It is so stupid to give a kid a freaky name. Nothing like crippling your kid right off the bat. You may as well name them "Beat Me Up".

I know how hard it is to live with a freaky name. My real name is not Kevin, it is Broken Rubber.

Kevin, my oldest has a unique name. He seldom got picked on for it when he was younger and now that he is 6'5" nobody twits him about his name.

Try going through life with the name of "Vaseline". Back when I was a kid, my neighbor named her oldest daughter that. YIKES!

First, because your kid was very big, that made him an exception. I do firmly believe that a name can have a negative effect on a kid. It may not even go as far was overt bullying, but how they treated even if only passively.

Well, I don't think "Broc" was that harsh. My name, however... try going through elementary and high school in the 70s and 80s named "Sybil."

My best friend's last name is Camp. She wanted to name her baby, if it was a girl, Summer. I asked her what would she name it if it was a boy....Nudist? Thank goodness she came to her senses.

A family at my church has three daughters...Spring, Summer and Autumn. Their last name is Season....:P.

My first name is Summer - it's not that often that I actually hear it. It's unique but not a weird name.

Kevin I totally agree with you! What really kills me are these damn fool idiots that give their kids these dumb ass weird, retarded names trying to make themselves feel cool with absolutely no regard for what they put their poor kids through!!! Kids are so extremely cruel to one another. It's no wonder some grow up and shoot up their classmates. I say punish the idiot parents aswell for their retarded s#!+!!! My wife works at Arnold Palmer childrens hospital and she told me about some of the retarded names she's heard. Like one little girl (no joke) was named Vagina, really no kidding. I felt so bad that she had a mother that hated her enough to do that to her. Others were a boy named Mucus and another was a girl named Chalmydia these are just a few there are way more. I know it may make a person want to laugh but that's exactly my point. We as adults could probably deal with it but a very young impressionable child, this has very serious and devastating effects. Parents that couldn't possibly love their children.

Hell my name is Blane, might seem like a semi normal name now but I to this day get picked at about it. Doesn't bother me anymore but it was very rough when I was a kid. Turned me into the sweet psychopath that I am today(just kidding).

redplanet, if you look further down, there is a teacher now at my old high school named Anus.

I like uncommon but not out of this world names, my kids don't have your every day name but are still "normal", Takoda and Ashlyn.

I totally wanted to name my son Sydney if I had one. Go on yell at me lol.

I like the name Blane.

Blane is a good name. Pretty tame if you ask me. Of course I know a lot of little boys with that name these days. Kids will tease about anything.

I worked with a woman who named her daughter @!$%#head (pronounced Sha-Theed) but still can you imagine. My first name is Terry, now that bad but growing up every school I went to (and I went to several, my Dad was in the military) there was always a girl named Terri. I quickly started going by my middle name.

Bobthe buider its a good thing my work cubicle is in a corner. I was cracking up so hard. I have never met a professional with an outlandish name like that. I can only imagine what someone with a name like that will grow up to be. Outside of pro basketball and football I have never heard of any CEO's with names like Shequana or Tinequa. I'm sure I spell them wrong, just goes to show your better off naming you kid something everyone can pronounce and spell.

What were these mamas thinking when they named their kids.

@Nel1944 I love the name Penelope! When I was younger, I wanted to name my daughter Penelope Lane (Penny Lane)

Thats very cute.

Unique is good, but invented is often not. Normal may seem boring, but it doesn't usually leave emotional scars. Personally I favor family names.

I lived in Montgomery, AL years ago and I came across a little girl whose mother named her "@!$%#head". Honestly, the "th" was pronounced like the "th" in Cathy with the emphasis being on the last syllable. The elementary teachers called the mother to the school and told her they refused to call the little girl by that name. They told her they would call her by a nickname chosen by them or the woman could remove the child from their school and go elsewhere. The older I get, the more I find most folks should have been spayed or nuetered.

My dad was friends in school with a kid who's last name was Rhine.(something like that). His parents actually named him Watermelon. The kid spent his entire youth having to fight. Last my dad heard he was a lifer in prison for murder.

Well, a friend of mine taught school in Indianapolis within the last 20 yrs. & she had kids named:

1.) Orangello (Orange jello)

2.) Lemongello (sisters)

3.) PLACENTIA-The mother heard the doctor use the word, liked it so much, she named her daughter that!

I thought Linda was making a joke, but when she showed me the papers she brought home to grade, I quit laughing.

What about Junior? I have three grandsons - Jordan, Jeremiah, and Joshua. I like all their names. My daughter didn't have to stick with the J-name. That didn't matter but now her and husband want to name the new baby after him. Anthony Corino Junior so they can call him Junior. I don't like it when children are called Junior. I think it's the type of name that positions children to the fringe of the group. Hey' lets get Junior to do it! I think this grandson is going to have to work hard to get anywhere in life. His name will let him down.

My three are Bethany, Jeremy and Brandon; Good old fashioned names with a lot of strength; The middle names are Colleen, Kyle and Scott

Others were a boy named Mucus and another was a girl named Chalmydia

In the latter case, I wonder if the mother in question had any idea what that word actually MEANT--and shame on the nurses who failed to tell her! Just by the sound of it, it SOUNDS appealing, like some nymph who might have met up with Odysseus in his wanderings.

Old Amos and Andy joke that somehow got past the censors:

"Where you been?"

"I be laying linoleum!"

"Has she got a sister?"

What I find equally inconsiderate for parents to do is give their children traditional names but spelled differently, like Mychal or Kristoffer or Emmalee. You've condemned these kids to a lifetime of having to spell their names every time they're asked. I come from an Italian Catholic family of 4 brothers, and I married an Irish girl and we have 4 sons. Everyone has a traditional name like John, Peter, Michael - all named after grandparents (in turn named after saints)

I went through my childhood as a "Junior". I dropped it from everything I could after my Dad died. I am proud to carry his name and go by it but "Junior" is not a name. There is nothing wrong with naming a son after his father but please don't call him "Junior". Use a different form of the name if possible. For example, my oldest son's name is Robert. He named his son after him but they called him Robby until he became a teenager. Now he goes by Rob.

I love my names. I was named after both my parents, which oddly enough I feel like I am 50% of each. My dad is Nicholas and my mom is Angella so I was named Nikkiann. Most people call me Nikki and my closest friends call me Nik.

