OT: MGoParents, why did you give your kids an unusual name?

Submitted by 1989 UM GRAD on

In the thread about Daxx Garman below, someone wondered why a parent would burden their son with the name "Daxx."

It got me thinking back to the naming rules my wife and I followed when our kids were born 13.5 and 11 years ago...

1.  Must be the most common spelling of the name.  In other words, Kelly is "Kelly," not "Kelleigh."

2.  Must be able to discern the sex of the child from the name.  Eliminated Jordan, Taylor, Dylan, Avery, etc.

3.  Must be an actual name.  So Keyden and all of these other newer names were eliminated.  As was Marvcus and Plaxico.

4.  Must look professional on a resume or a nameplate.

Not going to give the specific names that we ended up with, as it would make me too identifiable to anyone on here knows me, but our daughter's name has been in the top 20 for at least a few decades...and our son's name is less common and slightly Jewishly-ethnic, but still would be recognizable to everyone.  There might even be a character on "Entourage" who has the same name.

So, my question to you, MGoParents, is why did you select an odd name or unusual spelling for your children?  Did you have any naming rules?  Years later, do you regret giving your child a less-common name?

I've wanted to ask people these questions in person, but obviously you would risk offending them...so I thought the anonymous nature of this forum would cause more people to provide explanations.

I do realize that the nature of this post creates a large opening for snark and smart-assery.  Hoping it'll be kept to a minimum.

EDIT (five hours or so after OP):  Just had my first opportunity to read thru some of the comments here.  While the vast majority of you are participating in the discussion as I intended, it appears as though a few of you (MaizeJacket, BornSinner, DanWillhor) were offended by the post and/or thought it was elitist and/or racist.  While I think you may be reading more in to the post than is there, I'd like to nonetheless sincerely apologize for upsetting anyone.  It was not my intention to do so.

EDIT (six hours or so after OP):  I just found this posting by MICHGOBLUE.  He/she more eloquently summarizes the point of my OP.

"At first I saw the same thing, but if you read his message, he isn't singling out names that are traditionally "ethnic," but rather made-up names. For example, Esteban is a typically Hispanic name and Shaquille is a typically African-American name. Based upon the OP's post, I don't think that he would have a problem with either, as the names are traditional (in each of their respective cultures), discernible by gender and spelled in the traditional manner. What I took the OP as having a problem with was simply stringing together a slew of letters and calling it a name or taking an existing name and just mis-spelling it to be unique.

One other point: on the issue of being "professional" sounding, as much as people should be hired based purely upon merit, it is a reality that people end up being discriminated against for just about anything in the hiring process, and a name - being one of the first things that a prospective employer sees - could create a negative first impression. Note that this is not limited to "ethnic" or "racial" sounding names. How well do you think Spike, Bruiser, Mercury or Venus would do interviewing for a major investment bank or law firm? Not everything is about race."

McCleary

May 29th, 2015 at 7:52 AM ^

You know i was playing NCAA 14 Football and a player from New Mexico State was named Prentavious. It's just a cool way of being unique. I wish i had a cool name but i'm stuck with Mike for the rest of my life.

iPhone

May 29th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^

This is exactly my thinking. I like cool, hip, and modern names. Names like Mike, John, Tom, Bill, etc. are so old fashion and too common. I have a list of modern and less common names for if I ever have a kid.

Marley Nowell

May 29th, 2015 at 8:00 AM ^

What does an "actual name" mean? Every name was created at some point. Based on your rules it looks like you just wanted something simple and generic which is not a bad way to go. However if everyone did this everyone would be drawing from a very small pool of names.

BornSinner

May 29th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^

I really hope OP is just joking b/c if you don't see how stupid some of her/his points are, then you are just as ignorant. 

This would be easier by just stating some tidbits about the family background instead of making some contrived points about professional sounding names. LOL. gtfo

lbpeley

May 29th, 2015 at 11:07 AM ^

I choose not to be offended and horrified by every little comment people might make. I don't over analyze and look for the bad behind every sentence.

There is a list of top 100 most common names for boys and girls in the US out there. It changes yearly, obviously. I'm familiar with it as I have 3 kids. There's plenty of "black" and "hispanic" names on those lists. I guess I just gave the OP the benefit of the doubt and asumed he had those lists in mind when posting. 

 

In reply to by lbpeley

BornSinner

May 29th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^

I'm not choosing to be anything. I'm choosing to have common sense and not be a fucking moron realizing how backhandedly stupid OP is. 

She should've asked her hubby UM Grad 1989 before making this stupid post. 

Here's how the post could've been worded instead of making everyone not white feeling like "what the fuck are you saying...?"

"Hi everyone, 

I and my XXXX had a kid. We are from Poland/Germany/France w.e and we're wondering what unique American/Euro/Biblical name was given to your kid!"

 

See how much less backhandedly insulting that sounds? No one black, brown, red or yellow expect a white person walking around to be named Deontay, Xiao, Chetan (Native American), or Vijay. Like COME ON!! 

