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Names that became negatively viral

114 replies

Theblackdogagain · 18/02/2024 19:53

Just wondering what names became negatively viral and how people feel about their name now.

My name was in a UK sketch show early 2000s and I hated it for a while but now no one remembers it and its gone back to being a classic name again.

OP posts:
Gloriousgardener11 · 18/02/2024 19:54

Karen

AfterTheWatershed · 18/02/2024 19:56

Is the name Lauren? It’s interesting how some names are completely unusable after a negative association and some aren’t.

Theblackdogagain · 18/02/2024 19:56

Are you a Karen? Has it affected you and do you think it will blow over?

OP posts:
Theblackdogagain · 18/02/2024 19:57

It's not Lauren but that's my sister and I've never seen that connection before.
I'm an Emily

OP posts:
HobnobsChoice · 18/02/2024 20:00

The only early 2000s one I can think of is Lauren from Catherine Tate. Unless you are called Frogmella.

Wayne was probably already done for by the time Harry Enfield did Wayne and Waynetta. Likewise Sharon and Tracey in Birds of a Feather. They chose the names because of the tropes around them rather than the other way.

I used to work with a woman called Patsy and in my head I always used to think Patsy darling but never said it out loud

DyslexicPoster · 18/02/2024 20:00

I was thinking this week if I was a Karen I'd change my name. Weird there no negative shit about Daves or Paul's isn't it? Just us hysterical women

ThreeFeetTall · 18/02/2024 20:02

Myra

WASZPy · 18/02/2024 20:03

Not 'viral' as that's a modern concept, but apparently Oscar wasn't used for years because it was associated with Oscar Wilde and homosexuality.

Gloriousgardener11 · 18/02/2024 20:05

No I’m not a Karen but I work with a few who have been negatively impacted by it’s conotations!

Theblackdogagain · 18/02/2024 20:07

That's interesting about Oscar.
It's true that it tends to be against women and I'm very hard on my teens if I hear them using a women's name as an insult.

OP posts:
Gloriousgardener11 · 18/02/2024 20:08

Also Vicky as in Vicky Pollard but I guess Little Britain is so old now younger generation may not relate to it.

thesnailandthewhale · 18/02/2024 20:24

Alexa

ilovepixie · 18/02/2024 20:28

I work with a 'Willis' and I always want to say whatcha talkin bout Willis

Rockfordpeach · 18/02/2024 20:30

Ricky always makes me think of rickaaay from EastEnders

TwelveKeys · 18/02/2024 20:34

Used to know a woman called Isis.

Meowandthen · 18/02/2024 20:35

The whole Karen thing is sexist bullshit perpetuated by women as much as men.

It’s not my name but I hate what has happened to a perfectly nice name.

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 18/02/2024 20:37

Someone told me during covid there was a spike in people calling their kids Covey/Covie/Covy

Great. Would love to be named after a pandemic that killed so many people 🤔

ashiningbeaconinspace · 18/02/2024 20:38

I know an Alexa, she goes by Lexi these days...

windywalk · 18/02/2024 20:40

Maxine (Carr)

aitchteeaitch · 18/02/2024 20:50

My surname made my life hell when I was a child, due to its prolonged use in a tv series, and I suffered considerable bullying because of it.

I hated my name, and was so relieved to get rid of it when I got marrled.

Meowandthen · 18/02/2024 21:02

windywalk · 18/02/2024 20:40

Maxine (Carr)

Understandable. I knew a Maxine who was an evil bitch so that’s two for two.

Birdsworth · 18/02/2024 21:48

I know a Khaleesi.

Jook · 18/02/2024 22:05

My friend called her son Damien. Luckily he turned out not to be an omen, but still I wouldn’t have chanced it 👹

LaCasaBuenita · 18/02/2024 22:11

I also know an Alexa who can’t use her full name in anybody’s house without some smart speaker somewhere going crazy.

WulfWuman · 18/02/2024 22:14

You don't get many Adolfs these days.