# The Importance of Earnest Naming **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193 "2003-01-17T07:31:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/21 "2003-01-17T22:42:20Z")
I think that people should be encouraged to consider changing their name at age, oh, 18 or so. Your name is so tied in with your identity, but it’s chosen before you have any sort of personality. I try to be proud and identify with my normal name, but I so wish I could have had an unorthodox one. I would so have loved to be called Magnum, or Winter Storm, or Sagittarius, or Crimson. How the heck am I going to be a superhero with a name like Christopher? I’m sure that my great-great uncle was a nice guy, but aren’t there other, more serious ways to honor him than giving me his middle name and otherwise forgetting about him? I can understand that having a difficult to spell or pronounce name can be aggravating, but to me, giving children “normal” names so that they can “fit in” and “conform” and “lose all hope of individuality in a monochrome world that chokes their soul” is the _real_ child abuse. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/22 "2003-01-17T22:42:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SandyHook \* > \*\*I have two nieces, without a doubt the cutest little girls ever seen, named: > Summer Sky and Winter Storm. > Mom and Dad live on a farm where they, not surprisingly, milk goats and turn the product into organic leather products. Or something like that. \*\* So does Winter Storm feel like she got the short end of the stick? ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/23 "2003-01-17T22:44:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Suspenderzzz \* > \*\*I think it sucks how some names are so fad-like that you can guess the approximate age of the bearer. Is there anyone in existence who currently knows a 60-year old woman named Tiffany? Or a teenage girl named Myrna? Ludicrous just to think about it, isn’t it? Or a Debbie or Sharon who is _not_ late-thirties to forties at this moment? A Mark who is _not_ in his thirties or late twenties? A Justin who is older than, say, fifteen? > \*\* I do know a three-year-old named Adelaide (which always makes me think of the little old housekeeper on _Diff’rent Strokes_ . . . ---
**Author:** ![Virgowitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9fc348/32.png) [@Virgowitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Virgowitch)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/24 "2003-01-17T23:35:03Z")
One example of a name without much thought behind it: “D’bris.” The “s” is silent. Pronounced, “De-bree.” The woman I spoke to was unaware it had a meaning and still believes I was just giving her a hard time when I explained it… ---
**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:** [January 18, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/25 "2003-01-18T00:57:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dangerosa \* > \*\*My daughter has an unusual spelling of a common name. But it isn’t made up - its an alternative spelling thats been around and used - just less commonly - since the 15th century (at least). > \*\* Alys? My name comes from two of my ancestors, but I don’t see any problem with making up names for children. It is good to honor ancestors by naming one’s child after them. However, it can also be good to give a child a unique name to reflect his or her own uniqueness as a human being. Personally I too will probably name my children after ancestors if I have them. But I don’t feel the need to disparage people who want their child to have their own special name. –Jessica Rose ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/26 "2003-01-18T01:40:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Suspenderzzz \* > \*\*I think it sucks how some names are so fad-like that you can guess the approximate age of the bearer…orr a Debbie or Sharon who is _not_ late-thirties to forties at this moment? > \*\* I’m sure you were expecting this, **Suspenderzzz,** but one of my best friends is a 24 year old girl named Sharon. 😃 It is also my mother’s name…and it _is_, I think, less common among the younger generation. “Audrey” is not my real name…it’s just one I like a lot more than my actual name. My first name is inextricably tied with a cult-status pop idol from the seventies…and I get so much flack/questions/jokes about it that I have seriously considered changing it. The only reason I haven’t is because I know it would really hurt my parents’ feelings, and I know that they didn’t name me _after_ this person. Just happened to like the name, and didn’t realize how long this person would be remembered…or how the name would evolve. Another problem is that my _full_ name is identical to another famous person…a movie star…so basically I’m kind of screwed. Everyone has a story to tell or a joke about my name. _sigh_ Any job that requires a nametag is kind of a living hell for me. :rolleyes: In response to the OP, I think you should assume your child will be President when you’re choosing names. This will elimate trendy, silly names, pointlessly inane spellings, and anything “really creative.” Childhood is hard enough without making the kid’s _name_ an issue…and I know a couple who named their daughter Bronte, after the author. (They got it from the movie _Green Card._) You could make a board game out of the many “nicknames” that could lead to, for God’s sake. Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/27 "2003-01-18T02:09:39Z")
No, Elinor. We call her Nell. (Astorian, I was thinking more of Flee Fornication and the other odder (to us) Puritan names. Although, I do remember Cher getting some flak for naming her daughter Chastity - a perfectly good Puritan name) ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/28 "2003-01-18T13:40:57Z")
