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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Predudice towards names

36 replies

sunshinenanny · 17/10/2011 16:14

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

OP posts:

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Montsti · 18/10/2011 11:43

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"!!!

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Kirstle · 18/10/2011 17:34

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!

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usualsuspect · 18/10/2011 20:42

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

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nothingoldcanstay · 18/10/2011 20:50

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 ....

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Kirstle · 18/10/2011 21:31

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 :)

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usualsuspect · 18/10/2011 21:42

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HauntedHengshanRoad · 19/10/2011 02:24

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

Fingers crossed.

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SeoraeMaeul · 19/10/2011 02:38

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?

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chevytruck · 19/10/2011 08:23

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.

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tammytoby · 19/10/2011 08:34

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

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rockboobs · 19/10/2011 08:40

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.