Do you think children with strange names have more interesting lives?

Question

I wonder if they feel there are higher expectations of them?

Answer 1

Not necessarily; but they do get more attention from the start, like when in a group, and being introduced, they will stand out because of their unusual name. Other people will remember them more easily. I know I do. I never remember an ordinary name as they're all the same to me. This probably puts more pressure on them but maybe not expectations. A Latin saying 'Nomen est omen' - 'A name is a sign', clearly shows that the name is not just a word as many think; it has a deeper relation with the person.

Answer 2

That really depends on your definition of 'strange names'. My name is Rhiannon, which although isn't strange, I have spent my life answering the obvious question 'were you named after the Fleetwood Mac song', which, incidently, I was.

There are a few things that frustrate me about my name, the main ones being that people these days appear to be illiterate and have no idea how to spell it. And also looking at my name written, many people stumble over the pronuciation. My yr 9 English teacher did not say my name for the first 8 months of the school year, she would just look at me when marking the roll instead of actually attempting my name. Really, it's not that hard!!

I happen to like my name, because it's not common and is kinda unique. My sister's names are Sheridan, Lindsay & Kaitie. Most people don't comment on Sheridan or Kaitie, but I have had a lot of people assume that Lindsay is a boy.

Our lives are normal, we don't have purple skin, or antenna growing from our foreheads, and we face the same challenges that any other 21, 17 & 13 yr old face. (I can't speak for Kaitie, as she is only 9mths old).

I don't feel that there have been any 'higher expectations' placed on me because of my name, other than the normal expectations that are placed on us by family and society in general.

Hope that answers your question. xx

Answer 3

I have a 'strange' name and my life is not that interesting or different from anyone elses. I can say that in school it was a total pain in the a** though. Many of the teachers could not even pronounce it. It got tiring! My whole life I swore that when I got old enough I was going to legally change it to something common and normal. I never did though. Too much work and don't want to hurt my parents, but no we don't feel there are higher expectations of us.

Answer 4

First of all you have to define what a "strange" name is. Some names are traditional family names and go back for centuries. Some families are from other countries and name their children according to the languages that THEY speak rather than thinking "what if we go to the United States our child will have a 'strange name' " I would venture to say that you think the world ends at the borders of whatever town you live in and you have had very little exposure to other people than those in your town or other cultures.

Answer 5

No, they do not have more interesting lives. For many reasons.

A name is just that though a lot of people lable people b/c of a name.

Any muslim name now is looked at as though they are terroist. They AREN'T!!!! They are human beings that were named by their parents.

Some people lable some names like Mike as a fun person to be around and a risk taker and a Kristy/Krissy/Christine and those kinds of names as ditsy or easy....

If you could relate than you understand what I'm saying.

A name is given with love from their parent(s) and not to lable them negatively.

A person's up bringing and surroundings that affect them and who they become but a name has nothing to do with what kind of lives they live. The person chooses it, not the same deciding it.

Answer 6

Uh, how about that my English class just got done reading that play? That's a strange/interesting fact about the play Macbeth, technically... I really didn't like that book. Oh! The other day I was at the mall and there was a pair of shoes and the brand was "Macbeth". Anyway... I can't think of anything that your teacher wouldn't know, unless Wikipedia or cliffsnotes has anything. But... isn't "macbeth" like a bad luck term in the theater? Maybe you could put that.

Answer 7

I don't know if they have more interesting lives, but they are definitely remembered. I gave my daughter a unique name, and everyone knows her and calls her by her name. When someone says her name.... everyone knows exactly which child this person is talking about. I am often surpirsed at the amount of people who know of her. She excels in school, music lessons, and dance. I believe that she is an extrodinary child, but I don't really believe that it has anything to do with her name. She is 9 now and she has never once said that she regrets her name.... I also gave her a normal middle name, guess in case, someday she absolutely hates her unique first one. My husband and I are pregnant again with our 3rd, and again we intend to bestow this child with something unique as well. It has worked so far.......

Answer 8

Each child is different. Some take the unusual name and they make it work for them. Other kids with a different sort of personality might tend to feel strange because of the unusual name

Answer 9

You should pick up the book Freakanomics...There is a chapter on this. Research shows that children with unique names are just the same as any other child. They are neither smarter, dumber, or more interesting. A name is just a word and has nothing to do with how smart, how unique or how successful a child will be in their life.

Answer 10

No I don't think strange names makes for a more interesting life.

In fact I believe the child would be set for a life of teasing and unhappiness.

An adult can change ther names but a child.... No I reckon it would bring more harm than good.