# What relatively common name creates in you an unfair negative impression of some innocent kid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 17, 2022, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817 "2022-08-17T09:33:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/41 "2022-08-17T18:14:50Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And Siobhan. It’s spell pretentiously. “Pretentious”? It’s the original Irish spelling. The only Siobhan I knew was a very lovely and caring Irish lady who helped care for our son when he was very young. It’s a name that will always have very positive associations. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/42 "2022-08-17T19:23:21Z")
Karen was the name of a girl I had a huge crush on in high school. In Canada, as a matter of fact. So for me, that name always has pleasant connotations. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/43 "2022-08-17T19:43:13Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s the original Irish spelling. It’s like no one read the OP. “ **Unfair** negative impression”. This thread has people disliking names because someone by that name made them mad one day in the dim past, which is about as “unfair” as I can imagine, or they don’t like “clever” spellings, and I get singled out because I think Siobhan is spelled funny? We’re not in Ireland. You want it pronounced Shivan, spell it that way. Or don’t make fun of Caitlin and Kaitlyn and Kaighleigh. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/44 "2022-08-17T19:53:23Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > and I get singled out because I think Siobhan is spelled funny? With all respect, and not wanting to start an argument, to the extent that you got “singled out” it was for calling it “pretentious”. To me, “pretentious” is something that’s artificially contrived in order to stand out as unique or distinguished (but which usually ends up sounding “precious” in the worst sense of the word). The spelling of “Siobhan” is old and traditional and at the same time still quite commonplace, and is therefore in no way “pretentious”. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/45 "2022-08-17T20:33:01Z")
Molly. There was a girl a couple years older than me at an apartment complex in Indianapolis who used to bully me around named Molly. We called her “Bossy Molly”. Apparently, she and I eventually became friends, but I don’t remember _that_ about her. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/46 "2022-08-17T20:53:59Z")
Steven D. Levitt seemed to think so in Freakonomics, which also speculated that a high number of violent crimes were committed by men with the middle name Wayne. > [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Well **Karen** of course. Why? > [@Lancia](#): > > The only Karens I’ve met have been nice and pleasant. Of course, these have all been middle-aged professionals, not stereotypical uh… Karens. Exactly. We gotta get over the Meme, it is unfair to almost every woman who is named Karen. All I know are relatively nice people. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And Siobhan. It’s spell pretentiously. ?? I agree with **wolfpup.** Danny instead of Daniel, Bobby instead of Robert, etc etc. Sure, when named Robert, go ahead and call yourself Rob or Bob , etc. But starting with that? Weird to me. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/47 "2022-08-17T21:11:04Z")
Brie Larson is a talented and attractive actress. I’ve encountered a number of young women named Brie (or Bree, the spelling-challenged version.) This isn’t a nickname for Brianna or something. It’s Brie, all by itself. Parents: You’ve named your daughter after a French cheese that many people say smells like ammonia…or in the worst case, cum. Why? ---
**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:** [August 17, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/48 "2022-08-17T21:37:58Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The spelling of “Siobhan” is old and traditional and at the same time still quite commonplace, and is therefore in no way “pretentious”. Well, I can see how one could call the parents pretentious for giving their child the original Irish spelled name _Siobhán_ or even _Siobhan_ (without the pompous accent over the ‘a’) instead of the more phoneticly pleasing _Shivaun_. FWIW, I knew one _Siobhán_ and I didn’t like her. I knew one Shivaun and she was cool. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/49 "2022-08-17T21:57:16Z")
What profession is a Tucker? Is a Parker a valet? ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/50 "2022-08-17T21:59:41Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > What profession is a Tucker? The name Tucker is primarily a gender-neutral name of English origin that means _Softener Of Cloth_. Originally from the old English term “tucian” meaning “to torment.” It refers to the softening of cloth by beating and trampling on it in water. [Source](https://babynames.com/name/TUCKER). ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/51 "2022-08-17T22:12:14Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Is a Parker a valet? Game warden and park grounds keeper. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/52 "2022-08-17T22:18:12Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > Brie Larson is a talented and attractive actress. I’ve encountered a number of young women named Brie (or Bree, the spelling-challenged version.) > > This isn’t a nickname for Brianna or something. It’s Brie, all by itself. > > Parents: You’ve named your daughter after a French cheese that many people say smells like ammonia…or in the worst case, cum. > > Why? If they were _Klute_ fans, maybe it means they hoped their daughter would one day become a New York prostitute. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/53 "2022-08-17T22:32:37Z")
A kid named Scotty stole my girlfriend in junior high. If I was a violent person (which I’m not) I’d punch all Scotties in the nose, as well as their parents and pets. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/54 "2022-08-17T22:38:14Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > If they were _Klute_ fans, maybe it means they hoped their daughter would one day become a New York prostitute. Right, none of that small-town stuff – if you have aspirations for your daughter, you may as well hope for the big time! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/55 "2022-08-17T22:50:19Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > A kid named Scotty stole my girlfriend in junior high. If I was a violent person (which I’m not) I’d punch all Scotties in the nose, as well as their parents and pets. You _wouldn’t!_ [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/23/0c/28/230c285009f8a07162925b54aa315ffc.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/23/0c/28/230c285009f8a07162925b54aa315ffc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/56 "2022-08-17T23:05:38Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > The name Tucker is primarily a gender-neutral name So there could well be a Mother Tucker. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/57 "2022-08-17T23:24:12Z")
Hey!! I named my son Cooper! (And I’ve noticed that older people get it confused; Connor? No, Cooper) Why wouldn’t you like it? It’s Coop! “Hey, Coop! What’s up man?” (And it’s also a family name - my son’s maternal grandfather ‘s middle name, and his great grandmother’s maiden name) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/58 "2022-08-17T23:32:31Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > instead of the more phoneticly pleasing _Shivaun_. Our Siobhan is pronounced shaVON. And she was named after her mother, who went by the nickname Bonnie. When talking about her, a surprising number of people think it’s a black name. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/59 "2022-08-18T14:36:29Z")
Oh Oh, people are getting offended… ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817/60 "2022-08-18T16:46:02Z")
I guess “Sean Connery” must make you mad too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-relatively-common-name-creates-in-you-an-unfair-negative-impression-of-some-innocent-kid/969817.md?page=4)