PSA: You may want to google your chosen name before committing

yvanehtnioj · March 2014

We had our name choices down to two, and we were going to wait until baby was born to give him one. One of those choices was Thomas. Well last night DH's dad called and said there's something that's been bugging him & he had to share it in the interest of full disclosure to us. Turns out there is a 2nd cousin who has been disowned by the Midwestern branch of the family because he was convicted of rape and hit & run (separately!). His name is Thomas [Our Last Name]. So if you google the name we almost gave our kid, some pretty disturbing stuff pops up. I know certain last names are common enough that this can't be helped for us it was a dealbreaker. Our last name isn't THAT common and the guy is actually part of the family so it's too close to home. Now Thomas is out

jackdustin · March 2014

That's a bummer. I love the name Thomas.

sheriot · March 2014

That is a bummer. But good thing you all found out now!

Peaceb0ne · March 2014

That stinks. Thomas is such a great name too!

TaylorHam86 · March 2014

That stinks! Good thing he told you though so you still have time to find something else you like. Maybe Thomas could be the middle name?

MamaPiers · March 2014

I love the name Thomas. Your son will be decades younger... Maybe that plus a different middle name could help people to know the rapist isn't your son.

Helmink0804 · March 2014

Such a bummer!

yvanehtnioj · March 2014

MamaPiers said:

I love the name Thomas. Your son will be decades younger... Maybe that plus a different middle name could help people to know the rapist isn't your son.

True, and I doubt anyone will ever actually confuse the two of them since one will be in California. But I guess it's more of our own reaction, which might be an overreaction. If it was just some dude with the name, I think I'd feel better but the fact that is an actual cousin makes it weirder. It's like bad juju or something.

runningyogimama · March 2014

There are literally dozens of people with my first name and maiden name, and many of those even have the same middle name or initial. I just don't see it as an issue.

Peaceb0ne · March 2014

Meh, I may be in the minority, but I'd definitely change the name. I wouldn't be able to break the association in my head after hearing about it.

NorthernGal248 · March 2014

Oh man #:-S I'm glad you guys figured that out BEFORE you named your little man that!

Unknown · March 2014

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LeeLee86 · March 2014

What a bummer! Yes the first thing we did after we chose was google the name just to check lol. You never know...

mirdamae03 · March 2014

Yeah, I'd change it after knowing that. I'd just always be something that I'd be thinking about knowing my personality type.

hfooter · March 2014

If it wasn't a family member I probably wouldn't change it. But since it is, I would. Sorry but at least you found out before hand!

EmilyGolden1 · March 2014

I would change it too! Sorry but I'm sure you will think of a great name

cbrust · March 2014

bummer! I agree though, I would change it. I googled the name we picked and the only thing that came up was a woman who lived from 1891-1972 so just a bunch of death records and stuff like ancestry.com.

cnbean · March 2014

I just googled DS#1's name and the name we've picked for #2. No surprise, nothing showed up.

) We have a pretty unusual last name and the first names we've picked are not super common either.

keeumm · March 2014

That stinks! I'm glad you found out now rather than after LO is born.

Off to Google our baby's name...

sisterjanet · March 2014

If I google my maiden name, I get mostly an Olympic basketball player. Cool. *easily distracted*

There's still time for another name to become a contender so you can decide when you see your baby, but still, that sucks.

awc1986 · March 2014

I'd feel compelled to change it, just because its a family thing. Depends how comfortable you are with it.

If it helps at all, my DD's name will be the same as someone executed for murder in the 80's. thankfully this person is pretty unknown. I only found them on a cautionary google search.

Growing up, I shared my name with the daughter of a former US president. Thing is my dad had the same name as the same former president. Pure coincidence (we're English), but US customs used to have a field day when we visited.

softservecity · March 2014

Our name comes up with nothing. It doesn't even have a meaning. It is the nickname of a place in Ireland (or somewhere around there) I believe... I'm definately a name Googler though!

danabsd · March 2014

Yikes.

I googled all our possible names even DDs, there does not seem to be anyone else with the same name. And all are top 100 names. Our last name wins this one big time.

theoryofwhat · March 2014

Ack! That's a serious bummer.

Just googled our baby's name and only a hypnotherapist came up- I'm cool with that.

lavendergiraffes · March 2014

Glad you googled yours!
I just googled mine and I ended up with an ancestry.com link that I've actually seen before. I couldn't remember where but I recognized some of it (her parents). So I go get our ancestry file - there it is! My dh's great great great aunt(?) or something. Didn't even realize it's been in the family before!

Cupcakes89 · March 2014

Hmm Emilee Anne is a fashion designer for Marc Jacobs and blogger... I didnt add the last name yet but still interesting :P

ho11yday · March 2014

It is not normally something that would dissuade me too much, especially if I loved the name. But considering it is family-related and not so distantly removed, I'd be more hesitant to use it.

However, I never googled DS1 or LOs names. Turns out, DS1 has the same name as a wrestler/actor, lawyer, or doctor. LO has the same name as a 15th century clergyman. I'm fine with both associations.

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PSA: You may want to google your chosen name before committing

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