I think the name Nikki conjures up an idea of someone fun and bubbly which is definitely me (and perhaps not too bright- even though my IQ is a solid 142). The best part of my name is that it fits in perfectly with my other name. My first name is from the Greek Nike (the Goddess of victory) (las means people - hence Nicolas means victory of the people) and my other name is Gaelic for "from the battlefield" so my name means Victory of the people from the battlefield (which is nerdy but somehow cool) and my parents didn't even know until I pointed it out when I was a teenager.

As someone who loves her name and has not experienced much hardship from it, I think it behooves parents to be very careful what they name their kids as it does bring about certain expectations, prejudices and inclinations in some cases whether we want them to or not. I mean how many movies have you seen where someone named "Candi" was a nobel prize winner? None?! More likely an airheaded stripper type? You get the idea.

Or, give the kid a name that LOOKS ordinary--but insist on pronouncing it differently. That one's a barrel of laughs, too.

my mother named me lacee sounds just like it's spelled lace-e..i spent the first day of every school year with teachers trying to say my name it sounded as if they were just leanring to read. i even had one in 6th grade pronouce it lassie like the dog...yeah junior high was awful...if only she would have spelled it lacey

My mother wanted to name my sister and I, Mona and Tula. (Thank goodness dad was around to stop her!) She also desperately wanted us to become nuns, not realizing those names would send us right to a stage....with a pole...good grief!

Lacee,as long as your last name isn't Casee.

I want to name my kid after me, but with a cooler spelling. Jaceneaux. (The eaux at the end is silent.)

((This is sarcastic, spell your kids' damn names right.))

That's hilarious ghost.I tell/post things like that also._— is silent.Thought I was 'uniquely' the only one who did it.LOL

There's nothing wrong with a unique spelling if it's at least close and/or reasonable. I have a son named Nicholas Alexander but I wanted to spell it Nikolas Aleczander but his mom said no. I got to pick the name so I gave in pretty easy on the spelling.

Or you could just give your kid a normal name and spell it right. Do you have any idea how irritating it is to have to spell your name to every damn receptionist you ever encounter in you life

My name is spelled right and I still get asked by everybody that uses my first name is that with an "i" or a "y". And quite frankly spelling it Nikolas is spelling it historically accurate!

If I have a daughter, I want to name her Emilie. It is the French spelling of the name Emily, pronounced the same. I think it's more unique since Emily is so common now and it's not spelled incorrectly or a made-up spelling since it's the French version (which many European countries use instead of Emily).

Just don't give your kids a very common name. I had 8 Lindas in one class I was in. Then again, my mother let her Sunday School Class she was teaching pick my name. Idiot?

really?-1353299,

Reminds me of a kid in my class. Danniella pronounced Danniel then she gets snarky when people don't pronounce it right.

Also thought "La-a" (Luh-DASH-uh) was a complete joke until I met someone really named that.

Celebrities egg this own. Pilot Inspektor, seriously Jason Lee? That's the best you could do?

If you misspell a common name, it sends the message, "My parents were illiterate." Or they will think YOU, the holder of the name, is illiterate. Why do people DO this to their kids? Better you should be one of eight Lindas. I can see the French spelling of Emilie since at least that isn't something you just made up.

My parents gave me a name whose only possible purpose was a pathetic attempt to disguise our ethnic background, and I resent them for doing that to this day, especially since it fooled nobody. Parents need to think through their choices. It's a copout to say, oh well, little Vomitus can always change it when he's older, since by then, the damage will have been done. In Germany, it's actually illegal to give your child a name that isn't on a government approved list. Obviously I wouldn't go that far, but I can see why they do it.

...little Vomitus can always change it when he's older

must...stop...laughing...

That is seriously funny.

It's Noelani, not Noalani.

Noelani would really have been lovely.

I grew up on the east coast with a girl named noelani.... very beautiful, unique name.

i totally know how you feel!!! mine is the same way

My boyfriend and I have decided on a boy name and a girl name. The girl will be Sophia Alexandria, and the boy will be Deitrick (like Dee-trick) Daniel.

Too unique or good? I need feedback :)

Are you kidding me!!! Bravo!!! Classic with a ton of flair!

The girl's name is OK. Deitrick is too contrived. Dietrich is the common spelling anyway.

I like the name Sophia, and also Alexandria, but not as much together... I'm not a gig fan of names that rhyme. I'd name a girl Sophia Alexandra, or Alexandra Sophia; very classic names.

Dietrick is a cool name, but he's going to have to spell it out for everyone.

I like the girl name. But it doesn't matter how you spell Deitrick (classic or unique) he's gonna have to spell it, but if it's meaningful to you, then stick with it anyway.

"I" before "E"

@sonya in Tx: Except in german when two vowels are together, the second is pronounced.

eg. : Frankenstein is pronounced Frankenstine, where Frankenstien is pronounced Frankensteen.

@ Sonya in Tx- Eight, sleigh, Weird...is are exceptions that the rule of I before E. :)

My dad had a fit when I spelled my daughters name Danika instead of Danica . He asked why I gave my daughter a black woman's name. I asked him how many women he knew with that name, go figure he couldn't.My daughters name sounds good when it's said together, Danika Taylor and my other daughter is Daelyn Paige. I like unique as long as it doesn't seem TOO dramatic. My name isn't spelled typical and I like it like that. I always correct people on how it's spelled. I also get it pronounced Katie instead of "Kathy"

I love your girls' names! I must say though, when I see the spelling DANIKA, I pronounce it dan-EEK-ah, and when I see Danica, I pronounce it DAN-ick-ah. Not sure which way YOU pronounce it, but they are both very beautiful either way :)......

My parents named me a name that was not associated with someone they did not care for. The other name my mom picked, my dad could not stand because someone with that name. I do, however, agree that people with the same names often have similar traits. :) odd??

Then there is the marvel of how people with the same first letter of their first name marry and get along so well.

Ever realize with the mentally ill, that some people had very little fighting chance with the name they were given coupled with the fact their parent's possessed the mental illness that they shared with the child.

I do believe that girls do better with the unique names - possibly even the appealing names and boys do better with traditional names, unless the name is quite catchy.

Katerine: love the girl's name, I'd work on the boy's. Why not Alexander, since you like Alexandria? You can tell him he's named after a great warrior, and "Alex" is very solid.

A name should not have to come with pronunciation instructions.

You have said twice "if I" does that mean you are planning to be a single parent?

Or that you hopeful husband-to-be won't be given a choice in what the child is going to be named?

Keep on daydreaming Nairad!!!!!!!!!!

Can you imagine the first person who decided to name their child after the word "barbarian"? The looks and comments that person must have gotten must have been priceless. Hey kid, you said your name is WHAT? Barbara? Were your parents joking???

It's all relative.

