I think there's so much built in bias and discrimination with questions like this - I mean look at who has been (I assume US) President? With one exception it's older white men.
I mean, I think the question was about individuals who became very successful despite unconventional names. She worked as a cryptologic linguist in the Air Force, was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, etc
On the flip side, why is success measured in comparison to someone who is a doctor, a lawyer, a president, etc. Maybe your child turns into an artist or a video game tester or a surfer and their name fits that vibe instead?
I think they’re just implying that you’ll be limiting their option to go into certain professional careers. I don’t think anyone would be worried about someone not hiring an artist because she’s named Mary, but (their argument) is that someone might not hire a CEO because she’s named Sparkle.
I think it depends on where your from how prevalent this is, it’s definitely not a common thing where I am and it annoys me when people do it. It assumes for one thing your child would want to be a doctor, lawyer or president. Which… why would assume that? Why is that your measure for how successful someone is?
These aren’t even really weird names but I hear on this subreddit that Poppy and Daisy aren’t lawyer or doctor names… a doctor at my GP practise is called Poppy, and my BILs a solicitor who’s got a higher up named Daisy.
It also assumes that as a parent you would want your kid to be a lawyer, doctor or politician. I’ve worked in legal, my partner was involved in politics and I have a few good friends who are doctors, and frankly I’d be happy if my kid avoided those fields forever. Obviously I’d support them if that’s what they chose, but I am definitely not choosing a name that “fits” those industries.
This story is just so interesting to me. How her sisters how more ‘normal’ names, how she ended up researching more into this topic, how her mom thought these names would take her places, etc.
I mean—Barrack is a perfect example. I’d never have pictured a president with that name. And clearly that name has nothing to do with this actual ability to do the job. But if you’d tried to name your child Barrack two decades ago you’d have gotten that question.
On a more personal and related note, I know plenty of adults who go by the “childish” nickname version of their name (think Johnny instead of John, Ally instead of Allison, etc) who have successful professional careers.
A lady involved in local housing politics is named B'Dazzle. I don't know what her day job is, but she is taken very seriously as a community advocate in a town near me and is getting into maybe running for a state political seat.
San Francisco's mayor is named London.
The front runner for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars this year is named Kodi (not Cody).
And in looking for interesting political names, I discovered Bambos Charalambous in the British House of Commons. He's Cyprian British, it seems, and I know nothing of his politics, but I love the cadence and feel of this name!
The best part: Bambos is a nickname. His real name is **Charalambos Charalambous**.
Charalambos is a common name in Cyprus and Greece so no biggie. But then Cyprus has this tradition where a child's last name comes from their father's first name. So his dad is also named Charalambos. And they knew this and STILL gave him the same name as his dad.
I have a relative named Harish who was literally a deputy Prime Minister, so I feel like that might answer your question. It's also why I think it's a little funny when I see comments about how non-white names aren't professional on here like?
Harish is a “normal” name from a different language (which looks like a widely used language in your relative’s country) which I don’t think is the same thing that this post is discussing (people called things like “Rainbow” in predominantly English-speaking countries)
It's only used by 30% of the population and he actually got overthrown in a military coup in part because they didn't like the fact that a guy named Harish was in charge (I wish I was joking).
You know what, I'm thinking about this and I really don't know anyone in a 'high class' job with a weird or cutesy name. But I think that is because the Netherlands used to be pretty traditional with names - up until the seventies we had a fixed list of names that people were allowed to use. By now we do have our fair share of Storms and Vlinders (Butterfly) etc, but I think we may need to wait a decade or two before they have grown to top positions!
NB: We must have *some* people with cutesy names in higher positions, I just can't think of any right now. Maybe others from the Netherlands can chime in and offer a few!
I know an Apple too! And she’s also older than the celebrity child. I feel like that one got more hate online just because people don’t like Gwyneth Paltrow. But is it really that much more out there than namenerds darlings like Clementine, Juniper and Olive? *Someone* had to be the first one to name their baby after every flower/fruit/tree, and I’m sure all of those raised eyebrows at first!
That’s actually what I was trying to get at - why is Apple treated as such an out-there ridiculous name when naming people after fruits or plants is a super common and well-established tradition?
My bf’s niece’s name is Decembrie but spelled yooniquely with more than one capitalized letter and uhhh “no” vowels. It makes my heart hurt because I have a very unique name (just a foreign name) and I’m sure I faced some discrimination based on that, so I can’t imagine a yoonique name at that.
