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A Bad Baby Name Can Ruin a Life

by April Peveteaux on August 2, 2011 at 2:15 PM

bad baby namesNormally 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

Filed Under: baby names, newborns, celebrity babies

Comments

59
  • Kaila...
    --

    KailaCheyenne

    August 2, 2011 at 2:30 PM
    I haven't had kids yet, but my first daughter's name will be Scarlett. My son will more than likely be Ryder. I like unique names, and I don't think Scarlett and Ryder will have any problem getting a job.
  • Harmo...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Harmonie Trosclair Eschete

    August 2, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    I have a unique name, I love it and get compliments all the time. However, my kids both have top 10 baby names. Im still not 100% certain I went in the right direction.


  • momma...
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    momma_dani

    August 2, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    I named my girls after seasons, Autumn and Winter.


  • Zizzler
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Zizzler

    August 2, 2011 at 2:47 PM
    everyone in my family has truly bizarre names, and we gave our kids unusual names. However, they are tasteful, not wacky, and we're all college educated and gainfully employed. I think most of those odd trashy names go to kids in the ghetto who are screwed any ways...
  • Kate
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Kate

    August 2, 2011 at 2:57 PM
    I think naming your child with a very outrageous "unique" name is ultimately extremely narcissistic on the parents end. The poor child will have to deal with that name forever, but when that child introduced, the "unique" name will always get attention to the parents for how they came up with it, why they chose it, etc. It's all attention to the parent who picked it. It's all about the parent and their choice in a name, not about the future and the child who has to deal with all the ramifications when they're no longer a cute little kid, but a grown man named Orangejello, orange jello.
  • Sarah...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Sarah Keys

    August 2, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    No, my son's name is apparently popular...I picked it in spite of its popularity. I don't care, my name is supposedly SO common, but wherever I went, there was almost ALWAYS one other Sarah, and that's all.

    Little rant....I hate how people badmouth common names, and then they're like, "I named my kid _____ and I get so many compliments, and I've never met anyone else with that name". Good for you. That doesn't make you any better than the parent who named their child a more common name.

    I'm done. lol


  • weber...
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    weberbaby

    August 2, 2011 at 3:03 PM

    I agree with Zizzler.  The kids with those names are probably not likely to be raised in an environment that will support a healthy future.  Have any of you seen the movie Freakonomics?  It discusses this very question.


  • Danni...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Dannielle Richins

    August 2, 2011 at 3:04 PM
    I have a Harrison & a Brigham. I love the names, even if they aren't in the top 100.
  • Danni...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Dannielle Richins

    August 2, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    I agree with the stripper-esque names though. Resumes sell a person, and the first thing an employer sees is your name. Freakonomics did a great piece on this naming ordeal as well.


  • Kristi
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Kristi

    August 2, 2011 at 3:09 PM
    I think there's a pretty definite line between unique and quirky and just plain wrong. Naming your kid EPSN = wrong. I can't believe someone actually felt the need to publish a book about this, but apparently it needed to be said. I'm all for unusual names (my son's name is a name you've heard but probably never actually met someone with it before) but I really question what some people are thinking. The fact is your child is going to have to live with this name, so you should always ask yourself if you'd be willing to change your name to it and live with it, if the answer is no don't do it!
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