# Why do people give kids names they never intend to use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2000, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364 "2000-01-23T04:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/1 "2000-01-23T04:15:00Z")
? ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/2 "2000-01-23T04:22:00Z")
That’s so the kids know when they’re in **big trouble** (that being the only time their “real” name is used). * * * Your Official Cat Goddess since 10/20/99. “We are here! You are saved!” --R. & F. ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/3 "2000-01-23T04:44:00Z")
Someone at work named their kid Bentley. Sounds like a butler or a car.It **is** a car! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/4 "2000-01-23T05:03:00Z")
Often people use names that have been in their family for generations, and then adopt nicknames to call their kids. It’d make more sense to give them family names as a middle names and give them a first name they’d actually like to call them though. I have a friend whose name is Rick, and that’s exactly how it appears on his birth certificate. His mother said she saw no reason to name him Richard if she never had any intention of calling him that. * * * “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/5 "2000-01-23T05:09:00Z")
**Bentley**?! Is that the guy on _The Jefferson’s_? 🙂 * * * The most rewarding part was when I got my money! -Dr. Nick Riviera ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/6 "2000-01-23T05:44:00Z")
I don’t know, but I’ve got a sorta related comment. [Repeat story]I knew a kid named Willaim Robert Seth \_\_\_\_. That’s right, Billy Bob. When I asked about that, they commented that he would be called Seth at the point he entered school. But until then, they were intent on calling him Billy Bob. I get the impression that when school comes around, he’ll already be Billy Bob and changing that will be difficult. [/repeat story] Then there’s the thing with nicknames. How did William come to be shortened to Billy? How did Robert become Bob? Richard become Dick? These are mysteries of the ages. ---
**Author:** ![chocolate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chocolate)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/7 "2000-01-23T05:53:00Z")
Okay, well considering you were slightly upset because I named my dog the same thing you wanted to name a daughter (if you had one) Now I don’t know if my dog has a people name or a pet name! > [@](#): > > Originally posted by Shayna: > \*\*Often people use names that have been in their family for generations, and then adopt nicknames to call their kids. It’d make more sense to give them family names as a middle names and give them a first name they’d actually like to call them though. > > I have a friend whose name is Rick, and that’s exactly how it appears on his birth certificate. His mother said she saw no reason to name him Richard if she never had any intention of calling him that. > > \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/8 "2000-01-23T05:54:00Z")
My guess is that they were family names, or popular, and if you’ve got three in the family, the first is William, the second Willy, the third, um, Billy? Then it happens that willy = penis, so… I don’t know about Bob or Dick. * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![chocolate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chocolate)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/9 "2000-01-23T06:03:00Z")
I have a friend that is pregnant and her husband said if they have a boy he wants to name him either Drayton or Cea as in (sea) because he likes the water. Could you imagine the grief this boy will have to go through with a name like Cea? My fingers are crossed that she has a girl! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/10 "2000-01-23T06:29:00Z")
I think this is one of the great mysteries of the universe. My cockatiel is named Parker Charles Yardbird, and by gosh I call him Parker, not Charlie or Chuck. I can see using a shortened version of the actual name, but I hate diminutives (Billy, Eddie, etc.), especially when used for adults. I think it’s demeaning. * * * The trouble with Sir Launcelot is by the time he comes riding up, you’ve already married King Arthur. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/11 "2000-01-23T07:09:00Z")
Surgoshan: > [@](#): > > My guess is that they were family names, or popular, and if you’ve got three in the family, the first is William, the second Willy, the third, um, Billy? > > Then it happens that willy = penis, so… But then why is Billy the automatic nickname? And Willy meaning penis is pretty recent, whereas Billy has been around for a long time. agisofia: > [@](#): > > I can see using a shortened version of the actual name, but I hate diminutives (Billy, Eddie, etc.), especially when used for adults. I think it’s demeaning. My dad feels the same way. He purposely gave me and my sibs names that do not have common diminutives. I remember a hispanic friend who’s mom called him Tito. I think that’s like Jr. It was funny first time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/12 "2000-01-23T13:12:00Z")
So how long does this Jr thing carry on? Will I meet someone who will use William J. Reynolds XIII ? ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/13 "2000-01-23T14:33:00Z")
I have friends who named their son Jake Mitchell. Their thoughts were that if he turns professional when he’s an adult he can go by J. Mitchell. * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/14 "2000-01-23T16:54:00Z")
I’ll join the OP in expressing my confusion at this practice. I’ve heard several times people saying something like “Our kid’s name will be Joseph and we’ll call him Joe” or even worse “Our child’s name will be Megan and we’ll call her Betsy.” (I won’t even _start_ with the people who say “My son’s name is Roderick, but we all call him Meathead.”) What’s the point in that? If you want your daughter to be addressed at Betsy, why not name her Betsy? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/15 "2000-01-23T17:04:00Z")
I’m amused by people who name their girls Porsche (and BTW, the “e” is pronounced). Is it because they are misspelling “Portia”, an accepted female name? Or are they saying that there are women named Mercedes, and that if THEY could be named after a car, why not their own daughter (apparently not knowing that the Mercedes car was named after a daughter of Daimler or Benz – I’ve forgotten which one)? My question is about “John” and “Jack”. Why are John’s called “Jack”? They’re both one syllable. Doesn’t seem to make sense… ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/16 "2000-01-23T17:09:00Z")
My impression was that the Jack Johns were usually John Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/17 "2000-01-23T17:12:00Z")
I meant “Johns”; not “John’s”. I hat it when I do that. ---
**Author:** ![smilingjaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@smilingjaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smilingjaws)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/18 "2000-01-23T20:25:00Z")
What about people who name their kid after someone intending to call them JR. or Trey? I think that’s wierd. Bubba’s better than Jr. 🙂 P.S. My grandpa named his daughter after one of his favorite hound dogs. She was not amused. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/19 "2000-01-23T20:50:00Z")
I recently just had an in-law name their daughter Aeowyn. Yeah, that won’t cause any problems. * * * My sig line is currently unavailable. Please check this post in 1 hour when we resume our broadcast day. ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2000, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364/20 "2000-01-24T00:09:00Z")
I have an uncle who is Ivan Harold \_\_\_\_\_\_\_, II (his family didn’t like “junior”), and his son is Ivan Harold, III. Grandpa went by Ivan, uncle goes by Harold, and now his son goes by Ivan. He’s only about 14 or 15 now so we don’t know if he’ll ever have a son or if he’d be named Ivan Harold, IV. I’ll keep you posted 😉 * * * “I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy [The Kat House](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/home.htm) [Join the FSH Muscular Dystrophy Webring](http://members.aol.com/gr8kat1/KatGen/fshwebring.htm) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-give-kids-names-they-never-intend-to-use/13364.md?page=2)