# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/443 "2022-10-16T19:17:58Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Is Canada a common last name? In Spanish, “cañada” means creek or stream or something. Also, there seems to be a language in the subcontinent called Kanada, an ethnicity Kannada, and it occurs in parts of Asia as a surname. It could be an EllisIslanded name. ---
**Author:** ![Loggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/444 "2022-10-16T19:38:39Z")
Anecdote: I remember hearing in a radio program about a person called “Xff”. That was his real name. The reason, he explained was that, at birth, the mother and the father could not yet agree if he should be named Jeff or Geoff, so they put an X there as a placeholder while they were going to decide between Geoff og Jeff. So according to him, this was just supposed to be a temporarily solution on the birth certificate. But as time went on, they just never thought about it, and just called him jeff/geoff (sounds the same?) and forgot about the birth certificate. So Xff’s story is that he ended up with this on his Birth Certificate. Weird name! ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2022, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/445 "2022-10-16T21:17:10Z")
I haven’t asked him about it but I get a Pacific Islander vibe from him. Not white, big guy, NFL sized. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/446 "2022-10-17T09:17:05Z")
Not the weirdest/rarest of names, but the spelling: why is Clio (Greek name with an “ei” diphthong) spelled that way? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/447 "2022-10-17T14:09:14Z")
I came across a first name “Dieresis” recently, which is really close to [diaeresis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaeresis_(diacritic)) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/448 "2022-10-17T14:43:26Z")
If weirdness was measured by democratic means, that is people across the world are allowed to vote for the weirdest names, then I would guess Laura and Randi would top the list, because in many parts of South Asia, Laura is slang for “dumb dick” and Randi is slang for “prostitute”. ---
**Author:** ![Drsunflower1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drsunflower1/32/12711_2.png) [@Drsunflower1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drsunflower1)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/449 "2022-10-18T18:01:27Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Clio It’s one of the Muses. Former colleague of mine was called Clio. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/450 "2022-10-18T19:40:25Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > If you are into True Crime then you know Albert Fish is one of the most repugnant members of that club Is he worse than: - Arctic grayling. - Brook trout. - Brown trout. - Bull trout. - Burbot. - Cutthroat trout. - Golden trout. - Goldeye. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/451 "2022-10-18T22:42:34Z")
I dunno. Any of those pedophile cannibals whole stuck pins in their “taints” like a pin cushion? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/452 "2022-10-18T22:45:17Z")
\< ponders \> Don’t think so… ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/453 "2022-10-18T22:47:41Z")
An old shipmate named his daughter True Destiny [Surname]. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2022, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/454 "2022-10-19T03:37:52Z")
> [@Drsunflower1](#): > > > [@DPRK](#): > > > > Clio > > It’s one of the Muses. Former colleague of mine was called Clio. Often spelled Kleio. But then I encountered a Clio. Soon enough it dawned on me it was yet another case of minor spelling/pronunciation variations. I have heard it suggested that it may be weird to take a look at a tiny newborn baby and name it after a God or Titan, e.g. Atlas or Thor—but this may be the parents’ wishful thinking! A Muse is not so bad. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/455 "2022-11-13T23:04:52Z")
Albuquerque Head was among the Trumpers who stormed the Capitol on January 6th. It sounds like a more appropriate name for the bathroom on the USS New Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/456 "2023-01-05T02:32:14Z")
Long ago, a classmate claimed that someone in his family was called “Murgatroyd”. That would be the weirdest example from my surroundings that I can think of. Apparently, another member of his family was called “Cornelius”. That is an old Roman name, but it hardly has currency in the modern English-speaking world. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/457 "2023-01-05T02:38:04Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Long ago, a classmate claimed that someone in his family was called “Murgatroyd”. Heavens to Murgatroyd! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Fwpj27hlP4/hqdefault.jpg "Heavens to Murgatroyd!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fwpj27hlP4) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/458 "2023-01-05T07:11:14Z")
> [@themapleleaf](#): > > Apparently, another member of his family was called “Cornelius”. That is an old Roman name, but it hardly has currency in the modern English-speaking world. That seems like a mouthful. Like when your mother is pissed at you and yells out your full name (I always knew my middle name added on meant trouble). But what would a Cornelius go by most of the time? Neil? ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2023, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/459 "2023-01-05T07:26:09Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > That seems like a mouthful. Like when your mother is pissed at you and yells out your full name (I always knew my middle name added on meant trouble). But what would a Cornelius go by most of the time? Neil? “Con” is the conventional diminutive in Ireland and in Australia, at least. The name isn’t unknown in either country, but it isn’t common, and most of the Corneliuses/Cons you come across will be fairly elderly, if not actually dead. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/460 "2023-01-06T05:21:00Z")
It’s a real name, with several spelling variations of its own. > **[Murgatroyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murgatroyd)** > > Murgatroyd (with variants including Murgatroid and Margatroid) is a surname among the English nobility, originating in Yorkshire. Its etymology, according to one source, is as follows: in 1371, a constable was appointed for the district of Warley in Yorkshire. He adopted the name of Johanus de Morgateroyde, or literally: Johanus of Moor Gate Royde or 'the district leading to the moor'. > Another source says the place name means Margaret's road. > In Old Norse, royd means "clearing" (as in cu Moor-gat... The launch of the impotence drug Cialis was delayed for a few months, because of a lawsuit from some people with the actual surname Cialis who found out about this, and wanted the drug’s name changed. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2023, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/461 "2023-01-06T05:32:26Z")
I carded a guy for alcohol at work awhile back. I don’t remember his last name because it was fairly normal, but it was about the only bit of his name that wasn’t - “Cyrus Leviathan Lastname II”. There’s a _lot_ to unpack there, and the implied existence of a Cyrus Leviathan Sr. isn’t even the biggest part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2023, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747/462 "2023-01-07T11:29:03Z")
I had an uncle whose middle name was “Cornelius”. He went by “Dick”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-names-youve-ever-heard/915747.md?page=24)