# Weirdest names you've ever heard **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747 "2020-07-19T12:05:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/362 "2021-07-20T03:37:57Z")
Two of my friends got married and decided to hyphenate last names, but their last names are incredibly similar so we wound up getting a couple with the last name “Gonzales-Gonzalez” ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/363 "2021-08-16T13:00:47Z")
Elon Musk’s youngest child is named X Æ A-12 [The reason](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52557291) is stupid, but even worse no one will know how to pronounce it. Prince’s choice to go with an unpronounceable symbol makes sense when you discover it was because of a legal battle over the rights of his actual name. Frank Zappa’s choices almost seem quaint now. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/364 "2021-08-19T17:38:17Z")
I just encountered a guy named “Colt Justice” and he is NOT the hero of the NRA’s kids’ comic book series. ---
**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/365 "2021-08-19T18:25:36Z")
When I was in college, I was one of several guys in my dorm all named Scott. When the suggestion was made that we should each go by a number (Scott #1, Scott #2, etc.), I jokingly said I would go by Ttocs or Tox instead. It stuck. By my sophomore year, I discovered so many people were referring to me as Tox that some of them had no idea it was a nickname and thought it was my real name. At the time, I thought it quite odd that anyone would accept Tox as being an actual name. However, after many years of seeing what I think really are goofy names, maybe Tox isn’t so weird after all. ---
**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/366 "2021-08-19T18:31:00Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Way back I worked with a guy named Randy Peters, which a brit friend found hilarious. I have a cousin named Randy Lay, which is pretty much in the same ballpark. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/367 "2021-08-20T03:25:27Z")
I used to work with a lady named “Shithead”. It’s pronounced _Shi THEED_. It’s an Indian/Pakistani name. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/368 "2021-08-20T13:56:45Z")
Years ago I had a co-worker named Aquanetta. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/369 "2021-08-23T23:21:05Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > I used to work with a lady named “Shithead”. It’s pronounced _Shi THEED_ . It’s an Indian/Pakistani name. Interesting; if verifiable, this would be AFAIK the only verified instance of a very, very common urban legend about a person from a non-English-speaking culture whose name is spelled “Shithead” in English. This legend seems to have evolved from English speakers’ encounters with Arabic names like Shahid/Shaheed and/or Indian names like Shitha. Somebody thought it would be funny if there were a similar name along the lines of “Shathid” or similar that was mistakenly transliterated as “Shithead” in English. I’m perfectly willing to believe in the real-life existence of somebody with such a name whose legal name is officially spelled “Shithead” in the roman alphabet, if I ever see solid factual evidence supporting it. Until then, I’m reserving judgement. Less interestingly, I have personally met an Alexandra (Sandy) Beech and a Barbara (Barb) Dwyer. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/370 "2021-08-24T12:00:50Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Interesting; if verifiable, this would be AFAIK the only verified instance of a very, very common urban legend about a person from a non-English-speaking culture whose name is spelled “Shithead” in English. I can confirm that this is not a Indian/Pakistani name. It is sound to mimick common Muslim names like Shahid or the Muslim/Hindu name Shameed, but its neither. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/371 "2021-08-24T12:11:34Z")
The weirdest one I’ve heard is a former MLB player whose last name is Spooneybarger. It doesn’t sound like a non-English name, which IMHO makes it even more weird. If any of you all have some ideas as to the etymology of such an odd name, please share your knowledge. I’m sure it would make for some interesting reading. ---
**Author:** ![pgcotype](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pgcotype/32/8743_2.png) [@pgcotype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pgcotype)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/372 "2021-08-25T01:33:16Z")
Even as a person completely loathes Dickens, I agree with you! He made up the stupidest names of his characters. ---
**Author:** ![pgcotype](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pgcotype/32/8743_2.png) [@pgcotype](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pgcotype)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/373 "2021-08-25T02:28:11Z")
The weirdest name for me was when I was in college and working as a medical receptionist. A young woman called in and (unfortunately for her) got me on the line. Her name was Milweena Slappy\* My immediate thought was, “I wonder if she has a brother she has a brother named Hap?” I was a still a teenager, but it took everything I had within me not to burst out laughing aloud. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/374 "2021-08-25T03:11:07Z")
Unfortunately, I have retired from that company, so I cannot screenshot the listing from the company directory. I do not know the country of origin, as that came up in my research, but the person was indeed named Shithead and it was in the official company directory. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/375 "2021-08-25T17:47:11Z")
I noticed a man named Kenobi on my company’s directory. I can’t help thinking that It was a prank by the person who compiled it. ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/376 "2021-08-25T18:13:32Z")
Maybe a small business, but I doubt a corporation directory would allow pranks. Would explain how they went from the most widely held stock to a joke, itself. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/377 "2021-08-25T18:24:25Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > I noticed a man named Kenobi on my company’s directory. I can’t help thinking that It was a prank by the person who compiled it. I swear, it wasn’t me. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/378 "2021-08-25T19:10:19Z")
I’m not sure it’s fair or enlightening to include Asian names such as Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. I’ve known many which, to English-speakers ears, sound very weird. But they are just normal names, not unusual at all, in their native language. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/379 "2021-08-30T22:25:13Z")
[Dave Upthegroove](https://ballotpedia.org/Dave_Upthegrove). That is his real name. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/380 "2021-08-31T15:31:42Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > [Dave Upthegroove](https://ballotpedia.org/Dave_Upthegrove). That is his real name. Or Dave Upthegrove, according to the link. Still odd though. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/381 "2021-08-31T19:13:28Z")
Probably a variation on the Dutch name Updegraff. I know a family by that name here in the US (in a region with a large Dutch influence on names). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747.md?page=20)