Predudice towards names

[sunshinenanny]

I know that they say a childs name can influence it's success in life But I was shocked when a nanny I met at toddlers told me she had negative feelings towards one of her charges because of his name. evidently she doesn't think a child with his name could be anything but a troublemaker! On the other hand his sister can do no wrong because the nanny likes her name! At first I thought she was winding me up but she seemed deadly serious; She says you can always tell a childs nature by his/her name. Has anyone else heard of this sort of reasoning? It seems an apalling attitude for anyone to have, let alone someone looking after children

[rockboobs]

Names are not negative in themselves but if this nanny has a negative reaction

to the child with the name she doesn't like, and treats the poor thing in that

way then obviously the child is going to pick up on that and react towards her in

a negative way, fuelling her silly prejudice. Its a vicious circle.

[tammytoby]

They are trouble makers not DUE their name, but due to their PARENT's parenting style (and taste for names).

[chevytruck]

I know it sounds bonkers that there should be a correlation between name and personality. But my mum has been a primary teacher for 15 years and she would totally agree. Some names are always trouble makers. Some names are always quiet and shy etc

I have personally never met a Simon that isn't a weasel.

[SeoraeMaeul]

I also wonder if it does influence how they grow up - because of the way people react...
So if "all Nathan's are naughty" and people make that assumption, either coming down too hard at the slightest sign of misbehaviour or worse letting it go because "he's always naughty so I can't tell him off for everything". Then does that Nathan grow up being naughtier than he would have otherwise been?

[HauntedHengshanRoad]

Hopefully this won't descend into thinly-veiled racism wherein African-American names are thrown into the ring for mockery.

Fingers crossed.

[usualsuspect]

ok

[Kirstle]

I think we should agree to disagree, respectfully on this one. Neither of us are going to change our minds. I'm too old and tired to fight :)

[nothingoldcanstay]

Have a look on Facebook.

Put in a name and see how similar people can be. I was shocked that everyone with my first name looked feisty and up for it. My friends name also produced a lot of similar looking people. Doesn't say much about character though ....

[usualsuspect]

and you think thats right?

even if they were the best person for the job? you would still give the job to a Harry or Oliver.

That is wrong on so many levels

[Kirstle]

The example I gave - yes I absolutely would discount someone with that name for a position. Wow nothing. I think if you think most employers wouldn't then that would be a bit naive. Hello XYZ Ltd, Dr Dré speaking.... behave!

[Montsti]

Have any of you read the book, "Freakonomics"? A great chapter on names in that. Basically it is more to do with socio-economics than anything else. One woman in the US named her daughter a name pronounced "Sherteed" but spelt "Shithead"!!!

[pictish]

Jordans, Reeces, Lewises and Keirons are bound to be right little toerags.
Emmas and Sarahs are all lovely.

Ha ha - of course it's silly....but there is no doubt that names conjour up images and an impression in one's head. That is what makes us want to choose one name over another.

[EmpressOfTheZombieDucks]

My council estate kid (yr 6) has just been voted Chair of her school council, is normally top of the class and wants to take her GCSEs early and study chemistry at university. Not that any of that matters compared to our address.
You sound lovely, Puddlejumper, but I'm very glad DD doesn't have your sister for a teacher!

[Primafacie]

Bbc report on the Bounty survey here

[evamummy]

"I think it's more to.do with socio-economic class than anything"

Absolutely. There is a correlation between parent's tastes (including names) and their values/morals/behaviours. There was a list recently on the bbc website which listed the 'worst behaved' children according to a large survey by teachers.

But of course there are exceptions!

[usualsuspect]

The council estate kids

just wow again

[nancerama]

I hope this isn't true. Ive recently encountered a toddler with the same name as DS who is a proper little tyrant.

[Boobz]

My step sister is a Rachael and is a complete waste of space, I'm afraid. The worst person I have ever met, actually.

[Bubbaluv]

We discounted lots of names because we associated them with people we didn't like. Not because we actually thought our associations would effect our child though.
We did choose DS2's name because (after discounting each other's other favourite names) neither of us had ever met a Cameron we didn't like (or fancy in my case!)

The child minder is a fruit loop.

[mrsmummy84]

I knew an ugly James!

I've never met a nice Louise.

[SaffronCake]

OH and I have both noticed there does tend to be a correlation between names and character traits but so far no name we can think of is without it's exceptions. For example a certain girls name he associates with teenage total wastes of space is also the name of a healthy, modest, hard working and active little girl in his badminton club who could easily be held up as a role model to her peers. One of the worst boys names we can think of (another scum name) is also the name of my best friends partner, who is a gentle, philosphical, calming soul with great integrity and intelligence. Trends exist yes, but nothing is absolute. Not giving someone a chance based on their name is disgusting, especially in a Nanny (she should be fired immediately if found not to have been joking)!

[Lonnie]

All the Poppy's I know are awful but must agree Nathans are a handful

[usualsuspect]

So you would discount someone for a job purely on their name?

just wow