:)

Does this mean she was an Error?? (for us people in the south!!??)

LMAO...Nairad and Ira...Hope your kid isn't dyselxic too.

why would you do that to a son or a daughter? Really?

Then spell it ERA!! Or expect to constantly correct people who look at you like you don't know the english language. Sound it out...

Ira is Spanish for anger, wrath, rage...depending on what part of the country you live in, you might want to reconsider that one...

And it's spelled the same way as the little Jewish boy in Ira Sleeps Over.

Sounds about par for the course according to mom's name.

Ira prounounced like a period of time? It's also a boy's name. I don't get why people call their beautiful little girls names that were originally intended for boys. Taylor, Madison (and those are last names, even) Let's remember that names often represented what it was you did. Joe Taylor was descended from Josef the Tailor. If is wife also sewed, do you think they would name their daughter Seamstress?

My son't name is James. We call him Jamie. People often want to spell it Jaime. I tell them that A. he's not Spanish, and 2. he's not a girl.

Can't tell you exactly why but my family has used last names for first for generations 5 at least. Usually the mothers maiden name is given as the first name most one of my favorites is my cousin Chess. Sounds very distinctive me especially when he is being called to receive awards and such!

@ Daisy,

Ashley and Lindsey were originally boys names. I don't understand why everone is so up in arms about this anyway. It's not your kid so why do you care. Name your child what you want just know that if you spell it uniquely you will often have to spell or pronounce it for people.

And to all the parents naming their children something unique, good for you. My name isn't extremely unique but I was the only Kara in my school and I loved it. I still don't see it very often but I have a sister and two friends named Kristen. That would annoy me more than having to spell or pronounce my name for people.

Wow people are exceptionally rude. They aren't your names so why attack her for her choices? If she decide to name her child Ira is your world going to crumble and die? I'm thinking...no!

That way they can call him "Drake the Fake", "Drake the snake"

that name for a girl is different and nice but a good way to spell it where its easily pronounced is Eira. That was the real name of a girl I knew

WHAT!!!???Who the he** keeps calling me,then doesn't respond!!!

Those are some great names.

Great names jenni/y- If you lived in the north as I do, those names wouldn't get a second look (although the common male spelling for Blane seems to be Blaine). I'm from YOUR region of the US, so my girls' names get funny looks here but are quite common where you are. Lovely names also, but up here they always hear, " oh, thats my great grandmas name" or something similar.

carling is a common Filipino name which is derived from spanish carlos

But the 1st. thing I think of is a beer by that name! Sorry!

I personally like interesting names, but nothing too over-the-top. My husband and I prefer fairly easy, classy names, such as Zachary and Morgan. I also know someone by the name of Blaine, and as far as I know his name isn't made fun of. But things have changed in the last couple of decades.

nono: NEWS FLASH: you are attempting a derail from the topic. Find a religion thread to be go be an ass on.

Joseph, I did my researching and I wanted my kids to have strong names. Neither of them has the same name as more than one or two other kids in their schools.

"Strong" is often in the eye of the beholder. Also, how "unique" are your children's names if "one or two" other students in their school also have the same name?!

How unique can the names be if "one or two" other kids in their school have the same names?!

Neither one attends a one-room school, bubba. One is Broc and the other is Kenneth. Out of over 1000 students at each school, they don't encounter similar names often. That makes them pretty unusual.

Now, in reference to your name - did you know that one of the wealthiest men in the world is named "Bubba." I used to cook at a restaurant in Florida and I cooked his lunch at least twice a month.
Also, when my oldest was born, he was nearly 2 feet long and weighed 11 pounds, 3 ounces. The pediatrician said "This boy's a hoss-cat. You don't name a hoss-cat 'Broc!' You call him Bubba!"
Thought that was kind of funny.

First of all, you are raising your opinion too, CAS REAVES. If you can raise yours we can raise ours. Plus he is right, I think God changed Jacob's name to Israel in the Old Testament. Pick up a Bible and read some day. On another subject, I love unique names but not unique spellings. For instance my name is unique and every time some one asks for my name I always have to spell my first, last and middle name. That's how messed up my name is.

WHAT!!!???!!!A person's actions have nothing to do with a name.It's CHARACTER how a person is remembered.Would you remember hitler if they lived down the street?

katara, I was answering nono - I don't have a problem with bringing up God in reference to names. I don't have a problem with bringing up God at all, and if nono had bothered to tie its trolling attempt in with the topic instead of just posting an atheistic rant, wouldn't have said anything.
Joseph dial's post was on-topic. But, coming in with something JUST to try and derail the thread, which was what nono did, isn't kosher. Stay on topic or find a topic that relates to your agenda.
You might want look around a bit - derailing comments are being deleted lately and the derailers suspened.

I, too have to spell my first name and both parts of my hyphenated last name.

Suspended. Sometimes I HATE trying to touchtype...

We were all named after saint's names. Two first names- both saints of course.

joseph dial, I agree thats why I named my son Luke.

Nono, I think you missed Joseph's point completely. Whether or not there is a supreme being, here on Earth people still make judgments based on names. There are not a lot of movie stars named "Myron" for instance, and if there were one he wouldn't be playing a romantic lead. The name just has too much of a schlumpy image. People do sometimes have a desire to "live up to" (or down to) their names, and they WILL be judged based on their name, even if the others doing the judging are unconscious of it. That's the advantage to names like, say, Elizabeth that are hard to typecast.

In my city, there was an issue when a cake decorator refused to put a child's name on a cake--because the child's genius parents had named him Adolph Hitler.

How about "Tax Deduction"

Or "Oops"

How about the new mom that woke in delivery just in time to hear the doctor say "placenta." Yup, that's what she named her daughter.

Back in the early nineties, I remember two of my high school students trying to figure out how they could get an apostrophe AND a hyphen in their future children's names.

It was at that point that I started threatening to go to the hospital and teach a class called "Phonics for New Mothers."

Here is a bit of interesting trivia. In Germany, the government has to approve the name of your child. I don't know if they have a list of approved names or if the name goes before a committee, but it prevents dumb@ss names like we get here in the States.

True, but the Germans have some pretty interesting cultural names.

They actually have a list, but I'm not sure how that works for immigrants from Turkey, say.

Q's in names are fine if you're an Arab or perhaps if you're French (Monique) but otherwise they do scream, "My mother flunked spelling."

If they can't assimilate to their new country.... go back to where they came from!!!

Oh brother.

I like your classification system. :)

Hamburger Helper! That's great. I've got to remember this.

But each child IS different and special, no matter HOW their name is spelled.

What about...WTF!!!???!!!

