Why do people give their children 'unique' names that will mark them as low class for the rest of thier lives?

Question

It's one thing for a celebrity to name their child Paris, or Suri, or Heavenly Tiger, or Fifi Trixibelle - the child will never have to get a job - but why would anyone else do it bearing in mind that they will be judged for that name for the rest of their lives?

One of my sisters suggested that I should think about how the name I chose for my baby would sound when she won the Nobel Prize and it's not that I have such goals for my baby, but it seemed like good advice to stay grounded.

I'm talking about made up names, surnames spelled backwards, 'unusual' spellings, and such like.

Answer 1

In the cases you're referring to, generally because the parents truly ARE young, uneducated and/or "lower-class," and feel that it's more important they somehow shirk what they consider to be "boring and traditional" in favor of something that will forever label their child -- or, as they assume, the parents -- as "unique, interesting and creative!"

Of course, this is what they mistakenly deem that to be. When in reality, there will likely be a handful of other little Neveahs (Heaven misspelled backwards LOL), other random words ignorantly misspelled (Trynidee, Plehzyoor and Pariadyse all say "trashy," really), Jaidynns (overused Jadon, again misspelled), other rhyming Aidans (real and created, a la Shaydann, Zayden and the like) or "created Seans" (Da'Shawn, Rayshaun'na, Shoneequa, etc.) in every classroom, office or, rather, fast-food establishment that child will ever be a part of.

So basically an attempt to tell the world "I'm creative -- just like everybody else -- and you can't tell me what to do with MY baby!" LOL Unfortunately, everyone else is screaming the same thing, so none of these manage to come across as all that "unique" ... though many of those "boring/traditional" options surely would. ;) Shame.

Answer 2

I don't know why it matters to anyone? are people seriously so shallow and closed minded that they can say a Nevaeh can't wint the Noble Prize because her name is silly?

Have you ever asked someone with what you/people percieve to be a silly horrible made up name, how they feel about their name? Or what they want to do in life? maybe they want to be a free spirit where a name like Katherine makes them feel tied down and old. Maybe Shaquan or Mitzi are lawyers?Maybe they love not being one of a million of the same exact normal 'safe' names.

as someone with a name people consider "a stripper name" or "a name that would hinder my abilities to be taken seriously for a job" One should know, I love my name, i never got made fun, i don't hate my parents, and i've never had an employer look at me and say "are you serious did you just climb down off a pole?" Infact i have a respectable job in a law office and my parents were not poor and nor did we live in a trailer park...and no one ever thought i hailed from one.


if someone doesnt like some names thats fine.and if someone asks an opinion its fine to say what you want about the name-as they asked for it. But don't assume you're always right or that, thats what the childs life will be like. you may think white trash when you hear a name but not everyone does. I don't like some names but i don't critize the person or predict their future. i just state ..Not for me..makes me think such and such,.

The great thing about opinions are everyone has one. You don't like a "unique' name some people do. Some people think poorly about it, some people know a name does not define who you are.

and i for one love that when someone talks about me the response is not "sara? sara who? sara b. sara k?" nope you say my name and you know who it is.

edit: for a few people claiming one should stick to John's and jack's and Sarah's for names...if you remember correctly the reason the concept of a surname was created was there were so Many John's and Mary's in each town it became confusing. So they distinguished one from another by naming John -who lived over the brook- John Overbrook, And Paul who was the son of a John became Paul Johnson. so maybe common, normal , inside of a small spectrum names arn't any better than those outside the safety box.

Answer 3

Eh, well, I agree with you, but only minimally. As "odd" or "unusual" names get re-used, they lose their exotic appeal, and become diluted, and therefore more mainstream,
If a person wins the Nobel Prize- they've surely "risen" above their supposed trailer trash or ghetto name, haven't they? The low class stigma you talk about speaks more of the judgemental people who think all Tiffany's are strippers and all John's and Mary's are scholars.

Answer 4

If I have children I will be giving them unique names with meaning but also with easy spelling/pronunciation. I was given a common name and personally would have liked something more unusual. A bit late for me.

Answer 5

It's rather strange, but the other day a friend of mine was remarking to me how many people, particularly those from the lower social orders, gave their children Surnames for their first (used to be called Christian) names. Then we see a reply from Baggy Villa Fan (Is there such a thing?) who calls two of his children "Courtney" and "Stacey." I think that not enough parents think about the effect later on in their offsprings' lives of giving them trendy names. As I remarked in my answer to another question, I've come across children called "Chardonnay" (a type of grape), Jade, (a type of rock),
Loire ( a river in France) and Jayar (a villain in Dallas.) If you give a child a chavvy name then expect them to be treated, especially by their peers, as chavs. Stick to basic names such as Sarah, Laura, etc for girls and Jack, James, David, etc. for boys. If you must be trendy give them a second Christian name which, if they choose, they can use as they grow up.

Answer 6

Couldn't agree more - I always think what if my child gets a serious job, like a doctor or something where they want to command respect in a professional capacity and they won't do that being called "Summertime Flowers" or whatever. Give them a proper name and save the 'original' stuff for nicknames / abbreviations

Answer 7

I don't agree with many of the "made-up" names that I see. When I worked in the hospital I saw a family who had children named "Mister Cowboy" and "Mister America" and a few other different names with "Mister" attached. Go figure.
Twins were the worst set-up for this: how about OrAnjelo and LeMonjelo ( orange jello and lemon jello). It goes on and on. People just don't think about the implications for the child later on in life.

Answer 8

the 'beautiful baby' supplement in my local paper had me in stitches. There were children called, amongst others, Tiger, Diesel, Ronky, Kristal and Chantereese. I despair with the mentality of some parents, their children will not thank them in years to come.
Imagine the weddings..........."do you, Diesel Ronky Smith take Chantereese Bacardi to be your wife?". What a riot that'd be...

Answer 9

There is a fine line between "unique" and "downright stupid hard to pronounce names that aren't real names".

I think names like Madelaina are fine because they don't make you think "**** what was that kid smoking when she named her kid" but you won't find many others with the name.

I think if you want unique names, stop making up new ones (neveah etc) just go back to the barely used cassics like Imogen and Fiona. They sound so much more classier.

Answer 10

I think that people get carried away with trying to be "different". Some of the names are cute and some of them are horrid.