To think people should take naming their children seriously?

[DreamsOfDownUnder]

Do they not imagine their name choice on the top of a CV or whatever when naming their child 'Ballerina' or 'Buttercup' or 'Tulip'. I find it tends to more girl names than boys.

The " virtue" names popular in the past, like Chastity, Prudence, Temperance and Grace! Aren't that different to the present day Precious and Blessed when you think about it.

@Nancydrawn, I used to work in the welfare to work sector and the amount of times we had to set up new email accounts for people just so they could have a sensible email address on their CVs!

On real names I tend to be neutral - not the person’s fault their parents had doubtful taste (“cutesy” is not a great choice if name) .
email adress : dodgy ones get rejected (snowprinces, fuckmaster, ....)

What discrimination would it be? Which one of the protected characteristics does it discriminate against?

Maybe not legally discriminatory, but it is horribly prejudiced, to judge the type of person someone is or will be, or how able they are to do something, based on a name they didn't choose to have.

Laurie, give over, we all know what standard names are in this country, stop pretending we live in a world where we don't or that we don't see some as not the norm.

I agree with the OP. I think people forget they are naming a person, not just a cute little baby, but a future adult. And the use of ludicrous names doesn’t make you unique or interesting, it just makes you odd. I have a lot of friends in Norway, and their country keeps a list of names you can use (it is very extensive though!), that you can’t deviate from. It prevented a couple from naming their child “Google” a few years ago, and good for Norway, I think!

I have taught far too many Chardonnays, Angels, and Pinkys for my liking. Plus a Pocahontas and a Tinkerbell. Yes, really.

I do wonder, sadly, if girls are landed with the ridiculous names more often, because their parents don’t aspire for their daughters to enter the working world.

Seriously my daughter is a Tulip, and she’s just started a new job, today
Aren’t you sweet OP .

I’ll link this for her now.

My cousin is called Tequila. It suits her and hasn't held her back from getting a job. She does live in London where there are more unusual names though.

I agree with you OP.

There's a child at my daughter's nursery called 'Lemon' and every time I see her coat peg with her name above it I find myself wondering what the fuck her parents were thinking.

My best friend is called vodka.

Not really

Tulip is a completely normal name in some countries, like Turkey. It’s exactly like Rose. Would you object to that?

I can’t imagine being told the name “Tequila” suits you is a compliment

There's a book called Blink that's all about the way people assimilate information on you in - well - the blink of an eyelid. He points out all the inherent assumptions people make on hearing your name and how - unfortunately - this does influence the way people respond to you.

So although it's not impossible for D'Wayne or Sharrrnniiiicee or Mykaeler to be Prime Minister, people will make assumptions about them and their background that makes it harder for them to achieve their goals. In the same way that people make quick decisions and form immediate assumptions about you based on the way you look and the way you sound.

Different job cultures favour different assumptions - media jobs want very different people to banking to teachers to whatever.

However, what you name your baby is giving everyone an opinion on the type of person that is. Hence why most people plump for a relatively familiar name that is relatively easy to spell.

I know someone who has given her kids middle names of Loveheart, Sweetheart, Braveheart and Lionheart. Luckily for the kids they are the second names and hopefully don't ever need to be on a CV!

It’s good to be different.

When children were first named after herbs, it was probably the talk of the village. Now Myrtle, Basil, etc are “old fashioned” names.

My adopted DS has a European name that’s not well known outside its country of origin and he hates it for that reason. It’s lovely! I know many a Colette, Jacquelines, Luca, etc who were born in the UK from UK born parents. Again, they were probably once frowned upon when first introduced here but no one bats a eyelid now!

Names are subject to fashions and fashions change like the seasons. Buttercups, Tulips and Daffodils will look as acceptable on a CV as Rose, Daisy and Lily in 10/20 years time!

Sorry, that's very badly written. It should read people start making assumptions about your child as soon as they hear their name.

There are some lovely floral names in my family tree. In fact you can tell if you have the right surname due to the Christian name.
One family uses biblical names for males and flowers or unusual names for females, such as Samson and Carnation, or Cinderella.
I think some names sound pretentious in the gorger world, especially if the names have nothing to do with the culture.
There aren't too many chastity, or temperance's on sink estates, they are trying to be mc names.

I wouldn't be too bothered about their names for a cv but my two best friends had very out there names for our generation. One was more spelling related than anything else, and hated them. They were teased all through school and had to repeat their name every time they were introduced to someone new. Both changed their name legally a few years ago and have quite the chip on their shoulders with their parents about their reasons for choosing their original names.
I just wish people would pick a name for their children that they'd be happy to be called themselves.

YANBU. I always picture the name being used at a board meeting to see if it's appropriate to being taken seriously. And in a society where women are often not taken seriously, I wouldn't want to put a girl at any more of a disadvantage by giving them a frivolous name.

I think it's more embarrassing and tacky to say you "wouldn't be able to keep a straight face at the poor sod". You might think somebody's name is silly or ugly, but what if someone couldn't keep a straight face because your face is ugly or something equally shallow?
How crass.

Laurie, give over, we all know what standard names are in this country, stop pretending we live in a world where we don't or that we don't see some as not the norm.

Hi Cafelatte2go,

This sounds horribly close to those racists who, when presented with the idea that anyone who isn't white could be British say "come on, we all know who the real British people are".

My grandfather calls me buttercup! It's not on my birth certificate or my CV though....

I agree OP. A silly name is more likely to lead to cruel comments at school, never mind later on in life. I also dislike non-conventional spelling.

I'm also interested in why it has been said that some of the unusual names are "cultural" so it's not the same. Why? Is that to avoid looking racist? I'm confused.
For what it's worth my children all have unusual names, and I won't have someone who swears in every post they make thinking they're superior, you talk like trash OP and come across really bitter and bitchy.

we all know what standard names are in this country

I agree with fiddlesticks that this is starting to sound borderline racist.