Do people research name meanings?

Question

I'm amazed at some of these names I'm seeing in here. Doesn't anyone know that Bailey meant the outer wall of a castle or alternatively, its KITCHEN area?

Does anyone know that COY means quiet and shy? And that Coy lends itself to be mocked with coydog?

Why do people make up their kids' names? If people want something unique, remember that your KID WILL GROW UP TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL. Giving him/her an abnormal name will lead to a lifetime (a lifetime, people, 80 years!) of frustration (with trying to explain how to say their name because it defies established rules of pronunciation, for example) and possibly embarassment. (Venerea or Corona, anyone?)

Out of curiosity, what level of education does a person have who names their child after a beer?

Please tell me I'm not alone and that someone understands what I'm trying to say.

I'm asking because having been out of the baby-naming scene for quite some time, I'm unused to seeing such untraditional names. I don't work in a maternity ward, I don't teach kindergarten, and I don't know any kids under 10 years old.

So give smarty comments, I don't care. And I'm also aware that people will do what they want to do (duh). I am just really interested in the reasoning.

To "Feedy": I'm not asking about the names of non-English speakers from other countries. I don't expect someone from Uttar Pradesh to name their kid Samuel.

To "Tinky": Isn't ANYONE who asks a question showing their ignorance? How is it possible to know everything?

Answer 1

I know what you mean! Recently I have encountered a 3 year old girl named McCoy (her first name), two other girls named Hunter (why not just name her Killer?) and Tanner (one who makes leather from animal skins) and a newborn girl named Unique (who isn't unique?!?). Some parents seem so determined to find a 'different' name that they lose all sense and just go for a sound they like, regardless of meaning. And some of those parents think that odd names make their children look like they are high class... Instead, they just look silly. Those unfortunate children.

Answer 2

SISTER YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!!

I've been ranting about this subject for years. Let me give you an example.

I used to be an insurance agent running a home service debit. One of my customers had a baby and wanted to add her to her existing life insurance policy.

I started filling out the application and when I got down to the part where I needed information on the child, I asked what the baby's full name was. Mama, aged 19 or 20, said and I quote verbatim, "I can't pronounce it, let me go get the paper." I was dumbfounded.

The girl came back with one of those cute and frilly little certificates the hospital gives new mothers. I can't begin to remember the spelling, but as God is my witness, the baby's first name was 21, yes twenty-one, letters long, and the middle name 18, yes EIGHTEEN, letters long.

I looked at the certificate and then glared at the new mama, she started to squirm even before I spoke. I could not keep it in, I didn't care if I blew the sale or not. I told her flat out, "You ought to be slapped for pulling such a dirty trick on a poor defenseless infant."

Mama whined, "My sista she come up with it."

"Then she ought to be slapped too!" I blasted.

From across the room, little sister chimed in, "It a African name."

On a roll, I let loose my anger,"And just when is this baby going to Africa? Is this poor innocent child going to grow up in Africa or in Belzoni, MS? You've saddled this poor baby with an unpronounceable name that won't even fit into the name blocks on a government form. This child will have her name mangled all of her life, and when she starts school, all the other kids will make fun of her name. You really ought to have your butt kicked!"

I actually made the sale! I ended up just putting the baby's initials on the application.

Next time I went to collect, the girls' Mother was home. She said, "I heard about you giving these girls down the road. You didn't tell 'em anything I didn't tell 'em. I agree with you entirely."

I know we are probably wasting our breath, people will continue to give children idiotic names, but I intend to keep campaigning for sensible, and traditional names.

BTW, it could actually be worse. Down Argentina way, in the 1960's and 1970's, it became fashionable to load babies with a multitude of names. It got so bad that some time in the late 1970's the government issued a decree that it would be considered unlawful to give a child more than ten given names.

Doc

Answer 3

"I'm asking because having been out of the baby-naming scene for quite some time, I'm unused to seeing such untraditional names."

You know, most "abnormal" names that are hard to pronounce are traditional names from cultures you aren't used to, because the kid's family comes from another country. It's not abnormal to them.

Names made up by people who speak English are easy to pronounce in English, because they spell them based on how they sound. Anyone who speaks English natively can pronounce Venerea or Corona.

Answer 4

Actually, you have shown your ignorance.
Bailey has been a boys name since I was
in school 30 years ago.
Now it's a girls name.
Corona is a Spanish name meaning Crown.
I've never heard of anyone called Coy or Venerea.
Some people have poor taste.
I would think it's better they ask for other's opinion.

Answer 5

The person who suggested Venerea and Corona was probably joking. This is apparent if you look at their previous questions.

While I understand what you're saying (I have my fair share of pet peeves when it comes to names, Naveah "heaven spelled backwards" being a personal source of frustration) I hate when people insist on purely common names. Plenty of people hate my list of favorite names (I favor long forgotten, old fashioned names, like Balthazar, Edgar, Ichabod, Finbar, Viola, Prudence) and would declare them a "horrible thing to do to a child." Personally, I'd rather be a Hyacinth or an Ebeneezer than another Madison or John. So, who am I to judge anyone else's choice of names?

Answer 6

i know i do (research names at least) but sweetie if you're gonna sit there and complain about people naming their kids weird names, you're gonna be there for a while. "to each his own" there's no law that says parents cannot name their kids after castle walls or mocking. why do you care what they name thier kids? if those kids have any sense, they'll change their names when they get older. and if not, well hey maybe they like their individuality.

bottom line is, as long as people have free choice, they'll do whatever it is they want. you can't stop 'em and neither can i no matter how much we want to.

Answer 7

I completely agree with you. With the recent birth of our second daughter, my husband and I didn't come up with a name until a day after she was born. with our last name being one that a child can easily be made fun of for, we had a very hard time making sure nothing sounded inappropriate, that no "nicknames" would cause ridicule. we even had to make sure the initials would be OK. It amazes me that some people don't take into consideration that the child will have to live with the name they are given.

Answer 8

Lots of people share your opinion, and there are people in society who make judgments about people before/when they meet them based on their names.
On the other hand, it is nice to have a variety. I have a million Sarahs, Edwards, Emmas, and Davids in my classes.
Back to being on your side...DMV hasn't spelled my first name correctly for a decade.

Answer 9

Your name must mean something along the lines of: A mountain out a molehill.

By the way, my name translates into raspberry in Russian and honey in Greek (or yellow bird). I hate my name and it's hard for some to pronounce but I like what it means. So maybe it's not too bad.

Answer 10

I definitely research name definitions, but I know that many people don't seem to care i.e. I know someone who named her daughter Medea (the Greek character who murdered her own children). Eventually you have to accept that it is their choice, even as you may pity their children.