Things people name their children

ariasbabyblog · November 2015

I was lurking at my local hospital's "New Arrivals" section looking at all the new babies and their names and I came across a little girl named Epiphany Anastasia. I'm trying to wrap my head around calling an adult Epiphany and it's just giving me a headache. It isn't even that it's a mouthful to say, but what's wrong with Anastasia Epiphany? This is something I would expect to see on Baby's Named a Bad Bad Thing. Or maybe it's just that it is listed right next to another little girl named Cashlyn Ann. Gah!

scornwell717 · November 2015

Yeah, I feel like there's a difference between being creative and being plain old weird.
I didn't know hospitals have a "new arrivals" section...I'll have to look at mine for both inspiration and a good laugh

Wicked4589 · November 2015

Maybe it's just me but I don't see the name as being a place to "be creative". Leave that up to the nursery decor. A name is how your child wil be judged for the rest of his/her life.

Cricket99 · November 2015

Scullahoo said:
I knew a little boy who was named Blue. I might get flamed for this but yes, being called Blue might be super cute when the child is small but later on in life and especially in a career, it might not be cute. Maybe it's just me....

It's not just you. I work in the childcare industry and I think about how hard it will be for kids later in life. Especially with names like Seven, Jaxynn, and RyeLeigh.

ekscopp · November 2015

You have no idea what some people write on the birth certificate papers. After a long night, I read them just for fun. My favorite most recent name is Apocalypse.... seriously?!?!

maddisonwallace · November 2015

I had a Ruger and Remmington in my summer group once... All you can do is shake your head.

Monilee1017 · November 2015

I know somone who didn't have a bad name when looking at his first name but combined with his last was pretty funny. My next door neighbor growing up was Mr. Head. His parents named him Richard, but he went by Dick. When we were kids we would always call him by his whole whole names when talking to our parents. Mom is Dick Head out of town? Does Dick Head need us to get his mail?

ashs88 · November 2015

My mom was a speech pathologist for kids ages 0-3 and she used to tell me all of the crazy names she came across. The ones that I remember most are Abcde, La-ia (pronounced Ladashia), and brothers named Lemonjello and Orangejello. Those poor kids!

jessielynn1 · November 2015

ashs88 said:
My mom was a speech pathologist for kids ages 0-3 and she used to tell me all of the crazy names she came across. The ones that I remember most are Abcde, La-ia (pronounced Ladashia), and brothers named Lemonjello and Orangejello. Those poor kids!

Sigh.....

anightintunisia · November 2015

I don't really care cause they aren't my kids names. Parents should put the children's feelings into consideration when picking out names though.

willashbaby · November 2015

These are names I have personally ran across as a teacher, seen them in print, knew the kids, they are real.

ShaDiamond (girl)

Z'Panda (girl)

Diamond (boy)

These are just my favs.

Theliops · November 2015

Apparently in my city there are a pair of siblings named Hate and Rage (they might be spelled differently)... Maybe I'm just old fashioned but your children's names aren't the place to express how "punk" you are.

carlyhammond · November 2015

I'm naming my son Denver, it's unique but I don't think it's weird or something he can be made fun of... I've tried thinking of what kids could call him to make fun of him and the only thing that comes to mind is Denny.

Me on the other hand:
My name is carly- obviously im a girl
I was called Carl , car-car ...etc I hate my name, always have..... I get really upset when people call me Carl....

scornwell717 · November 2015

Monilee1017 said:
I know somone who didn't have a bad name when looking at his first name but combined with his last was pretty funny. My next door neighbor growing up was Mr. Head. His parents named him Richard, but he went by Dick. When we were kids we would always call him by his whole whole names when talking to our parents. Mom is Dick Head out of town? Does Dick Head need us to get his mail?

I'm having a bad day so thank you for this one!

fishsticks-n-custard · November 2015

My favorite random name was "Melena". Ewwww....

(If you're not medical, that's the term for the dark stool that happens when you have bleeding in your stomach then the blood gets digested. It smells horrible. It's pronounced MEL - N - Ah and the child's name was pronounced that name as well, not like Malena).

Emott13 · November 2015

DH and I have been struggling with this recently. The name Orli is common in Israel and means "light for me" or "my light". But an alternate spelling is Orly and my sister pointed out that that's now a text abbreviation.

willashbaby · November 2015

Emott13 said:

DH and I have been struggling with this recently. The name Orli is common in Israel and means "light for me" or "my light". But an alternate spelling is Orly and my sister pointed out that that's now a text abbreviation.

