When names become a thing...and therefore something to laugh at

[Conniebygaslight]

There's a thread about strange spellings of names and it got me thinking about names becoming a thing and how it must feel for the poor buggers who have those names. Nothing is safe.......For example.
People called Alexa
People with the surname Gooch (Apparently it's now a term for perineum)
People with the surname Butt/Butts
People who Go by BJ (We have an adult relative in Australia where this is Perfectly acceptable - but I'm sure it will a thing there too very soon)
Your just going along, living your life and minding your own business and suddenly you're a subject of ridicule because somebody (usually on social media) has decided a word means something.

Tracey might suddenly come to mean an erection or Wilson might mean a pervert etc..The world is crackers.

Out of interest does he not just introduce himself as Andy? The infamous Mr Tate is very much known as Andrew so this may help get around it.

I think the use of Karen is awful and am hopeful to see it reclaimed soon. It's a great name and using it for shutting women up isn't as clever of a move as some people seem to think it is.

Similarly a little girl I met named Isis in around 2009. I have occasionally wondered whether they changed her name (she was tiny) or pushed through with Isis.

Ironically, people were saying Karen to avoid using ruder words. Just like any euphemism gaining traction. They also sound fun (to many) as not explicitly rude and are not obvious/ feel like a secret code.

My hospital consultant is called Dr Dick and I've yet to see anyone laughing about it.

Every Caroline I know is met by a chorus of Sweet Caroline. It's not my name but I feel their irritation every time. These are adults (both sober and drunk!).😱

I always think of Apple Martin- life must have been difficult in school

Gooch has meant perineum since I was at school and I'm in my mid-30s.

I went to school with a Becca Jane who purposefully shortened her name to BJ.

It's human nature to look for associations. They spread faster because of the internet but that doesn't mean any random person can come up with something and make it a "thing", it needs traction. Karen got it, but many attempts didn't. The average TikTok video gets around 11 views.

Things like Isis are really, really unfortunate.

Now, according to another OP, we also have 'Debbie downer' as a derogatory term.
Why do women think it's ok to denigrate other women in this way?

Yep. My friend now uses her middle name and no longer uses the name Karen in any way at all. It's such a shame that she feels she needs to lose a part of her identity due to the fear of being ridiculed.

It really is....one of my best friend's is called Karen, I really feel for her.

Has it really....? I'd honestly never heard of it until recently.

That's an excellent example of nominative determinism!

He's always been "Andrew". And, ironically, has always very specifically used "Andrew" in more formal and professional contexts to kind of offset the masculine, tough-guy vibes he gives off as a hench and bald guy 🙃🙃