Is it ever ok to name a child after a "celebrity"?

Incorgnito · 2026-10-18T15:18:03+00:00

In general, I don't love names. I love 2 names that flow to make an exceptional sounding name. It's really hard to find the right sounds. I love the sounds of Victor Hugo, and Florence Nightingale, even though, individually I think they're meh, and would never pick them. Unfortunately, they're very well known and will stay well known until the end of time. Would you side eye the parents if you saw these names out in public? Are famous names ever acceptable, or should they be avoided?

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dontgiveafigso · Yesterday 16:21

You mean including the surname? Yes, that’ll would be wacky. Florence Nightingale Smith, for example. First name only is fine as long as it isn’t Madonna. Personally, I’d stick to traditional names and spare your child the turmoil.

orthrywreeinvicedifthe · Yesterday 16:24

Yes. That is ridiculous.

RaggedRocks · Yesterday 16:31

It depends on the celebrity. You can never tell which ones have skeletons in the cupboard.

Notbuiltforheat · Yesterday 16:34

No. My neighbour is Paul Gary Glitter Evans. Look how that worked out. No one wants to be in his gang.

JulietteRoche · Yesterday 16:37

Notbuiltforheat · Yesterday 16:34

No. My neighbour is Paul Gary Glitter Evans. Look how that worked out. No one wants to be in his gang.

Dear lord. The only thing worse would be Paul Gadd Gary Glitter Evans!

MissingMeadow · Yesterday 16:39

Yes that would be ridiculous. Would you want to introduce yourself as Florence Nightingale as I certainly wouldn't?

MellowSubmarine · Yesterday 16:43

If someone had the surname Nightingale and named their child Florence I’d think they were a bit silly.

But there’s a scale, and I think it depends not just on how famous the person is but how unusual their name is.
For example, I don’t think someone with the surname Thompson should avoid calling their daughter Emma - both Emma and Thompson are frequently seen names so even though Emma Thompson is very famous, I doubt I’d assume another Emma Thompson had been named after her by a super fan.
But I’d think Mr and Mrs Swift should probably decide against calling their daughter Taylor due to the level of fame and the relative unusualness of the names.

Tryagain26 · Yesterday 16:45

Florence alone is acceptable as is Victor or Hugo .
But no you can't call your child Florence Nightingale or Victor Hugo why would you?

DorsetKnobBiscuit · Yesterday 16:55

Our plumber is called Charles Windsor.

EmpressaurusKitty · Yesterday 16:59

I used to know a Michael Jackson.

People took the piss, including adults old enough to know much better.

JamesFrond · Yesterday 17:11

I was at a school once on supply and the TA introduced herself as Miss Bennett so I asked her what her first name was and she said Lydia.

RaggedRocks · Yesterday 17:14

I have heard of a R Sole and son limited.

HowTheLight · Yesterday 17:16

EmpressaurusKitty · Yesterday 16:59

I used to know a Michael Jackson.

People took the piss, including adults old enough to know much better.

Yes, I knew one too. He was a priest.

Charlenedickens · Yesterday 17:18

No of course this isn’t ok, poor kid,

Arlanymor · Yesterday 17:20

EmpressaurusKitty · Yesterday 16:59

I used to know a Michael Jackson.

People took the piss, including adults old enough to know much better.

I've known at least three in my lifetime - two of whom were older than the eponymous singer. Common surname, common first name! Plus lots of people name for family members don't they? So if there's a Michael you want to commemorate and your surname is Jackson...

@Incorgnito If you like a name then go for it - who cares what other people think? Bear in mind however that the reason you may like the sound of two names together is because you are used to hearing them together and so that has a positive association/phonetic flow through repetition.

EmpressaurusKitty · Yesterday 17:35

HowTheLight · Yesterday 17:16

Yes, I knew one too. He was a priest.

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Mine was too, in Sussex. I wonder if it was the same one?

pizzaHeart · Yesterday 17:37

Of course it’s ok to cal your kids Victor and Florence. What’s the problem?

Daffodilsinthespring · Yesterday 17:38

I know a Florence Nightingale (by marriage).

My daughter has a famous person’s name. Unintentional as she was born before the person became famous.

TidyDancer · Yesterday 17:50

I once knew a Catherine Earnshaw who had a brother called Heathcliff. The parents changed the house name as well….

The children were not as enthusiastic as the parents were, surprisingly.

Ilikebluewhataboutyou · Yesterday 17:51

I knew someone who had the same name as one of 6 wives of Henry the Eighth. I don't think her parents even thought about it until someone pointed it out. I think sometimes people think 'oh, that name sounds right with our surname' without realising that why it sounds right is because it is familiar for a reason.

JamesFrond · Yesterday 18:00

Ilikebluewhataboutyou · Yesterday 17:51

I knew someone who had the same name as one of 6 wives of Henry the Eighth. I don't think her parents even thought about it until someone pointed it out. I think sometimes people think 'oh, that name sounds right with our surname' without realising that why it sounds right is because it is familiar for a reason.

I know a child called Amber-Lynn.

KnickerlessParsons · Yesterday 18:01

There’s a rugby player called Harry Potter. He was born before JK wrote the books.

HettyTagliatelli · Yesterday 18:03

Yeah no that would be weird. And the parents who insist on their
child being called by a notmal name followed by Rae or May with every interaction are just annoying.

RaggedRocks · Yesterday 18:04

Ilikebluewhataboutyou · Yesterday 17:51

I knew someone who had the same name as one of 6 wives of Henry the Eighth. I don't think her parents even thought about it until someone pointed it out. I think sometimes people think 'oh, that name sounds right with our surname' without realising that why it sounds right is because it is familiar for a reason.

I am guessing which one. A famous actress has this name too.

Shloopie · Yesterday 18:09

Imagine being 35 years old and hearing 'haha that's so funny, you're called Charles Dickens, and there's a really famous author called Charles Dickens too' for the 7th time that week. And experiencing that every week of every month of every year since you can remember.

Don't do it.

Is it ever ok to name a child after a "celebrity"?