Instead OP comes off as one of those people who would hire a Joe instead of Jose b/c Joe sounds more corporate. Btw names on resumes are a real problem. Unless you're in fields saturated with minorities (medicine, finance, music etc) you will have some bias issues especially if you're black or hispanic. 

 

Walter Sobchak

May 29th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^

After reading this I take back what I said about liking you better already.

You come across as a bitter, looking to be offended ass.

Somebody get this guy some football already.

gsblue

May 29th, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^

I don't post much but read a lot of the comments and everytime I see your screen name I wonder if Marley is your real name.  I really like the name Marley for a son but wasn't sure as it is not very common (which is a good thing I think) and it is slightly more common for girls than boys on the popular name lists.  This thread seemed like the most appropriate time to approach you about the name if I ever am going to.  If you don't mind, is Marley your real name and if so do you like it, have you had any issues with it, etc?  Feel free to ignore me if this is too personal or you don't want to discuss. Thanks.

amphibious1

May 29th, 2015 at 8:06 AM ^

My wife is Italian, and I'm Native American and French. Our kids have common but not exotic Italian names. Can you believe she didn't want a son named Tecumseh or Pontiac???

WestQuad

May 29th, 2015 at 8:28 AM ^

My wife had a very common name and hated it, so we gave our kids somewhat unique names.  Our last kid we named Hugo.   I wanted to give him two middle names and being a fan of both William Tecumseh Sherman (for burning the South) and Tecumseh, I wanted to go with:

Hugo Tecumseh Jesus [LastName]

My wife vetoed it.

Artie

May 29th, 2015 at 8:09 AM ^

With our kids, we went with names that fit our heritage (Irish/Scandinavian) and were slightly more unique (bottom of or not in the the top 100) but not "Shentalea" unique. We wanted our kids' names to be ones you don't hear all that often but not super common either.




Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

Walter Sobchak

May 29th, 2015 at 8:10 AM ^

Our first daughters name is Valentina Carmella. A little strange, but those are family names. My aunts name was Valentina, she died age 16 in a MVA before I met her.

Our second daughter is Vera Marie. Vera is an old school name. I've got one pt with that name, she is 95. Vera was suggested by my brother, its related to the Latin word for truth.

Daft_Blue

May 29th, 2015 at 8:14 AM ^

I suggest reading the last chapter of freakanomics.  Typically well off people pick unique names to be different then eventually those names become popular.

Blue in Yarmouth

May 29th, 2015 at 8:23 AM ^

I don't know who wrote that book but that idea is complete and utter BS. When you look at the most successful people throughout history (and most wealthy people) you begin with royalty who until the last couple of centuries have been the wealthies people. They have always used familial names hence Henry1-8 etc. The nobles, who were also among the wealthiest also followed that philosophy. 

Even today you look at the people that are successful for their brains rather than athletic ability or looks and you find tons of Richards, Williams (Bills), Stephens etc etc etc. The only group of successful people I know with crazy names athletes. 

WestQuad

May 29th, 2015 at 8:25 AM ^

It's been a couple of years since I read Freakonomics, but I thought that the upper classes picked new names en mass (e.g. Jayden) following a trend and then the names trickled down.  The lower classes picked all of the key & Peele names so that their kids would be absolutely unique.  (I forget the rational of Lemonjello, Orangejello and Shithead.)

 

 

PeterKlima

May 29th, 2015 at 8:36 AM ^

And then the upper middle class names become middle class names....and then lower class names.... and then stripper names.

The whole point of that chapter is that people who choose trendy names are trying to be like richer people (for their own sake and their child's future).  It is a very needy and insecure way to live IMO.  Traditional names avoid all that ugly class aspiration on your kid's resume.

Mabel Pines

May 29th, 2015 at 8:20 AM ^

We were seriously considering Hailey Victoria as only true Michigan fans would know and only if they knew her middle name.  It didn't happen due to not loving Hailey as much as the name we picked, but we loved the Michigan combo, while not being "too" Michigan.

Blue in Yarmouth

May 29th, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^

We had quadruplets almost 7 years ago and our naming rules were simply: They had to be names people wouldn't make fun of, have some familial connection and thought had to be given to how it would sound when people called them by name when they were adults. See, some names sound pretty cute for babies, but when you imagine calling a grown person that name it sounds ridiculous. 

I thought having four at once would make naming easy since we could pick four names instead of one, but it ended up being extremely difficult. Prior to  having my own children I never realized how important naming your child is. It is one of the few things that will stay with them throughout their life time and never change (well, for most people). 

DFW_Michigan_Man

May 29th, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^

Are names were inspired by my love of Michigan sports. All boys are named after Detroit Red Wings wings....and let's just say my daughters name was inspired by Hail & Victors. Have another one on the way and Mason Blue didn't fly with the wife....

uofmdds96

May 29th, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^

I offer that to every expecting mother and father that I see.  If it is a boy then Hale Victor, of course.  My last daughter was going to be named either Lindy or Macy.  I wanted Macy Blue, but the other daughters chose Lindy.  Lindy Nicole, not Lindy Blue.  :(