to think that eventually somewhere a teacher will say "I am NOT calling your child that every day"

[rolandweary]

I am thinking of names like "joop!" [sic]

How on earth are teachers/other adults who have to deal with children every day supposed to go along with these ridiculous names without cracking up or dying of embarrassment?

Spare a thought for the reception teacher when you name your child "Weston-Super-Mare" or whatever!

I knew a Nike. Always wondered if his parents know it is a girls name.

'I disagree, I have a lovely friend who has named their children spike, and Dixie, they are lovely, down to earth people, who are fantastic parents to their children.'

OOh I think we went to swimming lessons with them !There surely can't be 2 families with a spike and Dixie!

can we have a few more urban myths about names please? We've already had the thicko parents calling child "female" cos they thought the midwife had picked the name for them. Though how you can be stupid enough to think that is a true story yet look down on others beggars belief....

I do know of a case at an east london school where the school called the mother of a child in and said that during school hours the child would be known as XX - a shortened version of his given name.

I can't write his full name as he would be very identifiable - but it's a horrible, ridiculous name and the school felt they had to take action.

As I teacher I might inwardly raise my eyebrows (is that physically possible even? ) but I would never show any judgement - because what's it is, really. None of my business.

YANBU... At my old school, one of the teachers used to call all the girls 'Mary-Jane' and the boys 'Sir'. Not because we had outlandish names so much but because it was easier! (Assume he knew who we actually were for admin purposes)

Buzz, now I can imagine that really happening, perhaps not from someone stupid, but someone who has emigrated here and doesn't know the language very well. They may not have been sure about UK traditions and assumed that the midwife names the child, it could be a tradition in their home country, you don't know.

Or maybe I'm overthinking and it's bollox

An ex work colleague has a grand daughter called Autumn Tinkerbell

My DS1 was born in 2006 the top name was Jack - i thought when he starts school they will be god knows how many jacks in his class. He has been at preschool since he was 2, at his current school since last January and he has been the only Jack up until this Jan when another little boy called Jack joined the group.

My DS2 who was born in 2008 is called Alfie and he is the only one in his preschool now. Quite lucky really. But no doubt when he gets to high school they will be Jack P and Alfie P.

When i was at middle school (years 4 to 7) in my class there were

3 Lisas
2 Lauras
2 James'
2 Gareths
2 andrews
3 Lees
2 Amys

i shit you not. It was so complicated lol

thats because its an urban myth originally designed to laugh at stupid black people(in the US) and/or stupid immigrants.

Its like the chlamydia stories pretty offensive when you actually look at them.

Being a Languages teacher has some advantages-call them all Monsieur/Madame when you forget their names and people just think you're talking foreign!

Thanks for that link. Snopes is always on the button. Amused to see there really was a Shanda Lear!

This guy is always my favourite.

And the poor girl here (5th row, 5th column)

ginger minge!!!!

your wish is my command BuzzLightBeer

I know a little boy called Anakin

I also have an adopted DS whose name is not widely unusual but he is the only one in his year at least with it (not sure of the others). I feel a bit sad for him and his birth mum who gave him 3 lovely names

I have come across all sorts of names as a school teacher, the an advisor in prison and now a TA. You just use the name given to you. TBH after a while it just becomes normalised and doesn't seem so odd.

My MIL spent her entire teaching career laughing at common names of children in her classes over the years - you know: Britney, Jordan, etc., ha ha ha. I cannot disclose what SIL1 called her boys (and it make MIL's laughs sound classic and sophisticated) because I would be immediately identified. Guess who's laughing on the other side of her face now.

I know of a Nike (pronounced Nikey) not sure if younger brother is called reebok but I'm sure it is a possibility!!!

Nike is the Greek goddess of Victory. 'Nikey' is the usual anglicisation of the name. In ancient Greek it would be pronounced 'Nee-keh'.

For names to avoid:

About 15 years ago a girlfriend of mine and I were listening to the radio in the car when they started talking about odd names. An older man (probably late 60's early 70's) was talking about a set of twins he knew from school. Their names were Ima and Iva Rottencrotch.

My aunt used to work as a nurse in a hospital in Chicago and they had a woman who was pregnant with twins and ready to give birth. They tried everything they could to get her to change her mind on the names, but she was dead set on them. She named the girls LaTwit and LaTwat.

Okay just watched the link TiggyD posted and it was fantastic!

a ruder version :)