# When naming your child after fictional character goes wrong... (GoT spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131 "2019-05-17T23:03:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/21 "2019-05-19T13:55:44Z")
I’ve heard that “Nimrod” has become something of a popular name for Jewish children in Israel. In the scripture, he’s mentioned only as a mighty hunter, warrior and conqueror-king. But in the Talmud and Midrash he’s portrayed as a villain who tried on multiple occasions to kill Abra(ha)m and who was ultimately pwned by Abra(ha)m (whose support was G-d). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/22 "2019-05-19T14:01:26Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > I’ve heard that “Nimrod” has become something of a popular name for Jewish children in Israel. In the scripture, he’s mentioned only as a mighty hunter, warrior and conqueror-king. But in the Talmud and Midrash he’s portrayed as a villain who tried on multiple occasions to kill Abra(ha)m and who was ultimately pwned by Abra(ha)m (whose support was G-d). Also, **Bugs Bunny** used the name rather derisively to mock **Elmer Fudd** ’s hunting skills. Just sayin’. 😃 ETA: I did not know the bit from the Talmud and Midrash, only the ‘mighty hunter’ bit. Thanks for the enlightenment. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/23 "2019-05-20T04:46:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just to be clear, does anyone actually know of any real child really named “Daeneris” or “Khaleesi”, or are we all just laughing at a hypothetical stupid thing that a hypothetical stupid person might have done? Not personally. But there’s [this for Khaleesi](http://www.behindthename.com/name/khaleesi/top/united-states). No numbers available for Daenerys or for 2018-2019. ---
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/24 "2019-05-20T10:40:42Z")
Many tweens of the 80s named their daughters Madison. At some point in the 90s, it was the 2nd most popular girls name. My daughter’s college roommate named her daughter Clara Belle. She was totally oblivious to the Howdy Doody connection. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/25 "2019-05-20T11:00:05Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > Many tweens of the 80s named their daughters Madison. At some point in the 90s, it was the 2nd most popular girls name. And… what? > [@](#): > > My daughter’s college roommate named her daughter Clara Belle. She was totally oblivious to the Howdy Doody connection. A name that randomly used in an obscure show from decades ago, not actually named after the character. Not really very relevant. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/26 "2019-05-20T17:48:51Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > I’ve heard that “Nimrod” has become something of a popular name for Jewish children in Israel. In the scripture, he’s mentioned only as a mighty hunter, warrior and conqueror-king. But in the Talmud and Midrash he’s portrayed as a villain who tried on multiple occasions to kill Abra(ha)m and who was ultimately pwned by Abra(ha)m (whose support was G-d). > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Also, **Bugs Bunny** used the name rather derisively to mock **Elmer Fudd** ’s hunting skills. > > Just sayin’. 😃 > > ETA: I did not know the bit from the Talmud and Midrash, only the ‘mighty hunter’ bit. Thanks for the enlightenment. Also, didn’t Nimrod, according to some accounts, believe himself to be so important that he directed the building of the Tower of Babel so he could be on a one-to-one basis with God only for the Almighty to foil his plan by making everyone start speaking different languages? As a result, the name “Nimrod” became synonymous with “vainglorious fool” thereby adding an additional meaning to Bugs Bunny’s insult. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/27 "2019-05-20T17:52:23Z")
Honestly, I think Elizabeth Warren [having to retract support for Dany](https://www.thewrap.com/game-of-thrones-elizabeth-warren-daenerys-iron-throne-video/) is more embarrasing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/28 "2019-05-20T17:59:34Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > And… what? > > A name that randomly used in an obscure show from decades ago, not actually named after the character. Not really very relevant. “Madison” means “son of a soldier”. It’s kinda in the name. In the movie _Splash_, Darryl Hannah’s character took the name from a street sign, and it was completely played for laughs. Looking at SS naming records there are no records of “Madison” being a female name prior to, IIRC, 1985, meaning people named their daughters after a joke in a movie. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/29 "2019-05-20T18:05:20Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > Many tweens of the 80s named their daughters Madison. At some point in the 90s, it was the 2nd most popular girls name. > > My daughter’s college roommate named her daughter Clara Belle. She was totally oblivious to the Howdy Doody connection. At first I read this to mean “back in the 80s, many tween were having babies:p” I think I’d be embarrassed to give my kid a name that would be instantly recognizable as having come from a popular movie or whatever. Pets on the other hand . . . ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/30 "2019-05-20T18:52:09Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > A name that randomly used in an obscure show from decades ago, not actually named after the character. Not really very relevant. The Howdy Doody Show was hardly an “obscure show.” It was one of the most popular children’s shows of its day. Admittedly that day was a while ago now, but Clarabelle the Cow was pretty well known. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/31 "2019-05-20T20:04:44Z")
Oh, Clarabelle the Cow _was_ the Howdy Doody character? My thought was “Well, I don’t know about Howdy Doody, but my first mental association with the name is a cow”. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/32 "2019-05-20T20:06:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Oh, Clarabelle the Cow _was_ the Howdy Doody character? My thought was “Well, I don’t know about Howdy Doody, but my first mental association with the name is a cow”. Clarabelle the Cow was Disney. Clarabell the Clown was Howdy Doody. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/33 "2019-05-20T20:12:10Z")
Yeah, my bet is anyone under 50 having a DVD box set of Howdy Doody is vanishingly small. I’m 47 and pretty much all I know about it is it was a Kid’s show from the 50’s and inspired Woody from Toy Story. I’ve seen some still pictures of it, maybe a clip here and there, but never a full episode. That’s more my mom’s time, she apparently watched it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/34 "2019-05-20T20:14:25Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Clarabelle the Cow was Disney. Clarabell the Clown was Howdy Doody. Oh! Of course you’re right. My mistake. But Howdy Doody and its main characters were definitely not obscure. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/35 "2019-05-20T20:53:16Z")
I recently encountered a boy of about 8 years old named Anakin. Though that doesn’t really fit the thread’s premise since those parents knew what they were getting. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/36 "2019-05-20T20:58:27Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I recently encountered a boy of about 8 years old named Anakin. > > Though that doesn’t really fit the thread’s premise since those parents knew what they were getting. I know someone whose son is named Anakin too. Dad is (naturally) a huge Star Wars fan, and the kid is just fine with his name. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/37 "2019-05-21T01:52:14Z")
A few years ago, I started noticing kids named Serenity. Now, it’s not a certainty, since there’s a long tradition of naming girls after virtues, but they were about the right age to be named after the ship in _Firefly_. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/38 "2019-05-21T02:06:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A few years ago, I started noticing kids named Serenity. Now, it’s not a certainty, since there’s a long tradition of naming girls after virtues, but they were about the right age to be named after the ship in _Firefly_. The ones named Serenity Now are from a different show. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/39 "2019-05-21T02:59:43Z")
James Tiberius Kirk. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131/40 "2019-05-21T12:12:16Z")
Back in my high school (late 80s) there were two brothers who were named Christian and Damien, which I always thought was awesome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-naming-your-child-after-fictional-character-goes-wrong-got-spoilers/834131.md?page=3)