# Sure, name your kid G'uennnhwuyFurr, but expect people to point and laugh **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 3, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233 "2003-10-03T00:28:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/141 "2003-11-02T23:36:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Biggirl \* > \*\*There was a human interest story in the New York Daily News about twins. I do not remember what the story was actually about but there was a shot with a young mother and her two twins. Beautiful babies. Their names? > > Alize and Hennessy. > > I guess that’s what she and her boyfriend were drinking that night in the back seat of their car. \*\* I remember hearing about a yuppie couple naming their twins Kendall and Jackson (after the wine) because that’s what they were drinking when the babies were conceived. What a sweet story. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/142 "2003-11-02T23:55:23Z")
T-o-n-y-a. No, not Tony. Nope, Tanya should be pronounced with a short a sound in the first syllable. Why have I spent my life explaining this? I actually met a Tawnia once. _shudder_ Of course, I also have a sister named Ronda without the totally useless H, my parents were such rebels. ---
**Author:** ![cajela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cajela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cajela)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/143 "2003-11-03T00:15:41Z")
Hey, the dead thread rises. It’s a perennial, I suppose. The best URL for US parents not wanting the equivalent of Jennifer or Madison: [http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html](http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html) Endless fun. see popular names of the 1890s-1990s. Find the top 10/50/1000 of any recent year. Track a rise or fall in popularity. Comments on posters: 1. Yes, this is ineed the very Social Security list many of you were referring to. i just thought an URL would help. 2. If you’re Welsh, it’s Bronwen not Bronwyn. The -wyn version is a misspelling - by now a popular one, but not Welsh. And speaking of Welsh, **Queen Tonya** , Rhonda should have an aspirated R, so originally it’s not useless. Of course Cwm Rhondda may not be a place you want to name your kid for, even if it is a pretty tune. Though I understand many of the slag pits have been rehabiliated. 3. **bad news baboon** , I have to say that is good news. Sane correctly spelled names are some way up there over the weird and nasty. I’m sure it’s much better to be one of 5 Sarahs than the only Baby Kandii Kane. But you still need to read it carefully to understand that all the Haley + Hailey + Hayleigh and Kaitlyn + Katelyn + Kaitlynn + Caitlyn etc are higher than they look. And the top 1000 are disturbing. Pop down near the bottom for some oddities, especially among the girls - Jakayla??!! Hyena would be better wouldn’t it? 4. **mixieArmadillo** i think your proposed baby names are nice, though potentially more popular than you suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Corrvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Corrvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corrvin)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/144 "2003-11-03T02:22:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Pop down near the bottom for some oddities, especially among the girls - Jakayla??!! Hyena would be better wouldn’t it? Considering what happens to girls named Chastity, I don’t think a girl named after an animal with a mock penis would do too badly. Corrvin ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/145 "2003-11-03T03:12:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ResIpsaLoquitor \* > \*\*Look, I wanna name MY first daughter “Amidala” and my second one “Arwen,” so I’m in no position to complain. \*\* I had a professor whose 16-year-old daughter was named Arwen. I actually rather like it. And yes, the professor in question is a Tolkien fanatic. But she’s really cool, and I miss her! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/146 "2003-11-03T04:11:26Z")
1. I just recently saw children named “Montana” (boy) and “London” (girl). I wonder if they represent the only two times the parents ever had sex with each other. 2. I also personally know of a girl named “Ciera” after the father’s car. Which was impounded by the police because he was selling drugs out of it. Boy, what funny stories she can tell about the origin of her name… 3. I also know of a couple that almost had a divorce over naming the child on the way (he wanted “Roma”, she wanted “Brittany”. The fact that they lived in a subdivision named “Brittany” always made me wonder if that was why…) They had to enter emergency tag-team relationship counseling over it. And as it happens, they ended up divorcing anyhow a year _ex post facto_. 4. If I had a daughter, I would name her Alexandria or Kali. Probably Alexandria, so as not to offend true believers of the Black Mother. Although women are supposed to be protected under the traditional rules of the cult, so she could likely get away with it. 5. (crickets chirp) I…got nothing more to add to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/147 "2003-11-03T04:55:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cajela \* > \*\*Hey, the dead thread rises. It’s a perennial, I suppose. > > The best URL for US parents not wanting the equivalent of Jennifer or Madison: > [http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html](http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/index.html) > > Endless fun. see popular names of the 1890s-1990s. Find the top 10/50/1000 of any recent year. Track a rise or fall in popularity. > \*\* Name #35 in the 1900s was J?! Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/148 "2003-11-03T16:53:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Una Persson \* > \*\* > 3) I also know of a couple that almost had a divorce over naming the child on the way (he wanted “Roma”, she wanted “Brittany”. The fact that they lived in a subdivision named “Brittany” always made me wonder if that was why…) They had to enter emergency tag-team relationship counseling over it. And as it happens, they ended up divorcing anyhow a year _ex post facto_. > \*\* so. Who won? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/149 "2003-11-04T03:53:48Z")