It's also a nail polish company, lol.

kodariah · November 2015

My favorite is when people have fun with the spelling... Makinzee, Carleigh, Emmalee... I just don't get it? It's a normal name no matter how weird you spell it

maureenmce · November 2015

Ha, I should probably save this for the unpopular opinion thread, but I am totally against judging other people's names. Oftentimes it's either racist (just because a name is not "normal" to you doesn't mean it's abnormal in another culture) or classist (people who are poor/uneducated may spell a name wrong, but I don't really find that funny or fun to ridicule - if anything it's sad and a failure of our educational system!) Or, the new spelling actually is a choice based on taste or preference, which, again, is fine by me. It's not my kid's name! Live and let live!

Not to mention complaining about weird names is going against the tide of what is actually happening, baby name wise. People are seeking out more unique names in droves, whether it's classic names that have become overlooked, or repurposing nature names like Wolf or Bear, or coming up with names based on something else entirely. Even the most common baby names are way less common than in the past because there is such a wide diversity of baby name use. And I think it's great! I certainly prefer it to a class with like, ten Jennifers in it!

Maybe part of this is that I've lived in Los Angeles for a long time where "weird" names are common, and also where I know a lot of friends and family who are from non white cultures and celebrate that with their baby names. I know babies with traditional Mexican names, traditional Swahili names, Eastern European names, etc. I also know babies named after inventors and presidents as well as plenty of babies named Jane or Ruby or something more "normal." And I love the whole spectrum! I think that we live in a diverse world with lots of different cultural influences, as well as lots of different types of personalities and I think it's cool to have such a great diversity of choice in baby names.

And for anyone who thinks babies with weird or non traditional names won't go on to do great things, literally the most successful guy in my college class is named Bear. My last boss, a very impressive and successful woman, is named Trifari. Also, I think Barack Obama has done okay, success wise, despite his unusual name.

Again, I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but just thought I'd add another perspective.

Hrc724 · November 2015

my grandmother had a friend who was named Ada Dick. It was her married name, I think I would have kept my maiden name.

alice2Bcheshire · November 2015

maureenmce said:

Ha, I should probably save this for the unpopular opinion thread, but I am totally against judging other people's names. Oftentimes it's either racist (just because a name is not "normal" to you doesn't mean it's abnormal in another culture) or classist (people who are poor/uneducated may spell a name wrong, but I don't really find that funny or fun to ridicule - if anything it's sad and a failure of our educational system!) Or, the new spelling actually is a choice based on taste or preference, which, again, is fine by me. It's not my kid's name! Live and let live!

Not to mention complaining about weird names is going against the tide of what is actually happening, baby name wise. People are seeking out more unique names in droves, whether it's classic names that have become overlooked, or repurposing nature names like Wolf or Bear, or coming up with names based on something else entirely. Even the most common baby names are way less common than in the past because there is such a wide diversity of baby name use. And I think it's great! I certainly prefer it to a class with like, ten Jennifers in it!

Maybe part of this is that I've lived in Los Angeles for a long time where "weird" names are common, and also where I know a lot of friends and family who are from non white cultures and celebrate that with their baby names. I know babies with traditional Mexican names, traditional Swahili names, Eastern European names, etc. I also know babies named after inventors and presidents as well as plenty of babies named Jane or Ruby or something more "normal." And I love the whole spectrum! I think that we live in a diverse world with lots of different cultural influences, as well as lots of different types of personalities and I think it's cool to have such a great diversity of choice in baby names.

And for anyone who thinks babies with weird or non traditional names won't go on to do great things, literally the most successful guy in my college class is named Bear. My last boss, a very impressive and successful woman, is named Trifari. Also, I think Barack Obama has done okay, success wise, despite his unusual name.

Again, I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but just thought I'd add another perspective.

Nevaeh, though. Zero justification for that atrocity.

ashhsa · November 2015

@maureenmce you make a great point!! although I don't agree with it entirely, there are still some names/spellings I just can't handle.

leap_frog · November 2015

Hrc724 said:
my grandmother had a friend who was named Ada Dick. It was her married name, I think I would have kept my maiden name.

Zomg!!! I'm crying. Cry-ing.

MamaHolland · November 2015

You don't have to look far. There's a lot of names that are brought up in this group that are a mess....

Emott13 · November 2015

alice2Bcheshire said:

maureenmce said:

Ha, I should probably save this for the unpopular opinion thread, but I am totally against judging other people's names. Oftentimes it's either racist (just because a name is not "normal" to you doesn't mean it's abnormal in another culture) or classist (people who are poor/uneducated may spell a name wrong, but I don't really find that funny or fun to ridicule - if anything it's sad and a failure of our educational system!) Or, the new spelling actually is a choice based on taste or preference, which, again, is fine by me. It's not my kid's name! Live and let live!

