Article About Atrocious Baby Names

http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/110917/lesson_three_your_kids_names

Thought some of these were humorous.

“I had a student named [name]Nimrod[/name]. Is that horrific enough? Probably became a badass.”

I had to comment on [name]Nimrod[/name]. This is the first name of a family doctor in my area. He’s a good doctor but he has the bedside manner of a rock (eg. non-existent). I could say he was a “bad apple” but certainly not a “badass”. :slight_smile:

I have to say: What are the parents thinking? Some of them should be charged for mental cruelty or child abuse for giving names that cause such embarrassment. Calling a child Atrocity is just plain cruel.

[name]Mischa[/name] - some countries like Germany and Norway have laws on what you are allowed to name your children. Sometimes I feel that would be beneficial in the US as well but then it also feels restrictive when we enjoy the ability to choose a name that really works for us and our families.

I laughed way way too hard at this:
“Horrific: Shamontreal after ‘the country in [name]Canada[/name].’ Knowing the mom, it’s impressive she knew [name]Canada[/name] & Montreal were related. She had a sister named Shantartica.”

I agree with naming laws however, the list can be as long the ages, honestly some people don’t know what to do with such freedoms.

Some of those don’t sound real, and I am a little skeptical about them. Scary part is, I am sure many of them are real.

There was an article in the Toronto [name]Star[/name] last [name]December[/name] about an elderly citizen named [name]Mary[/name] [name]Christmas[/name]. Her first name was [name]Mary[/name] and she had married a man whose last name was [name]Christmas[/name]. That would get old and annoying really fast.

Lol I named a character [name]Marigold[/name] [name]Christmas[/name] once. When she met her husband at a music festival he thought she’d said ‘[name]Merry[/name] [name]Christmas[/name]’ so [name]Merry[/name] became her nickname.

Atrocity… that is bad. Who would do that? I can only assume the parents didn’t know what the word meant.

I think some naming restrictions could be nice. I don’t know how it works in Germany, but in Norway a name can be rejected by the authorities if it will be an inconvenience for the child, and surnames are generally not allowed unless they have a history as a given name.

Yeah, I’m starting to think I’d like some here too.

Here in Portugal there’s a list of approved and forbidden names, including by gender (there are no unisex names). It’s good to prevent situations like the ones shown on this article, but sometimes it is too restrictive - for example, [name]Sophia[/name] is forbidden (only [name]Sofia[/name] is allowed); [name]Juno[/name], [name]Mel[/name] and [name]Ariel[/name] can only be used for boys, etc. - and in a few cases is the opposite… If the name you want is not on the list, you have to ask (and pay) for that name to be evaluated…

If anybody wants to check it out, here is the list: Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado | IRN.Justica.gov.pt (“[name]Sim[/name]” stands for approval and “Não” to prohibition)

There was a girl at my university named “Shitonya.” I also knew of a girl named “Shitrea” and one named “Passion.” I honestly think the first two girls’ mothers weren’t thinking of how the names looked, just about how they sounded. At least, I hope so. If it was on purpose…yikes. “Passion” reminds me of a character from a good old-fashioned bodice-ripper from the 80s, you know, one with [name]Fabio[/name] on the cover with some tarted up captive princess or something.

Naming restrictions is ridiculous. I seriously have to question the thinking of anyone who believes this is productive.

[name]Joana[/name] - Wow - what an interesting list! I can figure out why some of the names are prohibited but not why others are. [name]Do[/name] you happen to know what some of the guidelines are?

That article was so funny! Belulah Wonderbells… that was my favorite.

They are not very clear, and they seem to be even more obscure now…
I mean, I think the whole point of the list is to prevent offensive names, crazy-spelling variations, names that Portuguese average-joes can’t pronounce (this happens in [name]Brazil[/name] all the time!) and to avoid gender confusing names (so different from the USA/UK name culture…). On the other hand, some of the new approvals don’t seem to follow that criteria: for example, [name]Ruby[/name] (for a boy!) and [name]James[/name]. They are not Portuguese at all!(don’t get me wrong, [name]James[/name] is stunning, but…)

Well, I am not for offensive names, but that ridiculous list shows where restrictions leads -> into hypocrisy and irrationality. I bet other countries are the same, just you can’t find list of approved and forbidden names.

[name]Harley[/name], [name]David[/name]'s son is pretty funny, I must admit. However, [name]Harley[/name] and [name]David[/name] are fine names for father and son. Did Tractor and his family live on a farm, by any chance? Haha. But that’s not even the worst… [name]How[/name] ya doing, [name]Nimrod[/name]?