Before my nephew was born, I had lunch with my brother and he told me he and my sister-in-law had decided on a name for their soon to be born son: Alexis. “For a _boy_? Isn’t that a girl’s name?”, I asked. “Hmm, I guess it kind of is”, he said. Having lunch a couple of weeks later, he said they had discussed the name and had agreed it was a bit feminine. They were now leaning towards a different one: Zoe. But in the end, they instead went with “Elijah”. His nickname is, of course, “Eli”. And had they instead name him “Alexis”, his nickname would have probably been “Alex”. :smack: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Una Persson \* > \*\* . . . > 3) I also know of a couple that almost had a divorce over naming the child on the way (he wanted “Roma”, she wanted “Brittany” . . . ) > . . . \*\* “Roma”? As in Gypsies? I guess it’d be politically correct. Kind of like naming a son “Inuit”, instead of “Eskimo”. And it appears my name really is Hebrew for [“God is willing, Jehovah is the Lord”](http://www.babynameworld.com/biblical.asp). Interesting. Though I think I would be a bit more impressed if I wasn’t an agnostic Mexican raised as a Roman Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/150 "2003-11-04T04:03:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*Last week, I met a cute six year old girl. Her name was **BABY**. I’m sure she won’t get teased in High School :rolleyes: \*\* I’ll bet her parents were fans of _Dirty Dancing_. **El Gui** , Alexis is traditionally a man’s name. In Russia, it’s very common, and usually spelled Alexei, or Alexey. The last heir to the throne was name Alexei. I like the names for girls- Olga (Regina) Tatiana (Josephine) Marie (Victoria) Anastasia (Grace) Gee, aren’t you guys REALLY SURPRISED? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/151 "2003-11-04T04:50:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > **El Gui** , . . . [t]he last heir to the throne was name Alexei. Oops. I guess instead of Alexei Romanov I had Alexis Carrington in mind (both did wear some fab. outfits though). Anastasia is very nice, but then Anastasio Somoza had to come along . . . ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/152 "2003-11-04T07:26:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Gui \* > **"Roma"? As in Gypsies? I guess it’d be politically correct. Kind of like naming a son “Inuit”, instead of “Eskimo”.** Er, actually I’d assume it’s as in the capital of Italia. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/153 "2003-11-04T14:15:20Z")
If we’re talking Russian names, what about Katarina? I particularly like that one. I’d even consider using it if I had a daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/154 "2003-11-04T15:45:28Z")
**Green Bean** , I know perfectly well Patrick is an Irish name. It just doesn’t seem as bizarre on a non-Irish kid as, say, Kieran or Lorcan. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/155 "2003-11-04T16:47:05Z")
Kieran itself is bizarre, as ita a misspelling of Ciarán. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/156 "2003-11-04T17:24:56Z")
And Cillian Murphy from **28 Days Later**. Until I listened to the DVD commentary I had no idea it was pronounced “Killian.” Ditto for Siobhan, which is pronounced “Shuh-VAHN” but looks like it should be “Sob han.” Why are Irish names so hard to pronounce at sight? ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/157 "2003-11-04T17:39:09Z")
Because they are not English language words and if you don’t understand or aren’t aware of the different pronunciation rules in the Irish language, you can only apply the rules you use in your own language. I reckon that is the reason why many names have aquired new spellings when they have been adopted into other languages - to fit the natives’ linguistic expectations better. Here’s a few more, I know people called all of these things who do not live in Ireland and reluctantly answer to all manner of attempts. though they are absolutely delighted when anyone gets them right: Tighearneach Prionsias Blanaid Aoife Sorcha ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/158 "2003-11-04T17:45:55Z")
Tolkein fans, I have another one for you to groan at. I had a class once in college with a girl called _Goldberry_. Yikes. And hell, my name is Kyla. My parents found it in the New Age Baby Name Book, I swear to god. They atoned by giving my sister a totally ordinary, common, Biblical name. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/159 "2003-11-04T18:07:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zsofia \* > \*\*Isn’t Jake actually short for John, in the books? \*\* It is, but it’s much more satisfying to yell “JACOB MURPHY CHAMBERS!” when he’s in trouble. Plus, Jake didn’t like his father and didn’t want to be named for him… I think. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233/160 "2003-11-04T22:05:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yBeayf \* > \*\*Gwenhwyfar _is_ the original spelling. It’s “Guinevere” that’s wacked-out and weird. \*\* Ok but what about “G’uennnhwuyFurr” which is just about exactly what I’ve seen on some of these sites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-name-your-kid-guennnhwuyfurr-but-expect-people-to-point-and-laugh/205233.md?page=9)