Not to mention complaining about weird names is going against the tide of what is actually happening, baby name wise. People are seeking out more unique names in droves, whether it's classic names that have become overlooked, or repurposing nature names like Wolf or Bear, or coming up with names based on something else entirely. Even the most common baby names are way less common than in the past because there is such a wide diversity of baby name use. And I think it's great! I certainly prefer it to a class with like, ten Jennifers in it!

Maybe part of this is that I've lived in Los Angeles for a long time where "weird" names are common, and also where I know a lot of friends and family who are from non white cultures and celebrate that with their baby names. I know babies with traditional Mexican names, traditional Swahili names, Eastern European names, etc. I also know babies named after inventors and presidents as well as plenty of babies named Jane or Ruby or something more "normal." And I love the whole spectrum! I think that we live in a diverse world with lots of different cultural influences, as well as lots of different types of personalities and I think it's cool to have such a great diversity of choice in baby names.

And for anyone who thinks babies with weird or non traditional names won't go on to do great things, literally the most successful guy in my college class is named Bear. My last boss, a very impressive and successful woman, is named Trifari. Also, I think Barack Obama has done okay, success wise, despite his unusual name.

Again, I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but just thought I'd add another perspective.

Nevaeh, though. Zero justification for that atrocity.

Technically the justification is that it's "Heaven" spelled backward. But I'm in agreeance that it's not ok. Lol

And as much as I want to agree with maureenmce, I just can't bring myself to be ok with a kid named Apple or Moon Unit. I'm completely cool with unique cultural names, but when it seems that you opened the dictionary to a random page and pick a word blindly, it starts to get ridiculous. Yes, I hated being one of five of my name every year in school, but I'd much rather be one of five "Jennifer"s than the kid named Parsley. That is a plant/spice. And an apple is a fruit. And a moon unit is a group of astronauts headed to a celestial orb. Go for Abimboleh all you want cuz I know that's a beautiful cultural name, but in no culture is "Apple" revered enough to justify naming your kid after it. (Ok, maybe I lied. My phone auto-corrected Apple to have a capital A because of the company lol and I've seen the lines every time a new iPhone comes out... Maybe Apple is justified nowadays

maureenmce · November 2015

@Emott13 - Definitely not expecting everyone or anyone to agree with my name opinions, but to play devil's advocate on the food/spice names: I love Rosemary, Mirabelle and Clementine, all of which are food/spice names.

And Basil is a very popular British name! Oh, and Olive is adorable! (Okay, I will stop now, haha.)

Of course, that doesn't mean I think Bologna or Banana would be an awesome name, but there's nothing inherently odd about a name that's derived from a food or spice. Also, anecdotally, I went to middle school with a girl named Cayenne and it really suited her! (She was very feisty and beautiful with red hair.)

Also, I love thinking about/talking about names and name trends (maybe that's obvious by now, haha) so this is such a fun/interesting topic for me. I love to hear everyone's opinions, likes/dislikes, etc.

MssyMmmy · November 2015

I have a kid in my class named Silver. After a while it started to grow on me until I met her baby sister...Vanilla. Nope can't do it.

scornwell717 · November 2015

@maureenmce my mom's name is Rosemary and I always forget it's a spice...it's just such a nice name!

alanna3622 · November 2015

I can't handle reading this thread!! LOL.

And a couple of these are borderline worthy of calling Child Welfare... did anyone read about the couple who named their children after notable white supremacists? I think they were first reported for Adolf Hitler but all of their children were removed from the home. Bizarre!

It is a good point to note the racism that can be latent, but I am totally unfettered on the possibly-racist-but-certainly-classist judgment front. It seems like so many names are all about the parents' romanticized/ridiculous ideas of what sounds magical.

I am such an old fart, I know. And in terms of limiting a child's opportunities, I think that is most certainly a real risk, although there are exceptions. It may change for our children's generation, given the naming trends, but right now like chooses like -- people in wealth and power are more likely to promote, hire, network with, connect to, and respect those who seem the same as them. So hopefully the Teegans and Sevens and Vanillas of the world will be drawn to software startups rather than accounting firms.

alanna3622 · November 2015

Sorry just wanted to clarify that the Child Welfare comment was mainly in rxn to the girl named Ada Dick. Sweet lord above, I didn't even understand it until I said it out loud.

babybluu · November 2015

I kid you not, I just saw someone that named their daughter Ducati. Like the bike..... Their human baby daughter...

alisong10 · November 2015

A kid in one of my classes is named Sky-Blue. I feel horrible for him.

ccoleeman · November 2015

Personally my issue with those kind of names is not necessarily about of the name itself. Because it's the parents decision, overly unique names have a lot less to do with the childs personality (given the name is picked at birth), and more about the parents image. For better or for worse. A lot of times I see unique names that are more about the parents trying to make a "statement" or make themselves appear cool or edgy or whatever.