## quote: _Originally posted by Suspenderzzz_ **I think it sucks how some names are so fad-like that you can guess the approximate age of the bearer…orr a Debbie or Sharon who is _not_ late-thirties to forties at this moment?** * * * I"m a Sharon and I’m in my mid-20s. I was named after my Dad’s favorite cousin, though, so your point is still somewhat valid. **Audrey** , I had a good friend in high school whose father wanted to name her F. Scott, after Fitzgerald. No first name, just F. Fortunately, her mom intervened, and she was just plain old Scott. A little unusual for a girl’s name, but not too wacky. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/29 "2003-01-18T15:06:51Z")
Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s daughter was named Frances, and called Scotty all her life, after her dad. ---
**Author:** ![JolieRhys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@JolieRhys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JolieRhys)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/30 "2003-01-18T22:30:39Z")
Well, I DID change my name, legally after lo these many years- mostly due to having had ENOUGH of the dysfunctional gene pool garBAGE…sibs came up to me a few years ago, and though I am the only progeny who resembles BOTH parental units, they insisted that I am adopted…y’mean I don’t have to buy into this ToroPooPoo anymore?! Cool! So I picked my name, as you see on my posts- That is pretty much my name: Jolie = pretty Rhys = ardant Ann = pure I AM pretty much, purely a snarly old broad 😉 My daughter [result of a rape] I named Jana = beloved girl. And at 27 and three kids of her own- she is exactly that- beloved. We combined two names for my granddaughter- Demara and Felicity- and made Delicity- Also a Rhys-Ann but added an “e” to Ann. I “allowed” Jana to name her sons, and she was very careful about it- apparently I passed on the serious consideration to names…though I can’t say I was overly thrilled at the results; I mean, they’re oKay, but… ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/31 "2003-01-18T22:46:37Z")
I have noticed that old-fashioned names like Emma, Ella, and Sophie are coming back into fashion. I have three little cousins, all babies, named Dolores, Maxine, and Stella. It makes me think of three old biddies smoking and gossiping down at the bingo parlor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/32 "2003-01-18T23:10:38Z")
> [@](#): > > My first name is inextricably tied with a cult-status pop idol from the seventies… My poor cousin is named Barbie. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/33 "2003-01-18T23:38:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Suspenderzzz \* > **Or a Debbie or Sharon who is _not_ late-thirties to forties at this moment?** I know a 15-year-old Debbie. My name (Kerry), or more exactly, the spelling, isn’t that common among women. It’s a man’s name, in essence (Kerry Collins, Kerry Kittles, Kerry Wood…in sixth grade my teacher read my name on the first day and asked where “he” was…I’ve since added my middle name Ann to distinguish me as a girl). I’ve had to spell my name every single time I’ve given it out. What’s frustrating, though, is that I’ll start “K-E-R…” and then the person writing it will either automatically write “…I” or “R-I” without letting me finish spelling it. I used to be the only Kerry/Kari/Carrie/Kerri I knew, and I enjoyed that, but in the past year I met three more. Who all spell it differently than I. (A friend of mine told me her mother named her after the Stephen King book…ugh :-\ ) I know a Bambi whose husband is an avid deer-hunter. ---
**Author:** ![auliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@auliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auliya)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/34 "2003-01-19T02:23:29Z")
My kids all have Gaelic names, one fairly common these days, one moderately so, and two very unusual. All were chosen with careful consideration to their meaning. The two unusual ones are difficult to spell, I (and they) get asked all the time how to pronounce/spell their names. However they all seem to be comfortable with their names, but I made sure they all had staid common middle names with family significance, that they could resort to if they so chose, when they got older. So far none has. Their middle names are Amber, David, Alexander and Brian, I can’t post first names here, they are too identifiable 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/35 "2003-01-19T02:51:05Z")
In the U.S., the popularity of individual girls’ names has varied wildly in the 20th century and into the 21st. There used to be a lot of Alices and Gladyses. Not anymore. But there are very few 80-year olds named Tiffany. However, boys’ names tend to be more stable. At least the more popular ones. Michael and John and David are always in the top 10. I think this stems with the idea that boys “carry on” the family name, while girls don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/36 "2003-01-19T03:16:54Z")
