# Stupid Baby Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273 "2009-07-07T23:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/141 "2009-07-10T02:30:56Z")
One of the employees at a local McDonald’s is named Trakia. There is no good way to pronounce this. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Bobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@King\_Bobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Bobo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/142 "2009-07-10T02:34:10Z")
I work in South Asia and several names I encounter are unusual to me. One such was a man who had his name printed on the back of his hard hat, it was “Ashit” - not uncommon for the region. My first reaction was disbelief, until I had worked there longer and encountered several men with the same name, also a few others equally strange. OK - I know this is supposed to be about N. American unusual names - but what happens when these names are encountered in the West ( immigrants, visiting scholars etc.)?. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/143 "2009-07-10T02:36:50Z")
In my experience, people with names that are common in one culture but unacceptable to the North American ear are encouraged to take a nickname for the duration. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/144 "2009-07-10T02:53:45Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I had a co-worker who had a son named Sam. He and his wife came very close to naming their daughter “Ella” until the day they happened to say the names together: “Sam and Ella”. 😃 > > Good thing they figured this out before she was born. 😉 Heh! I always loved the name Ellie (because of the book the Waterbabies), but decided against it because Sam and Ellie is almost as bad as Sam and Ella. Also, it was a ridiculously popular name the year my daughter was born, ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/145 "2009-07-10T05:42:40Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Where? That just seems bizarre to me. I went to a university known for its engineering programs, was a writing tutor there and took physics classes, etc. Every single prof would insist you spelled it “gauge”. Years ago I worked as an editor for a publisher that published books about mining engineering. One of the first things I had to get used to was that in that industry they spelled it “gage.” That’s how it was in the specialized dictionary used in the mining industry, or at least by people who wrote books and articles for the mining engineering industry. That dictionary also was my first introduction to my favorite long word. I had always heard that “antidisestablishmentarianism” was the longest word, but it had one so long that it had to be set in smaller type to get it on one line: “pneumonoultramicroscopicvolcanoconiosis.” Oh, sure, it looks like they just ran a bunch of words together to make one gigantic word, but that’s what they did to antidisestablishmentarianism, pretty much. It’s a lung disease, similar to black lung but much harder to spell. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/146 "2009-07-10T07:06:34Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I had a co-worker who had a son named Sam. He and his wife came very close to naming their daughter “Ella” until the day they happened to say the names together: “Sam and Ella”. 😃 A couple of weeks ago I saw a woman named [Candida](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_albicans). I’m guessing it could be a Spanish or Portuguese name. Either way, it’s still unfortunate to share your name with the fungus that causes yeast infections. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/147 "2009-07-10T12:56:35Z")
Maybe Gage was named after [Phineas Gage!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage):eek: ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/148 "2009-07-10T14:15:57Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Shannon use to be a not that uncommon Guy’s first name. Kinda like Beverly, Shirley, Evelyn and Kim I knew or met men named Beverly and Kim. Girls are taking over a lot of previously male names. I know there are lots of examples, but I can’t think of any right now, darn it. Leslie! There’s one. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/149 "2009-07-10T14:55:59Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > In my experience, people with names that are common in one culture but unacceptable to the North American ear are encouraged to take a nickname for the duration. This is my experience as well. And I appreciate it if someone who’s name is very hard for us to pronounce takes a nickname or shortened version. I’d do the same in a similar situation. It’s just easier to interact with people if your name isn’t stressing them out. > [@Khan](#): > > A couple of weeks ago I saw a woman named [Candida](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_albicans). I’m guessing it could be a Spanish or Portuguese name. Either way, it’s still unfortunate to share your name with the fungus that causes yeast infections. There’s a famous porn star named Candida Royale. Which is really funny because lots of sex is one thing that can lead to yeast infections. If she’s got Candida Royale…well, I guess she’s earned it. (She was in Boogie Nights, too. A very cool lady, IMHO) ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/150 "2009-07-10T15:20:12Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > Shannon use to be a not that uncommon Guy’s first name. > > Kinda like Beverly, Shirley, Evelyn and Kim > > There use to be an NFL football player (Minnesota?) who was named Shannon Something. Retired due to a neck injury. > Billy Ray Cyrus named one of his daughters **Noah** , which really bothers me for some reason. True, it was more that in combination with the rhyming last name that stuck out as the weirdness for me… ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/151 "2009-07-10T15:31:49Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > One of the employees at a local McDonald’s is named Trakia. There is no good way to pronounce this. I certainly hope (she?) isn’t planning on a career as a health care professional. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/152 "2009-07-10T16:13:09Z")
My neighbors’ kids are named Blade and Nixon. I’m not sure about naming your kid after a disgraced former president, especially using the last name. Blade, on the other hand, is an awesome name. I wish I was named Blade. ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@Black\_Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/153 "2009-07-10T17:35:53Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > The following is a list of male first names that I can personally vouch for as being authentic. The spelling is as found on government documents. > > TREVOCEAN This makes me want to hurt someone. Huk, however is awesome. Good for yelling out the back door. Huk! Get off your daddy’s car! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/154 "2009-07-10T18:07:38Z")
> [@Black\_Sunshine](#): > > This makes me want to hurt someone. Huk, however is awesome. Good for yelling out the back door. Huk! Get off your daddy’s car! Huk does look like quite the rapscallion in his official photos. Trevocean looks like he’s seen some long days and cruel nights, however. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/155 "2009-07-10T18:09:48Z")
Og and Huk aren’t related, are they? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/156 "2009-07-10T18:10:31Z")
I wonder if **Qadgop the Mercotan** can serve as a data point for this finding in some of the social science literature - that having an unusual name is a common trait among delinquents. That is, the Kenyacies are represented at a higher proportion in prison than say, the Edwards? Personally I suspect it has to do with a socioeconomic distribution. I knew a number of folks at Harvard pursuing advanced degrees with what I would consider to be… er, _non-standard_ names. These folks, to a person, were very self-confident - having an odd name seemed to give them something. But it was hard to imagine Dr. Precious Williams not getting crap for her name, no matter where she went to school… ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/157 "2009-07-10T18:23:05Z")
Friend of a friend had triplets recently and named the boys Jaxon and Jagger. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/158 "2009-07-10T18:30:24Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Og and Huk aren’t related, are they? They surely don’t look related. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/159 "2009-07-10T18:32:40Z")
Someone I know had a classmate with a common, normal Jewish first name and a common, normal Jewish last name. Unfortunately, the first name was Eeta (not sure how it’s spelled) and her last name was Berger. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273/160 "2009-07-10T18:54:23Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > ANTWARN That’s a new one. I used to look at NFL rosters every preseason, before first cuts, and see how many spellings of the name Antoine I could find. The record was 11, and that’s not counting Antonio, which is a totally separate name. I would have considered this one close enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-baby-names/502273.md?page=9)