Well, that's not so bad. I'm growing up in a place where there are so many ique's and iqua's until it isn't funny. Hayden and Jayden were my top name choices a while back but I turned them into characters for my story.

If and when I do have children, I am hoping that I have three sons so that I can name them Phane, Oblivion, and Gawain; or Sariel, Raziel, and Ishtar. I think that the best names were made back several centuries ago...once you are clear of the age of Philip, Louis, and John.

People should start getting creative and use random letter choice. All you need is a few vowels and some nice consonants and there you go.

I humbly suggest that you don't use "Oblivion"

I have a son named Jerah. (It rhymes with Sarah) I found it in the bible and I think it's cool- he must too for he has never complained about his name. He is 33.

In my son's preschool class of 40 children, there are 4 Jaydens (all spelled their own way). And then there's a myriad of other "en" names. Ugh!

My wife is pregnant and Caden and Jaden are on my absolute veto list. I can't stand them. I like names that are classical, not that common, but not that odd either. Gawain isn't bad (my wife actually vetoed that, but I like it), but Oblivion would be very, very bad. Phane isn't my cup of tea, but whatever.

From preschool through elementary school, my daughter never had another child with her name in her class - and she has a very common name (Sara). There were multiple Kaylas, Madisons, Charlottes, etc. So you really can never tell. I am sure that all the parents choosing "Charlotte" thought the name was unusual and old-fashioned, yet they continually outnumbered Sara/Sarah.

And I know more Jaydens than I can count, various spelllings, boys and girls. So much for uniqueness!

Maybe the Charlotte namers just liked Kristin Davis on Sex in The City!

Twelve years ago I got pregnant two months after my mother died. I told my husband that I would name the baby after her if it was a girl. Luckily my husband agreed and when she was born I named her a truly unique name for the time—Mary.

She is the only Mary in her school (perhaps even in the district) and everyone can spell it and pronounce it. In addition it is a name meant to honor a very special woman in my life and holds more meaning to me than any status symbol or attempt to be “different”.

I understand our need to make our children stand out but a different name doesn’t have to be difficult for them or all the people around them in their lives.

Back in the late '60s, when my sister taught first grade in Green Bay, she had a number of boys named Bart. Way to go, Packers!

Keystone has it right so I gave them a checkmark.Here's more bad ideas.The multi-gender ones.Jordan,Jean and Gene,Sam and Sam for nicknames(Samuel and Samantha are fine).My wife named her son Corey in the mid-80's.When she started moving around the country,she realized that everyone else was making that name popular also.It was pre-internet so I am fine with that.Back then how did anyone know?But now all these crazy misspelled 'unique' names with various different endings are ridiculous.If you want yourchild to be unique,give them a regular name,teach them morals,respect,right and wrong,and self-discipline.Your child SURELY will be 'unique' in this day and age.

My children are all named *normally* as far as I'm concerned. Aaron, Joseph, Gabriel, and Melissa. They've never complained, and none are hard to spell.

nimrod is in the bible too....but wouldn't suggest it

My children are adopted and I named them after family members. Fortunately the names were classic. Catherine, Nathanael, Peter, Caroline and Mary. Not too over used, easy to spell and, I think, helped bind them even tighter to our family. How can you not adore a child who has been named after you?

My daughter goes to a fairly large school. She has never had another Sarah in her classes. It seems like there are always 2 or 3 Makaylas (all spelled differently).

Nimrod is actually an interesting one. Nimrod was actually a great hunter from the bible. After a Bugs Bunny cartoon in which he refers to Elmer Fudd as "poor little Nimrod", a reference to the biblical hunter, Americans took it to be a reference to a slow-witted person, as personified by Elmer Fudd. Since that time Nimrod has been used in a derogatory fashion, mistakenly. The irony here is that people who use Nimrod to mean, "Slow-witted person" are themselves the slow-witted as they have no idea what the Nimrod reference really means.

My youngest son's middle name is Micaiah, who was a prophet in the Bible. I thought it was an unusual but strong name. As we are of scots-irish descent my boys are Liam & Cameron.

I agree with TPisFORtheBATHROOM:

My name is Samantha and I detest anyone calling me Sam. It is awful and it makes my name sound like a boys name. My mother named me after bewitched. :-) But I love my name it is a good, strong, feminine name. It has been popular in my life...I have had many friends with the same name but I liked sharing my name with a friend. People should make it a rule not to nickname someone they just met. As for me, my husband and I have agreed to carry on family names. Ross Brockway (after his father and himself and Brockway was his mothers maiden name as well).

once you are clear of the age of Philip, Louis, and John.

Um, Philip goes back millennia. Every hear of Philip of Macedonia? It is ancient Greek for "lover of horses".

Oblivion--sheesh. Don't you think some cruel teacher will mock him with it the minute he daydreams in school? Why not just "Out_of_it" or "Stoned"?

Looks like it's working.

I never thought it was clever. Just an annoyingly bad name.

I like that name.

Makes three of us......Nevaeh sucks!! Not cute......not cute at all.

Hmmm...
I always liked the name Maeve Aeryn for a daughter, but never had one.

My oldest son's name would translate from Gaelic and Old English to "Fire Badger of the forest."
My youngest's from Gaeilic and Hebrew to "Handsome" and "God is my Judge."

Wasn't that a Waterford pattern?

Ella and Lilly are elegant.

Not so with the slug of -iques, -ishas, and -twans.

They're just trashy.

Nevaeh?LOL.If you like that then how about suseJ?Or tsirhC?For mirror names,the ever popular BoB is much better.

Nevaeh bothers me for many reasons. Besides that it's silly. My daughters name is Nattea (which is French) and a few times people have said "oh Nevaeh?" No. I get that its not common so there will be confusion. I just think Nevaeh is a goofy name.

We often call Nattea "Tea" for short (pronouced Ta-ya). I agree with others. There are variations in uniqueness. I think there is trying too hard, different, and boring.

I was one of a million Melissa's in the 80/90s and it was super annoying because my teachers got us all confused. Along with the Alyssa's etc. And to this day I get asked how to spell it. So I don't think twice about being asked how to spell my kids names (my other one is Aurora). Honestly, I can't believe people don't know how to spell Melissa!??! But believe it!

If you're going to give him a name that means Fire Badger of the Forest, why not just name him Fire Badger of the Forest?

That way, nobody has to translate, and it instills fear in the other kids.

MMcKenna2279

Believe it! People always ask how to spell my name. I think...hmm sound it out. That is why I hate the way people spell names in a weird way because it gives normal kids a hard time too. Aurora is a beautiful name as well.