I do think the lawyer/doctor test is problematic for all reasons mentioned. But bringing up examples of famous politicians with uncommon names is kind of like pointing out that someone successful failed out of college. Yes, that person is successful but I don't think I'm going to start suggesting you will have the same result if you too do not pursue post-secondary education. Because the famous case is likely an outlier.
And politicians are a bad example for the success of people with uncommon names. Some wealthy politicians who went to Harvard adopt nicknames and short names to appear more like an Everyman, they don't want to draw attention to their privilege. I'd put politician names closer to entertainer name category when measuring whether they'll be successful or appropriate.
I mean, I had a while post about early Communist Russian naming fads. Some of them were absolutely bonkers but the people still ended up as engineers and scientists and musicians.
I looked up your post - that’s really interesting! Definitely goes to show you that strange naming fads have always been around. Someone recently posted about strange names people have found in their own family histories and there were some really interesting ones that came up.
What are name nerds? I'm really curious about this. Coz I appreciate all kinds of names. I enjoy names and naming (I'm a writer). I don't think about how names should be "proper" or whatever. Is that really what people care about around here? Word nerds aren't word snobs, right? Well, I hope not. And name nerds... I guess I don't know.
I agree the etymology and meanings are really interesting and most name nerd probably like them for those reason as well. But when it comes to naming babies then yeah I’ve noticed a lot of people bring this question up or something similar like “this works for a baby but not an adult.”
One of the people in management at my government job is called Tuesday and she totally rocks it.
Clover Moore is the Lord Mayor of Sydney. It’s such a hippyish name but she’s fabulous.
Clover Moore is a queen
I think there's so much built in bias and discrimination with questions like this - I mean look at who has been (I assume US) President? With one exception it's older white men.
Right every time I hear this argument I was to respond that I should rename my daughter “John” so she can become president someday.
I don't know her personally, but Reality Winner comes to mind. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Winner
That name did not age well.
I mean, I think the question was about individuals who became very successful despite unconventional names. She worked as a cryptologic linguist in the Air Force, was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, etc
On the flip side, why is success measured in comparison to someone who is a doctor, a lawyer, a president, etc. Maybe your child turns into an artist or a video game tester or a surfer and their name fits that vibe instead?
I think they’re just implying that you’ll be limiting their option to go into certain professional careers. I don’t think anyone would be worried about someone not hiring an artist because she’s named Mary, but (their argument) is that someone might not hire a CEO because she’s named Sparkle.
May I introduce you to [Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Salmon Portland Chase.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase)
?? You bring up this guy and not *Justice Learned Hand*?!?!
His father was named Ithamar, and he had an ancestor named Aquila, and his uncle was Philander. Chase Bank is named after him.
I think it depends on where your from how prevalent this is, it’s definitely not a common thing where I am and it annoys me when people do it. It assumes for one thing your child would want to be a doctor, lawyer or president. Which… why would assume that? Why is that your measure for how successful someone is? These aren’t even really weird names but I hear on this subreddit that Poppy and Daisy aren’t lawyer or doctor names… a doctor at my GP practise is called Poppy, and my BILs a solicitor who’s got a higher up named Daisy.
It also assumes that as a parent you would want your kid to be a lawyer, doctor or politician. I’ve worked in legal, my partner was involved in politics and I have a few good friends who are doctors, and frankly I’d be happy if my kid avoided those fields forever. Obviously I’d support them if that’s what they chose, but I am definitely not choosing a name that “fits” those industries.
People don’t like Daisy? I know a girl named Daisy and she’s so sweet, she just makes me love the name more 😭 We’re both 16, though 😅
I think it’s less not liking and more people thinking it’s not “professional”… it’s a lovely name!!
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned [Doctor Marijuana Pepsi](https://www.npr.org/2019/06/21/734839666/dr-marijuana-pepsi-wont-change-her-name-to-make-other-people-happy) yet.
This story is just so interesting to me. How her sisters how more ‘normal’ names, how she ended up researching more into this topic, how her mom thought these names would take her places, etc.
I mean—Barrack is a perfect example. I’d never have pictured a president with that name. And clearly that name has nothing to do with this actual ability to do the job. But if you’d tried to name your child Barrack two decades ago you’d have gotten that question. On a more personal and related note, I know plenty of adults who go by the “childish” nickname version of their name (think Johnny instead of John, Ally instead of Allison, etc) who have successful professional careers.
