To think this is cruel from the parents? Child's name

[BePoliteOpalQuail]

Recently been teaching in secondary schools and met a kid with the exact same name as a very well-known and and iconic male celebrity, along the lines of Brad Pitt, Harry Styles, Zac Efron.

I imagine the kid gets a lot of stick. A little divided by it, it's cool but the kid will forever be getting comments on it and I just don't think it's fair on them.

Well... It depends.

How so? Unless is particularly unusual. Brad, Zac and harry are common names. My first name is the same as a famous person too. I don't get stick.

Depends on whether the person became famous before or after they were born

I met another kid with the name of a much older actor, think Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson.. but i think they're too old for most kids to recognise.

Totally depends on the name.

Could be worse; I know someone who shares a name with a murderer

I'd imagine by the 'exact same name' the OP is referring to their last name too.

I knew a James Bond when I was at secondary school. He loved it (at the time).

I also had a college teacher whose married name was Tina Turner. She hated it. (Especially when everyone would tell her she was simply the best).

Think it very much depends on the celebrity and the persons personality. But I do think it’s a bit odd to knowingly give them an exact name of a celeb. It’s a lot to live up to and comes with a lot of comments.

If it's just the first name I don't see an issue, unless it's something like Madonna or beyonce. But if its the full name like Zac Efron, then yeah that would be annoying for the kid.

I mean, he can’t really help his surname, so if it’s Efron and he’s been named Zac, I don’t see an issue. There will be millions of people with the same names as celebrities. At best it will get a bit of attention and people playing around joking about it, but I doubt it will be the subject of ridicule unless it’s an unusual name. Or do you mean his forename(s) are the full name of the celebrity, plus his surname, like Zac Efron Smith? Then yes, that’s odd and might be ridiculed.

Of course it's the full name. There are many Zacs and Harrys out there, but they also had the same surname, Efron, Styles.

Was the person famous when the child was born?

I know a 12 year old zayn malik, no issues within he name but obviously commented on occasionally

I know a couple of people who have the same name as extremely, globally recognised fictional characters. They had normal names before those characters became famous. I do feel sorry for them.

If parents knowingly give a child a name associated with a celebrity, I am both mystified and sympathetic. But I guess some think it’s cool or have other reasons.

One couple I vaguely know accidentally did this. They names their child after a famous poet (there aren’t many of those so this person really is well known) and didn’t even realise. Poor kid gonna spend his whole life intruding himself and having people go ‘Oh, like the poet?’

I think it depends - if you are a 60 year old named Harry Potter or Taylor Swift and were around way before the celeb of the same name, then it can't be helped although I can see how it's annoying.

Mr and Mrs Swift choosing to name their newborn Taylor is a totally different matter.

I think if it’s a proper name then it’s fine. Better than something weird like Hot Cross Bun or something 😂 in the future a lot of people won’t remember a lot of the famous people around now.

I know at least 4 people with 'celebrity names', 3 Steve Martins and a James bond. I don't remember any of them getting stick for it.

I know a couple of people who have the same name as extremely, globally recognised fictional characters. They had normal names before those characters became famous. I do feel sorry for them.

I once met a man called Wayne Eyre. OK, not the exact name but close enough for people to comment...

Weeelll …

My dad sort of did something not dissimilar. I was given a name (unusual and I don’t like that but still, a name!) and I was going to be given a middle name after my mums friend. My dad decided to put the middle name ‘first’ so that my initials were a word of sorts. It isn’t offensive or anything. But having my known name as technically my middle name has led to all sorts of headaches even leaving a job once, if you can believe that.

So I am not a fan of using your child for your own sense of humour!

I get he meant no harm but ultimately I’ve been the one who has had to explain this for decades.

There were two twin boys called Ronnie and Reggie at my childs school. Didn't share the same last name but still
I get what you mean OP. I wouldn't do it.

I'm named after a famous person. I've also worked with a James Brown and had a neighbour called John Lewis.

I knew a Holly Wood once. That was weird.

Well I'm afraid I've never even heard of Zac Efron and have no idea who he is.

So the celebrity may be iconic and well known to a lot of people - probably a generational thing- but to a lot of people the fact this child is named after someone currently " famous " will totally pass them by.

I remember years ago people feeling sorry for children whose parents called them Elvis. So this isn't a new phenomenon at all.

When the child is old enough he has the option to change his first name if it bothers him.

They just make it their own surely

Wayne Kerr? Poor sod 😜