Aurora huh?I suppose the middle name is Borealis?Gimme a break.

When my husband was driving a school bus he had a kid named "Lucifer" on his bus. No kidding.

There's also the issue of parents not thinking about how the first, middle, and last names go together. Or maybe they did think about it and just decided to turn their child into a cruel joke. For instance, there's a "Burl Wood" at my church, and a friend of a friend just recently named his child "Smith Wesson". I could go on and on..."Landon Geer", "Cole Deggs" (say it out loud fast)....

Oh my! That is so funny! In high school I knew a girl named Candy Kane. Think she grew up to be a stripper.

Wasn't there a politician with the last name of Hogg who named his daughters Ima and Ura? He must have really wanted a son badly! I once ran an agency and had customers in and out all the time...I used to know dozens of strange names...after 30 years I can only recall one (probably the strangest)...Bugsy Roach.

Do parents think they're funny, or do they really hate their kids that much?

I used to live a few miles from the Hogg plantation. Ima Hogg was a real person, but "Ura" is fictional.

And I happen to have an aunt named Candy Cade. Close enough! (not a stripper, BTW).

When I was in the hospital for surgery, the nurses were laughing about a couple who had just named their twin boys Hunter and ...... Shooter!

@Mykiddosmom: Ura was a myth, but Miss Ima Hogg certainly did exist. She became one of the best-known philanthropists in Texas. She died in 1975. Governor Hogg named her, not as a joke -- it apparently never occurred to him -- but after a character from a poem written by his brother. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ima_Hogg

The most unusual names I've heard of from a friend who met them -- sisters, pronounced 'LeMonjello' and 'Oranjello' -- spelled, Lemon Jello and Orange Jello. And then also "Xanadu." I knew Xanadu myself and she hated her name. She was in her late teens and swore she would change her name upon turning 18.

i know a girl named "candy appel".

I used to pride myself on remembering names, but now I work with so many young "ladies" named LaTisha, LaKisha, Takeya, Tameka, Shanequa, Shakaya, etc that I can never remember who is who!

So because they have those names they are not considered ladies? You guys are hysterical! People with "normal" names can be pure human waste example Brittany, Lindsey, Nicole....so a name really means nothing..the kind of person you are is not determined by your name Charles Manson, Jeffery Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy all serial killers with perfectly normal names..get over yourselves. You don't like unique or differently spelled names DON'T USE THEM....if someone else like them it's a personal choice...sheesh

If you are terminally rich, with lots of money to pass down to your kids, then you can indulge such weirdness as "Moon", Dweezil", "Shanequa", or "Taqwuanya". If, on the other hand, you plan to work your ass off to send your kid to college, then I'd recommend that you bless the little person with a name that will enable people to take them seriously. I know, it seems like a stretch, but I know for a fact that some job applications/resumes go straight to the "round file"...people are automatically excluded based on this first-hand impression.

Incidentally, would you marry a woman named Vaseline?

I think it is funny that people are starting to name their kids after products like Colgate, Camry, Kia, etc. I have also heard of a mom who named her daughter Abcde (pronounced Ab-suh-dee) and Female (pronounced Feh-mah-lee). What are these people thinking???!!!!

I ran into a kid named Tonka once... I wonder if his sister was Mattel?

Maybe he was part Dakota-Sioux and didn't think he needed to tell you that in order to get a pass on his name.

You should be ashamed of yourself for being a bigot for no reason other than to make fun of a name. Har-de-har-de-harhar. I hope you got a world class laugh off it, at least. No need to sell your soul/karma/character on the cheap.

Paris S Chill out a little. Tonka may well be a respected name in some cultures. In fact it may well be the name of the originator of Tonka toys in Japan. But there is no need to shame someone for having a little fun with the correlation with the names of two toy manufactures. Have you not ever gotten a little chuckle out of an unusual name?

A lot of people have names that people love to make fun of. Believe me I know. But I know the ancestry of my name and know that it is a name with a proud history. It never bothered me when they would make jokes about having me for breakfast or calling me pork chop. I have a sense of humor and can laugh right along with them.

I'm sure Tonka has heard a lot worse.

Well said. I was named "Angelo" after my Sicilian grandfather and as a child I longed for a name like Steve, or Mike, or John. Of course my name was chosen out of duty, nowadays everyone is so hell-bent on being "unique" that names once considered unusual are now quite common. If a child is named "Karen", why try so hard to be cool and spell it "K'aeron", etc? If the mother's maiden name is Hayden or Kemp or Walker, can't she honor her dad by taking a hyphenated last name? When did giving your sweet little girl a ridiculous first name, which is really a last name, become so fashionable? I find the whole practice very low class. You see the same phenomenon with people and tattoos...everyone wants to express their individuality by having them, yet everyone seems to have them now, making them common and vulgar. Interestingly, "normal" is the new "unique"...how wonderful for all of the people with a taste for the timeless and elegant!

Yup! I have a hard enough time with Cathy. Everyone rather spell it with a K.

You see the same phenomenon with people and tattoos...everyone wants to express their individuality by having them, yet everyone seems to have them now, making them common and vulgar. Interestingly, "normal" is the new "unique."

One of my favorite questions to ask high school students is, "Have you ever noticed how all the 'nonconformists' dress alike?" :)

I'm a hip, but old fashioned, mom too aged 60. But I feel the new names for girls like Kendall, Hayden, Delaney, are strong which is important for girls these days.

Some of my fav names, though, are Clara, Claire, Genevive, Serafina,Estee, etc.

I recently heard of the name Clemma for a baby girl; very old fashioned and different at the same time.

really, I have ONE tattoo, and it is unique, because it is a custom design. The rest of them will be unique as well, once I finish designing them, except for the ones of Oriental characters, and even then, I may change my mind to have those done in Cherokee.

tattoos are boring

Bubba, I am flattered that you went and made a username JUST to troll this thread.

Tattoos are not boring unless they are standard, pre-stenciled everyday tattoos. Mine was designed for me by a friend who is an artist. I made myself wait an entire year after he did the design to make sure I wanted it engraved on my hide until my cremation. It symbolizes something within me that I WANT expressed on my skin.

I have 2,neither of which is a picture from a shop book.One is of a parrot I used to have,an African Grey.The other,I love hockey.Any guesses on a circled B?My wedding cake was a replica Stanley Cup and I have seen the real one twice,which I want to have a tattoo of with 5 member's signatures still left on the team from when they won it.None are huge or obviously tacky.If you don't like tats,go start your own post.Also 'really',you truly are humorous and 'uniquely ironic'.Please,at least post something original,not quoting ancient,old cliches.Either one of you,please do enlighten me on what IQ stands for,WITHOUT googling it.Since we learned it in high school,you should at least know that one,since you sound so self confident about your intelligence.

