Normally I wouldn't slag someone (to their face) for choosing a really dumb name for their baby. The one exception being "Moroccon Scott." Still can't get over that one! But the author of What Yo Nayme Iz? says you're setting your kids up for a host of problems by saddling them with an undesirable name.
Rodney Kellum told CNN that his research shows that unique names are not the way to go. You may think your baby looks like a Trixie when she arrives, but her resume is going to get the shaft when she tries to make a living. You're basically making your children unemployable, people, so stop before you go for the name you think will make the biggest splash.
Some other crazy names Kellum came across in his research will really make you laugh, and never, ever hire this person to be responsible for anything.
- Dae 'Moni
- Pornwadee (really???)
- ESPN (someone needs to put down the remote)
- Congratulashayla (I see where you were going with this, but you shouldn't have.)
- Ish (a Dr. Seuss fan?)
While we're used to celebrities tossing out wacky monikers like they're valet tickets, I'm just not as worried about Pilot Inspektor or Zuma, as everyone knows who they are and they have rich and famous parents. They'll be fine. Or in therapy. But at least it will be paid for.
It's the babies who will grow up to be regular people without the benefit of professional connections that lose, as shown in Kellum's resume experiment. More "normal" named applicants were contacted than the weird ones. Even with the same qualifications. So think about that, Mom and Dad, when you're staring down at your beautiful new baby. And lean more towards Vivienne than Vavavoom.
Did you give your child an unusual name?
Image via paprutzi/Flickr
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Comments 59
if you loved your kids names so much you would say them "blue liner"
Um OK... of course I love my kids names or I wouldn't have given them the names! As for not sharing them here, I never share my kids names on baby related sites because I want them to stay uncommon, I don't want a bunch of pregos seeing the names, using them, and all of the sudden I have the next "Aiden"! Not likely that they would get that popular but who knows.
The fact of the matter is that most companies won't hire you (or not hire you) because of your name. If they are basing their decision on a name, would that be a good place to work for anyway? Im pretty sure most employers arent turning qualified applicants away because their name is Trixie.
We gave our son an uncommon name, which makes it seem unique, but it's completely normal. Zachariah Jaden. We wanted to make sure he wouldn't be one of 20 in his classrooms (there were 6 Chris' and 5 Ashleys in my senior class), but we didn't want him to be embarrased by his name later. We also made sure his initials didn't spell anything (I've met a man with the initials PMS and babysat a girl with the initials WTF. I have NO IDEA what their parents were thinking).
My daughter's name is Nova..... I stole it from a very successful relative of mine. She's done well with it and my daughter will too.
I agree with alot of people on here changing the "i" in a name with "y" doesn't make the name more special just difficult to spell for both the child at an early age and the childs future employer.Plus I find them really annoying and trying too hard.I used to be all for unique names but I feel that this article holds some truth. Think about your childs future and how people will treat them with that name. Will they make fun of them and ask , why did your parents give you that name? Some times I hear those babies names and think "poor kid".I 'm not saying name every kid Jack and Jill but when parent's are trying to be too creative in the name or the spelling its does seem selfish. Like Amy said think about the fact that you're not the only person who is going to say or spell your kids name. Orangello??? poor kid
I was given an unusual name, Gentri, man I bet you can imagine the comments growing up, lol... my kids both have unusual names, not too crazy, but def different. And by the way, I changed the I in my daughters name to a Y, its prettier that way!! And she has never had an issue spelling it....