Parents can be cruel. Without any thought for how it will impact their children in their adult years, they will often give them names that seem pretty cool at the time.
We've pretty well stuck with "safe." Dean, Ross, Phillip, Paul....pretty much names that a 30 or 40-something male should get no snickers from.
But, I swear, the Shauaandraleekas, and Demarkavi, and Noshawn crowd are hexed. But, it ain't just black folks. And, it's not just a modern phenomenon.
My Mom swears that she went to school in the first grade in Laurel, Mississippi with a boy named "Graham Cracker." And, I once met a guy named "Peter Principal." (That one's not all that bad, really)
I'm sure I've known other folks with odd names, but I just can't think of them right now. Maybe I will as the evening wears on....and I'll drop 'em in the comments.
What about you? Who have you known that got cursed by their Mama & Daddy with a really odd name? I'd like to read them. I mean, this probably won't be as much fun as when we all figured out our "stripper stage name," (btw, that is STILL the most "hit" post here at Andy's Place...sometimes in the thousands per week. It's the pitcher, I'm sure) but I'm curious.
Saw on a legal document, someone in our home parish named a child
ReplyDelete"Shitonya".
NO WAY! Were they from Haughton?
ReplyDeleteWorked with a guy in the air force named Harry Christmas whose wife was Mary Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAlso new a Tsgt whose last name was Queer.
ReplyDeleteEvery year I engrave the "Harry Dyck" award for Navy ROTC at OSU. Dunno if it is a long or short "y" but, well, um, either way.
ReplyDeleteTurns out Harry was actually a badass that, among other things, snatched a Viet Cong flag off of one of their river patrol bats.
Kartman, I could be a "Harry" myself...seeing as my front name often gets shortened to that.
ReplyDeleteBut, Tsgt Queer...nyuk! Poor guy.
Inno, that's interesting. I swear, you live an interesting life! It was probably the long Y. If not, I'm sure he beat the crap out of anybody that chuckled.
We thought about the name "Brown" for our child, but only for a second. We did like the name Amanda Lynn, but decided it was too much like a mandolin.
ReplyDeleteLou, HEH! Yeah...you've got a tough one there to work around.
ReplyDeleteTakes some awesome skillz!
Nyuk...
There was a "Harry Butts" in our phone book and a girl I went to school with was named "Anita Head".
ReplyDeleteThere was a Shithead Jones in the Jacktroit phone book a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI also knew a public school teacher from Nawlins that had a bunch of good ones, but to write them out gives them away, like "Usda." It came from a peanut butter jar.
Or try the phonetic, "Salem Siv." It came from the Bible. See if you can figure out the way it is spelled.
Red, it seems like I heard a news story recently about a "Harry Butts" that had a memorial not put up somewhere...hang on...well, I can't find it. But I remember it. Then there is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Butt
ReplyDeletePaul, I get the "Usda." Lemme think on the other...having some trouble.
Salem Siv...I'm stumped. Crud.
BTW, Red, there were some "Head" kids around these parts, too. But, I think their parents were kinder folks than Anita's.
ReplyDeleteI did see an old deed in Bienville Parish from 'Anita Lay'. Bless her heart.
ReplyDeleteI will have to check back in on this one...The ones I know would never beat Anita Head or Anita Lay.
ReplyDeleteI have a student this year named
ReplyDeleteChaos, but he's actually a really nice kid compared to Xander who flips desks and chairs, screams and runs away, and says he feels death inside of him.
One day this week, I moved the whole class into the hall, and left him inside, waiting for admin. to come.
He peered through the little window in the door and mouthed,
"wth? wth?"
Nancy, I am SURE that in your profession you have met dozens of chirrens that have been hexed by a name. "Chaos,"...really?
ReplyDeleteXander...seems like I've read that one before. Probably on a "Wanted" poster.
BTW, Paul...you know there are several folks named "Shithead." And, I'm sure you know it's pronounced Shi-theed.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Jim...I was telling #3 son about "Shitonya." He laughed, and said, "NO! I went to school with a girl named that, but it was spelled Sha'Tonya."
ReplyDeleteWent to school with 3 brothers named Harold, Bert, and wait for it Ben Herr.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on keeping it simple. I want to thank you for you very kind comments on Sara's blog post about "friends." She is back in New Mexico, and I will ask her mother to read your comments to her.
ReplyDeleteAnd I got grief for naming SN1 "Ivan." Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteDeb, I've just gotta ask...Was Ben Herr hot?
ReplyDeleteBuck, what can I say? You certainly didn't curse the boy with a terrible name. He seems to have done just fine!!!
Bob, you are more than welcome, sir. BTW, I really like what you're doing over there with the kids. I've commented on one or two, but haven't really been faithful with it. Been busy, ya' know.
But, when I read Sara's post, it really tugged on me in many ways as a father. I knew I just had to say something. So, I told her the bald faced truth. She's a keeper...and, you are a blessed man.
Best names from my school days:
ReplyDeleteRobin Banks
Roman Battles
Nancy Ann Cianci (say it three times fast)
No lie on any of these.
Cricket...HEH!
ReplyDeleteNo lie on any of these.
My friend, if nothing else, you are an honest man that I would never doubt. In fact, those are so "common" that it reminded me of a Robin Banks that I also knew.
But, Nancy Ann Cianci... Bwahahahahahahahahaha!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Parents who thoughtlessly give their kids self-indulgent pretentious names that they have to be ashamed of the rest of their lives need to be tied down and slapped hard repeatedly, until the kids turn 18 and can legally change their own names.
ReplyDeleteWe have some lawyer friends who all attended the same undergraduate institution in northeast Arkansas. When they were still young and cocky and on a road trip to the big city, they all almost got arrested for being smart alecks after being pulled over for a traffic offense. When asked their names by the trooper, they replied Patrick Henry Hayes, Paul Riviere, and Harry Truman Moore. Fortunately for them, their IDs matched the names. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteMy sainted Mama knew a Harry Ball and a Peter Long. She giggled and blushed whenever she mentioned that.
My current school age kid's name is La-A. It's pronounced La Dash Uh.
ReplyDeleteFor real.