My husband Brody and I have always liked that our names were a little different. We named our son Carsen (17) and our daughter Kennady (15). They like their names and there is not another Carsen or Kennady at their high school.

My name is Courtnie. The "normal" spelling is Courtney. While I do have to spend my time correcting people's spelling, I still like it. I would never have it any other way. It's not like I'm named Apple or Grhjfiurelf or some other random combination of letters that make no sense when you hear how it's pronounced. It's cute, it's different, but not outlandish. All I have to do is sign my name as "Courtnie" and people know who I am. I never have to worry about writing "Courtney A." or "Courtney B." I happen to like it.

( without having to look it up ) IQ--Intelligence Quotient.

TP--Wow...just WOW. Angry much?

I wasn't actually offering an opinion on tattoos; don't have any, but don't really care about yours. I was offering another view on the idea that so many people choose to express their "individuality" by wearing/doing exactly the same thing as all the other "individuals." You know, like all the kids insisting that they must express their individuality by wearing Goth/grunge/etc. clothes...or all the parents having to express their individuality by naming their children the same "unique" name as five other kids in his class.

I love that people want to name their children something unique even if it sounds like a last name; Kennedy, McKenzie and Delaney and extraordinary names with great character. There is beauty in the old (I love the name Sarah) and beauty in the new (I love the name Harlow).

I am pregnant with my second child and her big brother, only 5, named her Kinzie which we will use with McKinzie. I see this is on your list of 'unacceptable' or 'misfortuned' names. We love it because it now has a story behind it which is important for our family...and no he doesn't have a kinzie in his class or knows anyone that. Baby names are a great way to share with your children a special memory or legacy and shouldn't be criticized by anyone.

that is nothing new, people were named after family last names for years and alot of cultures still do so.....................though that is probally not where half the names came from.

People who don't like the spelling or "new" names should get with the times. We can't ALL be Marys or Janes. I have three daughters: Sidney, Madison and Kennedy and I love their names!

The "trend" of naming a child with the mother's maiden name is not new. People have been doing it in the South for generations and not just the South. Surnames have often been uses as given/forenames whether familial or not - Winston Churchill, Harrison Ford, Ross Perot. While these would be considered somewhat (Churchill questionably) contemporary they still pre-date the "new trend" of familial names.

My name is Loren and I have spent my entire life correcting the spelling of my name and honestly that is perfectly fine to me. I enjoy having a unique spelling of a very common name. When I do correct someone on the spelling they usually compliment me on how it's spelled. I want to have kids one day and spell their names uniquely as well. And as for the tattoo thing, most people do have unique tattoos as well, all 4 of mine were either drawn by me or by one of my friends that is an artist and every one of them has a story behind it. We don't go around bashing people have named their kids Amanda or Andrew or John or Mike, so why go around making fun of people who have named their kid Karyn instead of Karen

This practice of naming children after their mothers' maiden name is not new. In fact, think of people such as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, named after his mother. This has been a common WASP practice for hundreds of years.

ktraif - raised in the south, I too love family last names like Trosclair, Budreaux, Sinclair etc. I am favoring Jaquline (pronounced the French way), MaryElla, Frederick, and Emile (E-meal, French name). I would guess that Jaquline and Emile would be looked at funny outside of the south (outside of Louisiana really).

I HATE the weird spellings people insist on. Unfortunately my name is really common right now. Or Isabella is common (not Isabel). I think its mostly from the Twilight stuff. I love having an old, unique but classic name...now all theses kids have it too :-(

weird but funny names i've heard include: Theory, Pink, Blue, Saidrick, Christyle (pronounced cris-style'), Syphilis (pronounced Sah-phillis), Holly Wood, Rose Blum, brothers named Hunter, Fisher, and Boater, brothers named Rusty, Bumpy and Clay (last name Rhodes), Sisters named Hope, Grace, Prudence and Faith i could go on and on lol

Fun thing to think about, ever since Katrina, tha name Katrina is taboo down here (New Orleans area). I know a Katrina that started going by her middle name because of it.

Hey PA Mom-2384776.... I had a best friend, a boyfriend, an acquaintance, and 3 other classmates named "Alex" in high school. Everyone resorted to calling them by their last names, because using their first names was too confusing. You said you hated baby names that sound like last names? Well your kid will be called by his/her last name anyway if you don't use some creativity. Why make your kid ordinary?

Sisters named Hope, Grace, Prudence and Faith

Which was very commonplace a mere 200 years ago, and not exactly bizarre even today. Naming your kid "Syphillis" OTOH is child abuse.

I will add to the list of people who enjoy that their name is not spelled like everyone else's. Mine's not all that unique, but I always have to qualify it (" It's Marc with a 'C'"). However, this always made me feel special growing up, and I wanted to pass that feeling of being special to my kids as well. My son Kyan also needs some qualification ("it's not Cayenne like the pepper, it's Ryan with a 'K'") but I think he'll enjoy that his name ends up being a topic of conversation and not just glossed over. It's an easy way to make sure people are paying attention! :)

dd, just be glad she wasn't named "Sybil" during the 70s and 80s.

Frankly, I think Presley Valentine is beautiful. People who would make fun of that name are just jealous and wish they weren't a David, Michael or Mary. As a matter of fact, you sound jealous of the parents, dumpsterdiver, that's quite a NAME you appointed to yourself.

Do you have ANY idea how often people misspell my name (Michael)? Or, simply choose to call me by some abbreviated thing that is less of an intellectual challenge (Mike, Mick, Mikey, Mickey)? I can live with the fact that the world is filled with phonetically-challenged dullards, but I seriously wonder about the people who start off their child's battle by giving all of their ammo to the enemy.

dd, just be glad she wasn't named "Sybil" during the 70s and 80s.

You do make a lot of that, but how does any parent know their kids' name won't be used by a crazy or bad fictional character? I have a brother-in-law named Damien. You think YOU had problems? I had a much bigger problem in that my Jewish parents gave me a name that is normally only given to Christians. Kids knew we were Jews who were trying to pass (passover?) and beat me up for it. Sybil was an innocent accident compared to that.

Names should be about the baby, who will someday be an adult, NOT about the mother trying to make a fashion statement.

Morgan, if memory serves, means "from the sea" or "Gift from the sea."

My paternal grandmother was Willie Mae...she received a lot of kidding from her friends after a sports legend began making a name for himself...LOL

Could've been worse...

