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyway, I don’t think I could ever date a “Mike” ever again. The name Michael is charming, but no men ever go by this name! It’s always “Mike,” and it drives me insane. It’s just such a short, choppy name, and I don’t think it sounds very flowing. Welfy, that’s one of my peeves, too. It seems like 3/4 of the guys I’ve dated were named Mike, and I had to force myself not to call them Michael (which for some reason most of them objected to). I also prefer Christopher to Chris, and Jonathan to Jon, although John is okay. Poor MisterTot was named Johnny Lee…and I married him anyway. I still can’t believe that his father insisted on putting Johnny instead of John or Jonathan on the birth certificate. And TinyTot’s name is Nicholas, not Nick, not Nicky, Nicholas. And until my reign of terror over him is over, he shall remain Nicholas. > [@](#): > > (BTW, about “Tracey” - isn’t it worse when they misspell your name by ending it with an “i”? I hate that!) No, what’s worse is when they spell it Tracie, with a little heart over the i. Sigh, my mother _wanted_ to name me Theresa, and I think I would have been a much better person with a less perky name, but she couldn’t pronounce it, so my father stuck me with Tracy. Which also happens to be the name of his high school sweetheart’s little sister. For some reason, that freaks me out. I think I shall start spelling my name Treycee! \<-! is part of the spelling, just to show the world what a wacky & kreativ person I am. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/97 "2000-12-02T23:32:46Z")
And then there’s the names I’ve run into here at school… Echo Love lives below me. She and I had a conversation about her brief relationship with someone whose last name was Ball. The poor girl swears she will never date anyone whose last name is a noun. Oh, and I had a friend named Aphrodite Greensleeves \. Goes by Dite. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/98 "2000-12-02T23:42:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh, boo hoo. My name (first + last) rhymes with “Lizard-breath Smeller.” PLEASE tell me your name! The only thing I can come up with is “Wizard Beth Keller,” which seems unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Serendipity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Serendipity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serendipity)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/99 "2000-12-02T23:54:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nacho4Sara \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Oh, boo hoo. My name (first + last) rhymes with “Lizard-breath Smeller.” > > PLEASE tell me your name! The only thing I can come up with is “Wizard Beth Keller,” which seems unlikely. > > \*\* I’d bet that the first name is Elizabeth, only because my friend Becky used to call her sister Elizabeth “Lizard-Breath” when she was in a foul mood. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390/100 "2000-12-03T00:40:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cumber \* > \*\*I have a brother named **T** imothy **I** saac **M** ellor. \*\* My late best friend’s name was **P** amela **A** nn **M** arsh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/significant-others-that-you-dumped-because-they-had-a-dumb-name/43390.md?page=6)