# Why would you name your child this??? I don't get it... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070 "2002-04-17T03:16:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/61 "2002-04-17T15:54:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Charmian \* > \*\* > My name is Charmian, not Charmain. I’ll chalk it up to a typo. > > This is the only thing that drove me crazy as a kid (the “don’t squeeze the Charmin” jokes meant nuthin’). Every award I won had to be sent back to the engravers, every team jersey had to be returned to redo my name. My fancy Easter egg was returned and my birthday cakes had to be corrected. My business cards had to be reprinted. > > “Charmain” (and I think “Charmaine”) has Celtic origins. My name has very, very old Persian origins.\*\* Sorry 'bout that, but I guess it’s a case in point about why parents should be VERY aware that an unusual spelling (or what looks like an unusual spelling but isn’t, as in your case) may often be overlooked. I just assumed it was “Charmain,” and I’m usually pretty good about these things. How do you pronounce it? ---
**Author:** ![Wallflower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Wallflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallflower)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/62 "2002-04-17T15:55:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kittenblue \* > The worst are names spelled one way that are pronounced totally different. Latest one we had was Teresa…except she spelled is Trisha…pronounced it with 3 syllables, and no h sound. And she had the nerve to get mad because we spelled it the way it sounded. \*\* That one is even worse than a former co-worker’s. Her name is Joan, pronounced Joanne!?! ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/63 "2002-04-17T16:01:38Z")
Speaking of name typos, I’ve always been curious about Oprah’s Alleged typo on her birth certificate. Supposedly she was named Orpah, but there was a typo on the certificate, so she’s Oprah. This is the part I don’t understand. You decide to call the new baby Orpah. She’s born, you tell everyone the name, the hospital registrar comes around with the form, you go home, tell everybody “Look! It’s baby Orpah!” and get on with your lives. Weeks, months later you go down to the courthouse to pick up the official B.C., and you notice the typo. They say, “$50 to fix it”, you say, “too broke right now”. Why would you then go home and tell everybody, “okay, start calling her Oprah?” Why wouldn’t you stick with the name you chose, after long and thoughtful deliberation, and start saving pennies to change the BC. Why would you cave in to the typo? ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/64 "2002-04-17T16:07:48Z")
I believe **Charmian** is pronounced : SHAR-mee-an. I’m sure she’ll correct me if I’m wrong. Very cool name, one of Cleopatra’s ladies-in-waiting. SO much better than sharing a name with a ditzy rabbit-chaser… ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/65 "2002-04-17T16:12:14Z")
Maybe I don’t get out enough, but until recently I’d never before heard of anyone named **Loberta**. I happened to meet this Loberta, and found her quite humorless and dour, and I wondered if her name had anything to do with it. Just recently I saw a local birth notice for Ruby Tuesday \_\_\_\_\_\_. It’s not shocking, it’s actually kind of cute, but it’s a funny little name. 🙂 And I had to laugh the other day. When looking up Christine on the Victorian birth records, I spotted one poor little soul named Christine Affrodity \_\_\_\_\_. Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/66 "2002-04-17T16:23:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*Sorry 'bout that, but I guess it’s a case in point about why parents should be VERY aware that an unusual spelling (or what looks like an unusual spelling but isn’t, as in your case) may often be overlooked. I just assumed it was “Charmain,” and I’m usually pretty good about these things. How do you pronounce it? \*\* No problem. I only get offended when a person is corrected a zillion types and never makes the effort to even TRY. My name rhymes with “Canadian” and has a soft CH at the start. There is another Celtic version, Charmion, that I forgot to mention. Still has different meaning than mine (IIRC, mine means “joy”). My father was an English prof, my parents dug my name out of _Antony and Cleopatra_. The name “Charmain” is pronounced like the state “Maine”, not like mine. I found unusual names can lead to interesting studies of human behaviour. I am always tremendously impressed when I’m introduced and the new person gets my name right off the bat. I’m