I'm a girl named Morgan, and I was named after my grandfathers brother and father. So it makes me the third. :) I love my name. I was named after all the strong and wonderful men in my life. My middle name is from my grandfather too, Lee, from Levi. I'm very proud of my name.

Good for you Morgan! :)

Connie, I am in a position where I review a lot of resumes and I have to say that try very hard not to look at an applicant's name when reviewing their qualifications. I've had some people that look really qualified get rejected out of hand by the old-fashioned bosses farther up the food chain (who are the ones who sign our paychecks) because of an "ethic" name. Said bosses automatically assumed that the applicant came from a disadvantaged background and therefore would not have the education or intelligence necessary to carry out the job.

Sad, but true, and not only done by Caucasian hiring mangers. Parents really need to think into their child's future. Success (or failure) can sometimes hinge on such things.

I am in Managerment and had an african-american employee tell me her parents named them with non-descript names---- both racially and gender wise---- for the simple fact, that her parents didn't want the hiring managers to base their impressions or perceptions on anything but their qualifications. Her name was Kris and her sister Terry. This employee is now40 years old.....very forward thinking parents I'd say.

Honestly, that is what I keep telling my friends when they tell me their stupid name ideas. Look to your child's future, they may decide to be a doctor, lawyer, CEO, or even president someday and their name needs to stand up to that. I'm sorry, but when looking for a doctor, if I see a ridiculous name I skip past them, because I can't take them seriously. I know that their name isn't their fault, but still.

There is no doubt that odd/weird names influence a child's personality and their future career choices and opportunities. Bambi will be a centerfold, not a CEO.

So Moon Unit Zappa MD would not be to your liking?!

Pyrenze,if you REALLY believe that a child's name influences your child's personality,then name yours whatever you like.The fact is,the parent shapes the child's character,which will influence their personality more.

After reading a lot of the comments on this subject, although I agree that I don't think certain names are a good idea, or there are too many of some, or the non-phonetic spelling of others are difficult, it seems to me that there are plenty of people that are given these names and they do just fine. And it seems like a good portion of people here (not all) want to just feel superior because either they were named "normally" or they would like to think they would name their own child "normally." For everyone else that has a name that doesn't add up phoentically, is overused (jennifer, jayden, jessica), or just completely unique, your're just being insulting and rude, cause you know, it's not like they can change it. To each his own I say, what's the point in ragging on everybody?

Obviously my name was extremely common at one time but my mother decided to be cute and spell it with one L. So every school year I had to explain to my teachers that it was not Michael but Michelle. It's a pain but to be honest we are becoming such an ignorant bunch that I imagine I would have to spell it even if it were spelled with 2 L's. I have to spell my husbands name whenever I call on his behalf . His name is Edgar and I have not heard any variations in spelling so I don't see why it causes such confusion. My son is named Enrique after my brother who passed away while in the Army. So I really don't care if it's ethnic. It's hard to spell and hard for most non-hispanics to say but it means something to me. My youngest son is named Alexander. He will probably never have trouble with his name and that is just how I like it.

Oprah and Condoleeza are doing just fine.......just saying......

I read once that if you want your child to succeed in life, they will have a better chance if their name is "normal" and spelt "correctly" They said that names shouldn't show ethnicity. The book listed names and stereotypes that went with them.

Some seemed obvious and others I really had to think about. Have you ever met a -iques, -ishas, and -twans that wasn't black? Women that had non-Hispanic, hyphenated last names tended to have a chip on their shoulder. I don't know how accurate they were, but it sure made me careful in naming our children.

I wanted to give them every advantage from the start.

I find it offensive that most of the truly negative remarks made regarding "ethnic" or non-white names are based upon the fact that they are non-white.

I know plenty of people with names ending in "que" (Monique which is french), "ika" as in, Emika (Japanese meaning: beautiful), and hosts of white Trisha's,Tashas, and Latrice's. Oh, and if you've read up on Ms. Condoleezza Rice's name; you'd know that her name is actually an abbreviation of the Italian phrase: Con Dolcezza meaning: with sweetness.

So, these people being judged by their names are often times not as ignorant, disenfranchised, broke, shiftless, disadvantaged, or retarded as some would like to believe.

If parents quit teaching their children that racist, prejudicial, sexist cruelty toward others are acceptable attitudes to have towards one another; then maybe a persons name wouldn't be as inflated of an issue as it has become.

I'm sorry, but when looking for a doctor, if I see a ridiculous name I skip past them, because I can't take them seriously.

Of course, if you live in a big city you can scarcely avoid running into specialists with first names like "Ramalingam" (look up what that means in Sanskrit!) But such names are undoubtably very mainstream and respectable back in India. OTOH, the reason people tend to judge American-born people with weird names is that they can't help making assumptions about that person's upbringing. For example, "Moonbeam Rainbow" was possibly exposed to hallucinogens in utero. Tyronika probably DID grow up in the inner city. So did my sons, Jacob and Benjamin, but who is going to be judged negatively based on their name?

Ophra sounds Biblical (it is actually an anagram for Orpah, Ruth's sister) and Condaleeza is obviously Italian, so those names didn't have quite the same negative connotations as the made-up, obviously ghetto names we sometimes see. I'm sorry if this sounds racist, but it's reality.

The fact is,the parent shapes the child's character,which will influence their personality more.

But that is precisely the point. If your parents gave you a bizarre name, people WILL make assumptions about your upbrinding.

What's his name?

Kieran (Irish Gaelic) Graham

I have a friend who's son is also named Kieran. He's 8.

Actually, Ive found these names to be the result of long and serious thought (I didnt say "smart")...some people that I have known have taken parts of everything that they admired and 'fashioned' their own tailor-made product: part mothers name, part fathers name, etc. (Or, took a syllable from the names of four people who you sought to honor). Again, I didn't say it was a smart choice, simply that people put a lot of thought into dumb stuff.

If you had a chance to talk to the parents...but has that EVER happened?

And, why doesn't anybody intervene on behalf of these poor defenseless kids ("...are you serious? don't do that to that baby!").

Once in a great while, such names actually work. I knew a very gifted young woman named "Jovita" -- think about it, it's the diminutive feminine for Jupiter, king of the gods, and thus has a classical sense to it. Also it is impossible to either misspell or mispronounce. Usually names like that are just awful.

I used to work at hospital in a small LA town. And the names of some of those babies! One of my favorites was D'Anqanitta LaShaunta D'Nae. Can't wait for her to become president.

I know someone whose husband named their twin boys "Hunter" and "Fischer." Can you tell what Dad's hobbies are?