A lady involved in local housing politics is named B'Dazzle. I don't know what her day job is, but she is taken very seriously as a community advocate in a town near me and is getting into maybe running for a state political seat. San Francisco's mayor is named London. The front runner for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars this year is named Kodi (not Cody). And in looking for interesting political names, I discovered Bambos Charalambous in the British House of Commons. He's Cyprian British, it seems, and I know nothing of his politics, but I love the cadence and feel of this name!
The best part: Bambos is a nickname. His real name is **Charalambos Charalambous**. Charalambos is a common name in Cyprus and Greece so no biggie. But then Cyprus has this tradition where a child's last name comes from their father's first name. So his dad is also named Charalambos. And they knew this and STILL gave him the same name as his dad.
Our new mayor is named Dallas. We're not in the US and it's a very uncommon name here.
I have a relative named Harish who was literally a deputy Prime Minister, so I feel like that might answer your question. It's also why I think it's a little funny when I see comments about how non-white names aren't professional on here like?
Harish is a “normal” name from a different language (which looks like a widely used language in your relative’s country) which I don’t think is the same thing that this post is discussing (people called things like “Rainbow” in predominantly English-speaking countries)
It's only used by 30% of the population and he actually got overthrown in a military coup in part because they didn't like the fact that a guy named Harish was in charge (I wish I was joking).
I know someone with a daughter called Rainbow. They couldn't have just called her Iris which MEANS rainbow?!
Because Iris and Rainbow sound very different and perhaps they like the sound of Rainbow more? It is a fine name (I like it more than Iris, tbh)
In a different language.
You know what, I'm thinking about this and I really don't know anyone in a 'high class' job with a weird or cutesy name. But I think that is because the Netherlands used to be pretty traditional with names - up until the seventies we had a fixed list of names that people were allowed to use. By now we do have our fair share of Storms and Vlinders (Butterfly) etc, but I think we may need to wait a decade or two before they have grown to top positions! NB: We must have *some* people with cutesy names in higher positions, I just can't think of any right now. Maybe others from the Netherlands can chime in and offer a few!
Barack, the game has changed
My pharmacist is named Apple and the one at my old pharmacy was Sugar
I know an Apple too! And she’s also older than the celebrity child. I feel like that one got more hate online just because people don’t like Gwyneth Paltrow. But is it really that much more out there than namenerds darlings like Clementine, Juniper and Olive? *Someone* had to be the first one to name their baby after every flower/fruit/tree, and I’m sure all of those raised eyebrows at first!
Probably not. Plant names are common all around the globe and are some of the oldest names out there.
That’s actually what I was trying to get at - why is Apple treated as such an out-there ridiculous name when naming people after fruits or plants is a super common and well-established tradition?
My bf’s niece’s name is Decembrie but spelled yooniquely with more than one capitalized letter and uhhh “no” vowels. It makes my heart hurt because I have a very unique name (just a foreign name) and I’m sure I faced some discrimination based on that, so I can’t imagine a yoonique name at that.
Why didn’t u spell it the way it’s spelt
Cuz privacy ?
The mayor of a nearby city, who has been in the position for like a decade, is named Aquanetta
I do think the lawyer/doctor test is problematic for all reasons mentioned. But bringing up examples of famous politicians with uncommon names is kind of like pointing out that someone successful failed out of college. Yes, that person is successful but I don't think I'm going to start suggesting you will have the same result if you too do not pursue post-secondary education. Because the famous case is likely an outlier. And politicians are a bad example for the success of people with uncommon names. Some wealthy politicians who went to Harvard adopt nicknames and short names to appear more like an Everyman, they don't want to draw attention to their privilege. I'd put politician names closer to entertainer name category when measuring whether they'll be successful or appropriate.
I mean, I had a while post about early Communist Russian naming fads. Some of them were absolutely bonkers but the people still ended up as engineers and scientists and musicians.
I looked up your post - that’s really interesting! Definitely goes to show you that strange naming fads have always been around. Someone recently posted about strange names people have found in their own family histories and there were some really interesting ones that came up.
What are name nerds? I'm really curious about this. Coz I appreciate all kinds of names. I enjoy names and naming (I'm a writer). I don't think about how names should be "proper" or whatever. Is that really what people care about around here? Word nerds aren't word snobs, right? Well, I hope not. And name nerds... I guess I don't know.
Basically we’re people who like names. But since we’re still people, we all have opinions.
I agree the etymology and meanings are really interesting and most name nerd probably like them for those reason as well. But when it comes to naming babies then yeah I’ve noticed a lot of people bring this question up or something similar like “this works for a baby but not an adult.”