almost equally impressed, if someone pauses mid-handshake to double-check “sorry, how do you pronounce that?” I also appreciate valiant attempts to \*\*try[/b[ to get my name right “Charmin, Charminian…” or phone messages that are left with my name spelled phonetically. It shows that the person it at least _trying_ and is making no assumptions. It can be a bugger to pronounce, especially for some people whose native language makes my name a tough one to wrap a tongue around (French speakers pronounce it as if it rhymes with Marianne, which is perfectly fine). In highschool, I “dumbed down” my name and went by “Charmi” (aw… cute). My friend’s mother hated that. She’d say “you make people get your name right and you make them remember it.” I went back to my name in full when very old friends reacted with disgust at “Charmi”. I don’t think the burden should necessarily be on the parents to conform to make their kids’ names fit any standard (though the “Teresa” spelled “Trisha” is odd) especially in multicultural societies. I know people with names like Dung (pronounced “zoom”), Sukdip(sp?) (pronounced “suck deep”) etc. If you introduce yourself to me as “Bubonic Plague,” then it’s up to me to respectfully try to call you by name. NOTE: Somewhere I read that in the province of Quebec, the courts have the rights to refuse to let you name your child something that they decide would be detrimental to the kid’s development. So no Harley Davidsons allowed. I’ll try to find the cite. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/67 "2002-04-17T16:30:35Z")
Why it was Uncle Cecil who dealt with it: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980828.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980828.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/68 "2002-04-17T16:46:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wallflower \* > \*\*That one is even worse than a former co-worker’s. Her name is Joan, pronounced Joanne!?! \*\* Ha. I used to work with a Joanne, pronounced “Joanie”. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/69 "2002-04-17T17:04:36Z")
My eldest son’s first name is pretty unusual, although we didn’t think at the time that it would raise so many eyebrows. There are at least two, and possibly three, Biblical personalities with the (Hebrew) name **Mishael**. (yes, that’s an s not a c) It doesn’t sound weird to the ear, and I doubt it would ever make him an object of derision, but darned if I’d ever met anyone who didn’t mention, upon hearing his name, how unusual he found it. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/70 "2002-04-17T17:41:07Z")
My Dad was named “Billy” (masculine spelling) at birth but the doctor filling out the birth certificate made a mistake and spelled it “Billy” (feminine spelling). My poor Dad didn’t find out until he enlisted in the Airforce and they obtained a copy of his birth certificate. What a shock! Ever since he has gone by his initials. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/71 "2002-04-17T17:50:56Z")
Er… I ment “Billy” (masculine) vs. “Billie” (feminine). ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/72 "2002-04-17T19:00:59Z")
minor hijack to make a bad joke: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*And the final contender for the Beansprout’s name: James. Yes, he’s a boy. \*\* So, does that mean he’ll be **James Bean**? _Sorry, I’ll throw the brick at myself._ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/73 "2002-04-17T19:06:48Z")
I’ve known a lot of strange names, (e.g Sarth, Gay) but I never felt more sorrowful than when I met tiffany… Oh, I’m sorry, how’s that spelled? T-I-P-H-A-N-E-Y Oh that’s bad! I’d take Hunky McCraken before I took Tiphaney. Parents, I’m talking to you now: Showcasing your orignality by dint of your offspring’s names, that’s fine. But purposely misspelling your child’s name can never be called creative. I call it **continual punishment from beyond the grave.** Kid’ll be sixty, AARP reps will be saying “Wait, how do you spell that again?” As far as I’m concerned the doctor should be deputized to arrest anyone murdering good taste and the english language on the Birth Certificate. _“Oh, really, so you think Action M. Y. is a good name for your son, Mr. Jackson? Nurse! 2ccs of Handcuffs, stat!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Smashed\_Ice\_Cream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smashed_Ice_Cream)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/74 "2002-04-17T20:35:41Z")