I actually knew a man named Brick, spelled just like that. Nice guy - not as dumb as you'd think.

Using titles or professions for surnames used to set children apart and help people remember with whom they belonged: Johnson, Thatcher, etc. Then first names became a way to elevate the family's or individual's status or reputation without necessarily earning it: Beau, Earl, biblical names, etc. Now parents use this naming power to set their child so far apart its difficult to know what their true intentions are. I just want to ask them: what did you have in mind for your child when you named it Apple? Prince? Cannibus? Kalel? Milk??? I just don't understand, and truly, it scares me for what may come next.

Just looking at the names and thinking they are weird...to you...isn't really knowing the name. Many of the names that you are saying are so-called "Scrabble tiles thrown together" are actually combinations of family names. The apostrophes and hyphens are used to combine parts of different names. Many times the first letter of one parent, part of the other parents name, and then an ending. It's weird to you because you're not accustom to it. Those parents would find Mary or Bob boring as all get out. Opinions on naming a child come from everywhere, even within a family, so how is it that we expect an entire society to agree what is normal and what isn't? Really??

Check out the "Baby Name Wizard" if you're looking to name a child. It is the most helpful book in deciding what you like and don't like. So much better than a book full of 100,000 names in alphabetical order. With those, I had about 20 names before I even finished the A's. That way, if you don't want a traditional Tanner, Johnson, Morgan, find one that does suit you. As for the Apple comment...Gwyneth Paltrow once said that her daughter was given that name because of her cheeks. I think that is priceless! That wasn't a name picked out of a book because it sounded good. It is a name that was given from the heart and has meaning. They waited until they met her to give her a name. We did as well for our second daughter. She was 4 hours old before she was given Lola. :)

Weird to you is perfectly normal to someone else.

It doesn't matter if it's weird to me (or to you, for that matter). What matters is whether or not its weird enough to affect your child's life in any negative way.

She was 4 hours old before she was given Lola. :)

Maybe it's a generational thing, but as a boomer I can't help but think of that song.

Wow, well said. What a wonderful idea to actually spend time with your kids and teach them to appreciate and keep alive things that seem to be getting lost in society. You are 100% correct- that is what will make them stand out, not their name that "seemed like a good idea at the time."

Dave is absolutely right.I said that also a couple of times before I got to this point.If you really think a name shapes your kid,call them Doctor,Nurse,Psychiatrist,President,Bro',Serial K.,Police,Firefighter,etc. and let them follow YOUR dream rather than their own.

Dave...do you have kids?

I am not a tard for naming my children what I did and just because parents give their children unique names doesn't have ANYTHING to do with taking the time out to shape them as individuals.

Your arguement holds no weight. Sorry.

I'm a very smart mother and took out many many years to shape my girls into great little young women.

Indeed you have a son.

dagirli -- A smart woman would know that you drop the "e" in "argue" when spelling "argument." I'm just saying. And Dave has a valid point. Also, he said "weird" names, not "unique." He's just stating his opinion. Don't take it so personally.

...have replied to a post...but what you wrote made too much sense not to...I like your insight!

I love your reply, Dave. People get so caught up in making their childrens' names different and destinctive. I just wanted my son to have a name that fit him and that my husband and I loved. There is more in a name that is given to your child from a grandparent or family member. A friend of mine gave her boys Italian names because she got married in Italy. She is not Italian nor is her husband but that was meaningful to her. The names are different for most Americans but are semi-popular in Italy. I love that idea!

You are so right about spending more time with children and teaching them to become great people. I love spending time with my 4-year old and having him learn things that make me proud. His name is Joshua which is a traditional name. He is so smart and so charming. He is adorable and so sweet and polite (most of the time...he IS 4). Your post was so well written!

Dave - I agree. Some names bestowed upon babies makes one wonder if the child will be strong enough to endure it or lose all confidence from a childhood of ridicule and shame.

LOL.....right on Dave !

Spot-on Dave. There is a big difference in 'unique' and just plain ridiculous.

Spend the time with them to foster intelligence and sensitivity, let them express the art in their soul or learn to do something meaningful.

You have touched on a major reason why the ridiculous names are chosen. Many of the parents do not have the above, and most of those do not even value these qualities enough to ensure that at least their children develop them. Like Bill Gates said, "You can feel good about yourself when you do something worth feeling good about!" Practice parental responsibility and both the child, parent, and society will benefit.

Dave, Well said!! As someone who interviewed alot of people ,it was amazing to me some of the names individuals were forced to carry around.. I once had a conversation with a mother when public schools in our area were going to uniforms. She was absolutetly beside herself !!Concerned that her child would loose her individuality and creativity!I tried to reassure her,but she was not reassured.OH MY!!I think you get it..It's not about how wacky or trendy or outrageous the name or the clothes. Oh yeah, Suzy is a cat,hence the spelling!!

Elyse, you have a lovely name. Try going through school in the 70s and early 80s named "Sybil."

My name has a French spelling with an English pronunciation because my dad wanted us to have French names to go with our French last name. He thought the French pronunciation sounded snobby, so they went with the English pronunciation. I have spent my entire life either correcting the spelling or pronunciation of my name. Now I use it as a screening device when taking phone calls--if they know me, they know how I pronounce my name. One thing it does make me do is pay attention to the way others spell and pronounce their names because I know how it feels to have a name no one gets right!

Hats off to your dad for:1.French are snobby 2.You have a built in phone screener. 3.Even though he didn't know it at the time,it did cause trouble.Even though you had trouble,he wanted you to be unique,yet still carry heritage,yet still be part of regular people if he was 1st generation wherever you moved to.That is classier than many of the reasons done now,but I really think it's awesome when a telemarketer calls you up,you can instantly say wrong number,or whatever you do and hang up.I don't think he ever thought that would be an asset for a simple call.I thumb up your comment too.Although pronunciation does not always guarantee spelling.There is I,eye,aye.Their,there,they're.They are barely distinguishable,if at all by subtle pronounciations.Throw in different accents from country/world,forget it.

Elyse I'm sorry you went thru that but um your name is simple..and I think the people that didn't pronoune it right should have taken more english classes. lol.

I'm with you Elyse. The weird spelling causes worse problems to others having to spell it. Eisaya, Krystian, Paeton. What was wrong with the REAL spelling?

Elyse, I understand your pain. My name is Elise but for some strange reason they would say "Elsie". I really hated that.

I love the name Elise, so does my sister and she ended up ripping it off from me and naming her daughter it! lol! It is such a beautiful name when pronounced right!! :)