4 ms·

This is really lame, but parents, do heed: if at all possible, try to name your kids something normal. This is going to get much worse WAY before it gets better

This is really lame, but parents, do heed: if at all possible, try to name your kids something normal. This is going to get much worse WAY before it gets better. Obviously you can't predict all cultural phenomenons (for instance, if you named your child "Ken Ryu" before Street Fighter hit the shelves) and you shouldn't do it just to please ignorant folks or know where your child will be living in the future ("Kumar??? What is that, like 5 O's and 2 U's?"), but don't intentionally make life difficult on your children just to make yourself laugh or to fulfill some nerd agenda.

Qz 16y ago
My name got me made fun of constantly as a kid, but if someone asked me if I would have rather been named something else, the answer is an immediate and resolute no. These days all I get is compliments for my name. Yesterday a new person at my tai chi class heard my name as I was showing up and started shouting out loud how awesome it was, then asked if we could switch (she had a pretty unique name as well). Weird names get you made fun of for maybe 8-10 years, but then the rest of your life is filled with compliments. Think of it as an investment.
frossie 16y ago
try to name your kids something normal Normal to whom? Aside from cultural issues, and aside from the notion that people should name the children to make up for the lack of a proper personal identification system on the Internet, that ship has long sailed. Have a look at your local paper's birth announcements - there aren't many Dicks and Janes anymore. Even older names have "creative" spellings that render them practically unrecognisable.
- rbranson 16y ago
  Normality can be statistically proven. If using an abnormal name is not something that will benefit a child, what is the purpose of it, other than satisfying a sick urge to imprint the parents personality on the child? Would you only buy your boy pink clothes or name him "Elizabeth"? You are choosing for your child, and they deserve a name which is as neutral of a canvas as you can provide for them.

Qz 16y ago

My name got me made fun of constantly as a kid, but if someone asked me if I would have rather been named something else, the answer is an immediate and resolute no. These days all I get is compliments for my name. Yesterday a new person at my tai chi class heard my name as I was showing up and started shouting out loud how awesome it was, then asked if we could switch (she had a pretty unique name as well). Weird names get you made fun of for maybe 8-10 years, but then the rest of your life is filled with compliments. Think of it as an investment.

frossie 16y ago

try to name your kids something normal Normal to whom? Aside from cultural issues, and aside from the notion that people should name the children to make up for the lack of a proper personal identification system on the Internet, that ship has long sailed. Have a look at your local paper's birth announcements - there aren't many Dicks and Janes anymore. Even older names have "creative" spellings that render them practically unrecognisable.

rbranson 16y ago
Normality can be statistically proven. If using an abnormal name is not something that will benefit a child, what is the purpose of it, other than satisfying a sick urge to imprint the parents personality on the child? Would you only buy your boy pink clothes or name him "Elizabeth"? You are choosing for your child, and they deserve a name which is as neutral of a canvas as you can provide for them.