I always picture what the name looks like on a resume or business card. As someone who interviews people, I would be more intrigued by a person named Apple who was born with a name like Jane, and who then legally changed name because it suited them, than a parent who named their kid Apple hoping she would be some free spirited soul. My husband has an extremely common, old fashioned, even boring name, but his personality and how he carries himself makes him incredibly memorable and unique to everyone who meets him (one of the things I love about him)

It's like being named after one of your parents, you grow up trying to live up to that legacy. Give a child a crazy name, they may grow up expecting they have to reject the mainstream and be a certain way. Give a child a "neutral" name, and you give the power to your child to cultivate their own unique spirit, instead of having it handed to them.
*I'll note that I don't include cultural names that have special meaning in this

Mommyduclos · November 2015

I'm not totally sure I believe it but my hair stylist sister is a mom & baby nurse and she says her sister once had a patient who named the baby Satan Lucifer. She swears it's true. It scares me a little.

MssyMmmy · November 2015

Anyone see Jessa Duggars baby name? Spurgeon Elliott? ...ima just say I like Elliott.

sunnydlight · November 2015

I have a friend with two chocolate labs named that! Haha. Why can't people save the crazy for middle names?

GinnyBarrette · November 2015

Scullahoo said:
I knew a little boy who was named Blue. I might get flamed for this but yes, being called Blue might be super cute when the child is small but later on in life and especially in a career, it might not be cute. Maybe it's just me....

I have an acquaintance named "Blue". He's a very successful and accomplished man. I always liked his name.

ashs88 · November 2015

The problem that I have with the really out there names (not the cultural ones, just the completely made up off the wall ones) is that those kids have to live with their name forever, or at least until they are old enough to change it if they want to. Kids get picked on and bullied for any little thing and a really strange name is something that would be very easy for other kids to make fun of.

ambercakes92 · November 2015

MssyMmmy said:
Anyone see Jessa Duggars baby name? Spurgeon Elliott? ...ima just say I like Elliott.

I actually know a Spurgeon in his 20s.

Most "weird" names don't bother me, so long as they are actual words/names. It's weirdly spelled names (more than 2 letters off) that bother me. Emmaly isn't great, but I could live with it. Emahleigh would drive me insane.

Kelley421 · November 2015

ashs88 said:
The problem that I have with the really out there names (not the cultural ones, just the completely made up off the wall ones) is that those kids have to live with their name forever, or at least until they are old enough to change it if they want to. Kids get picked on and bullied for any little thing and a really strange name is something that would be very easy for other kids to make fun of.

It doesn't matter what your name is, kids will find something to pick on anyway. My kid came home saying some girl was telling her how gross she is because she put mustard on her burger at school.
The kid named "Baby Girl" is well-liked because she is soooo nice and sweet. DD didn't even bat an eye at the name.
Kids are mean, whether you are John or Apple Pie.

lwebley · November 2015

alice2Bcheshire said:

maureenmce said:

Ha, I should probably save this for the unpopular opinion thread, but I am totally against judging other people's names. Oftentimes it's either racist (just because a name is not "normal" to you doesn't mean it's abnormal in another culture) or classist (people who are poor/uneducated may spell a name wrong, but I don't really find that funny or fun to ridicule - if anything it's sad and a failure of our educational system!) Or, the new spelling actually is a choice based on taste or preference, which, again, is fine by me. It's not my kid's name! Live and let live!

Not to mention complaining about weird names is going against the tide of what is actually happening, baby name wise. People are seeking out more unique names in droves, whether it's classic names that have become overlooked, or repurposing nature names like Wolf or Bear, or coming up with names based on something else entirely. Even the most common baby names are way less common than in the past because there is such a wide diversity of baby name use. And I think it's great! I certainly prefer it to a class with like, ten Jennifers in it!

Maybe part of this is that I've lived in Los Angeles for a long time where "weird" names are common, and also where I know a lot of friends and family who are from non white cultures and celebrate that with their baby names. I know babies with traditional Mexican names, traditional Swahili names, Eastern European names, etc. I also know babies named after inventors and presidents as well as plenty of babies named Jane or Ruby or something more "normal." And I love the whole spectrum! I think that we live in a diverse world with lots of different cultural influences, as well as lots of different types of personalities and I think it's cool to have such a great diversity of choice in baby names.

And for anyone who thinks babies with weird or non traditional names won't go on to do great things, literally the most successful guy in my college class is named Bear. My last boss, a very impressive and successful woman, is named Trifari. Also, I think Barack Obama has done okay, success wise, despite his unusual name.

Again, I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but just thought I'd add another perspective.

Nevaeh, though. Zero justification for that atrocity.

There is a big difference between made up and ethnic or cultural.

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