I know a five-year-old Hattie. Just Hattie, not short for anything. If I were planning on having kids, I’d give them names that had both formal and “diminutive” forms. (Mine does not, unfortunately.) And I’d much rather see a child with a name that they can “grow into” than a grandma with an impossibly cutesy name. (Although right now I’m trying to picture my grandfather Hugo Emil as an infant, and not succeeding.) Since we’re not having kids, we name our dogs with the same dignity: always “Mister” or Miss," and a proper name rather than “Fluffy” or “Sparky.” So far we have had Miss Emily Kimberly, Miss Phyllis Potter, and Miss Dorothy Michaels (Dottie). The exception is Scout, who would have been Miss Jean Louise Finch if she had papers. Buster was a “used” dog who came with his doggy name firmly in place. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/37 "2003-01-19T05:55:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by belladonna \* > \*\* > IMO, made up or unusual names are just as likely, if not more likely, to be deeply meaningful to the parents as some traditional name that gets plucked out of a book or family tree. As long as it’s not something that’s begging to be mocked, and they can tell their kid someday “Hey, we named you \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ because \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_” I don’t see the problem with it. \*\* Thanks, belladonna. It always hurt me a little when people dump all the made-up names as if they are unworthy and a hassle. My first name is a made-up name. I love it. I can not imagine myself without it. It has become part of who am I. Made-up names can mean something. In many cases, it is out of the parents’ desire to name the child after various relatives. In just three syllables, I’m named after my mom, my dad, and my aunt (who was supposed to be my godmother). My cousin’s first name is a mix of my mom and hers, and her second first name is a combination between her other aunts’ names. Made-up names don’t have to be difficult to spell or pronounce. My first name is not difficult to spell, and it is pronounced the way it is written. It is easy to say in all the languages I’ve taken so far (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French). Most of the problems I have had with my name comes from the fact that **because it is unusual** and people are accostumed to “normal” names, somehow they block it and figure it is more difficult than what it really is. I have found out from personal experiences that small kids pick up my name faster than adults. They may not have a sense of what is normal or not, so they say it right once I’ve said mine. Another thing, especially with English-speaking people, is that they are afraid of mispronouncing it, once they read it. Don’t be afraid, I’ll gladly repeat, and once you get my name is said the way it is read, it would be just fine. Yes, many times made-up names can be ugly, hard to pronounce, and hard to spell. Of course, this also applies to many other types of names. Should parents stop giving their kids Welsh names because those are difficult to pronounce? No! Like other posters have said, Welsh names have meanings, and at least I like the way they sound, even if I find the spelling a bit odd. Please don’t diss all the made-up names. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/38 "2003-01-19T06:21:20Z")
Jin means gold in Chinese (or so I’m told), but the original reason I had chosen it is that it’s a shortened form of the word djinn. I love walking up somewhere that I’m expected, my name is on a list, and I get called “Jim.” Uh-huuuh… 'Course, I (re)named myself, so whadyagonnado? ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/39 "2003-01-20T15:56:58Z")
**auntie em** We had loved the name Matisse for a daughter for years, and she knew that is what she was going to be named and decided to fit the part 😁. We had great difficulty choosing our sons name for a few reasons a) that we like the sound of the name b) to reflect a Welsh heritage (outside of Wales) c) was NOT a cutesy rhyming or matching name for his sister (for both their sakes) That said, we had jokingly considered Monet so we could call them both at the same time by saying ‘Les artistes!’. Luke and Leia were also suggested. We were initially considering Rhys for our son, but did not like the rhyming sound of Rhys and Matisse and found Rhyd as an alternative. We’ve given them both the same middle name which happens to be a common Welsh surname that is also a (semi)popular given name for both genders. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193/40 "2003-01-20T18:39:09Z")
Suspenderzz said, "A Justin who is older than, say, fifteen? " My son Justin is 26. As I said, there weren’t many of them when he was born. Now they’re comin’ out of the woodwork! I have a different first name. Everyone misspells it or mispronounces it, even though it is very simple. People are just creatures of habit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-importance-of-earnest-naming/149193.md?page=3)