I grew up with girls named: Alpha Gaylord and Eros Gilrobin (first and middle names, they were sisters) I’m pretty sure their mom’s name was Ping. I had another childhood friend who was named Jnell. She always told people the hospital was out of vowels when she was born. All the kids in my family have five names, with hyphenated first and last names (firstname-secondpart of first name, middle name, momlastname-dadlastname.) I legally changed it to First name, middle name, momlastname as soon as I turned 18. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/75 "2002-04-17T21:44:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smashed Ice Cream \* > \*\*I grew up with girls named: > > Alpha Gaylord and Eros Gilrobin (first and middle names, they were sisters) I’m pretty sure their mom’s name was Ping. > \*\* I looked through my dad’s highschool yearbook one and was amazed by the names. Gaylord was not uncommon or “Gay” for some of the girls. But there were also a lot of names that were common then that aren’t now. Back then they were pretty run of the mill, but now you just don’t see very many kids called Horace. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/76 "2002-04-17T22:49:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Charmian \* > I don’t mind simply difficult spellings, like Siobhan which is pronounced more like “chiffon”. But parent are inviting confusion when they write “Peter” and say “it’s pronounced ‘Robert’.” Throat-Warbler Mangrove/Luxury-Yacht anyone? There’s a big difference between using a certain letter-combination that’s traditionally pronounced in a certain way in a certain language - Siobhán _just is_ pronounced “Shivawn” (approx) in Gaelic - and expecting people to believe you’ve invented a whole new linguistic system for your kid’s name. If nobody else is ever going to get it right without being told, then you’re going to look like a pretentious jerk and burden your kid for the whole of their life or until they change it. ---
**Author:** ![Moxmaiden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Moxmaiden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moxmaiden)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/77 "2002-04-17T23:45:05Z")
Well, I don’t think we did too bad with our kids names. Alexis Mikala - Mikala because my dad, brother, and **Mtgman** ’smiddle names are all Michael, I let my mother convince me to spell it Mikala because “she won’t be able to spell Michaela until she is in high school.” (Should never have listened to her.) 😛 Serra Nerice - Long story- **Mtgman** and I both play **Magic: The Gathering** and there is a card _Serra Angel_ . I really liked the name, Nerice came about by browsing though a baby name book and coming across the name Kira, (we both like to watch **Star Trek** , and that made us think of the character on **Deep Space Nine** named Kira Nerice) (sp?) and we liked it with Serra. Our son got something a little less original, (maybe he will thank us ) Ryan Christopher. Not too bad. ( My sister is just about to marry a guy named Michael Christopher, (first name/last name). This next one we can’t decide yet. Perhaps Emily Celeste for a girl, but we have no idea for a boy ( and I think it is a boy). Melissa - Mtgman’s wife ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/78 "2002-04-18T00:08:22Z")
Hey **Gorgon Heap** WRT \*\*“Zork! My underwear fell down again” \*\* I did think that one up. It was one of my rare moments of brilliance. Please use it as you see fit. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/79 "2002-04-18T00:31:30Z")
Obviously, I’ve got a vested interest in this thread. I have learned that no matter how nice the name is, somebody’s going to have a problem with it. My parents keep nagging me to change the order of the baby’s first and middle names to Justin Aaron because my first son was named Andrew Joseph (same initials, see), and he died. So, they don’t want to tempt fate by giving the next baby the same initials. Superstition, y’see. Of course, we could name the baby Fleance and be done with it. Robin, who has the same initial as her great-grandmother and lived to tell about it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070/80 "2002-04-18T00:50:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Charmian \* > > I think my buddy, Zoltan, has got one of my favourite names. IIRC, his parents created it by mixing two different names, from their two different ethnic heritages together. His dad thought it was especialy cool that it sounds like it could be the name of a cartoon bad guy: “I am Zoltan! Dark overlord of the planet Baltar! You will be destroyed…” I know a couple of people named Zoltan. IIRC, it’s a Hungarian name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-you-name-your-child-this-i-dont-get-it/104070.md?page=5)