To hate when people say in response to a name that they can't imagine Judge/CEO/Accountant having that name.

[squoosh]

These days names are chosen from such a wide and wacky pool that it's inevitable that in 50 years time when we're old and doddery and looking to draw up a will, speak to a financial adviser or surgeon that many of them will have names that seem silly to us. I'm thinking Lexie-Rae, Poppy, Spike, Jayden etc.

I hate lots of names and have very rudely said so on a number of occasions but this is my most hated reason. Are people basically saying that the name isn't middle class enough? I don't make a judgement on a person based purely on their name, I may make a judgement on the person who bestowed that name on them.

Do people honestly think that if someone is called Daisy-Boo she will be unable to study hard, get into a good university, gain a good degree and become a doctor/scientist whatever. Will her name physically prevent this? No it bloody won't.

No it means that discriminating on names alone is very wrong and there is never an excuse for it.

Problem is that almost all people do make biased assumptions based on age, beauty, cultural background etc etc etc. Shouldn't happen but it does. And if you think you are immune then I recommend you try out the Harvard Implicit Association tests - they're only around 5 mins each - see here It's a shame they don't have one for names but IIRC Freakonomics found the same associations (and also very clear name-related outcomes).

IIRC the Freakonomics research concluded that names were associated wiht social class and non-conformity and therefore the more classic names were favoured and the more exotic names held kids back. Not sure there was ever much they could do about the girl called Jezebel

Just don't see why some parents need to make it harder for your kids to succeed, all other things being equal. There's plenty of unusual classic names as an alternative.

The person doing the discriminating and judging is the one in the wrong, not the person with the 'not normal name'

I dont think Armani is laughable.

Its just a name.
It is a surname that has been used as a first name in a tradition spanning centuries.

You only find it laughable because it has been chosen as an aspirational name. WC people commiting the henious crime of being aspirational.

Because MC people would never be aspirational would they?

usualsuspect, pls tell us how you score on the bias tests.....

Saying something's wrong doesn't make it not happen.

I know it happens, I'm not so naive to think that some people don't judge other peoples names.

I don't need to take a test for that, I just have to read MN

The person doing the discriminating and judging is the one in the wrong, not the person with the 'not normal name'

Yes, of course. But as we know that there are judgmental knobs out there, a sensible parent will register their child with at least one sensible name. Give them an unusual name too, and by all means use whatever cute nicknames you want for as long as the child will tolerate it (my DD spent the first few months of her life fondly being referred to as The Poodle.)

I have a lot of Chinese colleagues; nearly all of them have chosen a Western name to use for work, invariably short, 'normal' and easy to pronounce and spell. It makes life easier for everyone I guess.

I won't let a 'judgmental knob' dictate what name I choose for my child.... Flame away!

Thats quite sad though that they have chosen a western name because other people can't be bothered to learn how to pronounce and spell their Chinese names.

But yes, I have given my children 'normal' middle names, so if they decide to use them (they haven't yet) then they can

"Saying something's wrong doesn't make it not happen."

and nobody is saying that employers who discriminate are doing the right thing!

it happens, people make fast decisions on people - EVERYONE does this you are kidding yourself if you think you don't. There are a lot of factors in this and name is one.

You can't control the fact that subconsciously you make assumptions about people based on superficial indicators, its biology. You CAN control how much you act on them to some extent, but everyone does it!

Heck I judge my own name! I'm glad I have my married name instead of my maiden name and its not because of prettiniess, its because one sounds much more businesslike than the other!

"The person doing the discriminating and judging is the one in the wrong"

yeah, but its not gonna be just one person is it? its naiive to shrug and say 'uh well I wouldn't want them to work for that employer anyways!" when the name can present obstacles to their aspirations way before that point!

When posters say 'some' people are judgemental knobs, do they realise that probably includes them as well?

I sat some of those bias tests and was quite smug at showing complete gender impartiality on the career test. Then I tried the disability one and was really shocked (and horrified) at my results. And I've got a bloody Masters in HR and am supposed to spot this type of bias a mile off....

'You only find it laughable because it has been chosen as an aspirational name. WC people commiting the henious crime of being aspirational.'

How in any universe is calling a child Armani aspirational??????

You're comparing it to MC people using the names of members of the Royal family? Firstly, that trend covered the WC too. Secondly, who/what the hell are those choosing 'Armani' aspiring to? A label? That's not aspiration it's pure idiocy. And a huge insult to WC people. I don't know any WC people who would consider that aspirational. How patronising.

Koy - so, you're a sensible parent, no flaming required !

Thats quite sad though that they have chosen a western name because other people can't be bothered to learn how to pronounce and spell their Chinese names

I don't think that's the reason (though, you can't exactly 'spell' a chinese name, it has to be transliterated). We also have lots of Russian and Eastern European colleagues who have much trickier names - we all 'bother' with those so that can't be the motivation.

There is a massive difference between making a snap judgement and then checking yourself and trying to reverse that judgement, and throwing a CV in the bin because you think the person's name is too black/Asian/working class/aspirational.

Are any of those bias tests available online? It could be interesting to check for unwitting prejudices.

Of course it's aspirational!
It is the name of a prestigious designer.
How is it patronising to call it what it is?
Whoever named their child Armani has done it because they see the brand as denoting something worth having, something beautiful and valuable. Something posh.
Unless you think the chose the name because it sound nice and they have no idea what it means?
Now that is patronising.
Like those 'hilarious' stories lies about teenage mums calling their babies Rubella and Tresseme.

Ha ha the plebs are so frightfully amusing.

Naming your child after a brand is horrible. And that's what they're doing. That isn't WC. It's consumerist.

And I think you'll find that a large % of people who identify themselves as WC would laugh at Armani as a name.

Here are the Harvard bias tests

Some of the tests are slightly difficult to do because they are meant for US interviewees, but most are not affected by this.

In your opinion.
It is a choice and it has nothing to do with you.
My children all have the names of musicians I admire.
My choice.
If someone is passionate about designer clothing, they see it as beautiful and valuable, it make sense that they should use the name for their much loved child.

Just because you think it is vulgar doesn't make it so.

You are also making some weird statements about what you think working class people think about that name.
I know several Armarnis of both sexes. I have never heard anyone laugh at the name.
I don't know what sort of people you mix with, personally I would avoid those who laughed at a child's name.
Thanks for putting me straight on how the WCs think though.

I said a large %. In that I'm including my aunts, uncles, cousins, friends. They'd never be so rude to laugh near the child or it's parents but they would in private. And they'd say how cruel it was not to give the child a proper name. My parents are defined as MC by their careers. Of course they had the help of the grammar system and student grants to get them where they are. I don't think it hurt that they both have names that are as suitable for the places they were born as they are for the places they ended up working. It's a lot harder now. A name that marks them out is another obstacle to overcome.

So you are not WC then?
Please don't speak for me. It's patronising