Brandon - I can't tell her, can I?

[TheInnerSea]

My best friend is about to name her baby (due any day) Brandon.

I work in a school and we have four Brandon's. Every one of them has really severe behavioural problems, all regularly in isolation and excluded, three are violent towards other children and staff, the other regularly absconds from school. Social Services and other agencies involved for all four.

Now, I have no idea what the reason for this might be or if there is one, beyond coincidence and obviously it's ridiculous to think that naming her child the same would lead to the same problems, but people do make assumptions when they hear a name.

So should I/can I say anything? WWYD? And what would you expect her response to be?

I would expect her response to be "I didn't realise you were superstitious"

Do you think that in 4 years time when her child goes to school it will be tarred by the brush of the other Brandons?

No, don't say anything. You have a very specific experience of Brandons. I don't have any particular reaction to the name at all. If she loves it, she loves and will not thank you for giving your opinion.

It's funny how names do that. I think all I would say is, Brandon wow. I've got four of those in my school! I'm sure there will be lots of people on here with lovely Brandons.

I know a few nice Brandons. I don't think name has anything to do with behaviour though, so say nothing except that it's an awful name

I know a good Brandon and a really difficult bullying Brandon - what's in a name? I think the bully would still be a bully even if he was called Tarquin, Dave or whatever. Judging people by their name says more about the person that judges than anything else.

I would laugh at you if I was her.

And tell you to get over yourself.