What is wrong with made up names?

[peanutbutterkid]

Just that, really.

There is a bungalow near where I used to live called "Sidrene". Clearly lived in (at some point) by Sidney and Irene. Do that to a child and I'd call it abuse.

Whether we like it or not, people may well judge you on the name you have been given. I just wonder whether people who choose made up names are doing so more for themselves than their children, who will be adults a lot longer than they will be cute little babies.

I called my dd High School Musical. Never had a problem with finding personalised stuff for her.

I always think they are trying too hard.

I think Condie got away with it because (a) she has a very plain surname and (b) non-traditional names are pretty traditional among African Americans.

I've got - thanks to DH - an uncommon surname so even though he, I and DD have commonplace names we're unique enough already. Having to spell out one name is enough - in such a case a made-up name or deviant spelling would have been sheer cruelty.

How can you like Condaleeza Rice?! She's a neo-con. Those people are scary.

I just wonder why people think they need to make one up when there are literally thousands to choose from already. The 'first impression' factor is very important when it comes to job applications; I think there is such a thing as name-based discrimination, especially in the US, where made up names usually mean the bearer is African American. Condoleeza Rice's name didn't hold her back, but she, I think, is the exception that proves the rule. There are a lot of Latrinas, LaShawns, Roquanitas, etc. there who will never get to that first interview because of their names.

lol at Daisy. Why did I never think of that?? Mind you, dd could have ended up being called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

The problem is that the DC has to live with it! OK if they have a strong enough personality, but a bit cruel if they turn out to be shy and retiring.

Because made up names are usually naff.

Also (this may already have been mentioned) there are thousands of beautiful names which have meanings and a history attached, and may also have belonged to famous or inspirational people, or have literary links etc

In making up a name, there is no history, no richness,it's just a collection of letters. Rather empty.

Just a thought, but why does a name have to mean something? My daughter's name is not one with any family history, it is not the name of some heroine or famous author, it is just a name I love. That's it. It could quite easily have been "vodka-lime-and-soda" as I love that too, but it wasn't.

I am sitting firmly on the fence here, btw, I don't mind one jot what people call their children, it's just the "but their name won't mean anything" argument which I am questioning.

A name doesn't have to mean something, but the vast majority of traditional names have a meaning which can be traced, and many people attach some significance to it. I guess some people just like the sound of a name and aren't bothered about the meaning, but many people probably consider it as part of the overall package IYSWIM. We definitely looked for names which sounded lovely, and also had lovely meanings. Conversely, a 'negative' meaning put me off some names, eg I love the sound of the name Rebecca, but it means 'a noose' which put me off it!

I judge more on internet fora though. I know somebody in rl who has a Skye, J0y and D0n, and if I'd read that on an internet forum I might think, hmmmm, choppy, Scottish, hippy, what?!?! and a bit incomplete somehow... I'd really over-analyse the names and the combos until I'd sucked the life out of them!! But knowing the family and the children, the 'stoccato' style names seems dramatic and still quite modest, but not at all incomplete, especially in a sea of Alexanders and Amelias. In rl, I don't think anything negative about their names at all. Does that make any sense?! NO! but still.

mathanxiety - I think LaShawn Merritt is doing OK despite his name - I'd settle for being an Olympic and a World Champion!

I feel the urge to point out that Ms Rice is actually Condoleezza, with two Zs, the second, unnecessary, Z is the "icing on the cake" IMO.

Think it'd be quite tricky icing that on a cake

I don't know. I can't give you a reason but I bloody hate them.

yeah, but being an athlete means you don't have to send your CV in to managers who are inclined to look on made-up names less favourably, especially if they suggest the person might be Black (the research has been done on that one).

Had LaShawn wanted to be a company director, he might have found his path much less clear.

Because you might as well tattoo "Thick" on their head at birth.

Would you seriously entertain the idea of having a lawyer called "Destanee-Starr" fight your battle in a British court of law?

My child has a "made up" name. We used it because we loved it. As it turns out it's similar, if not spelled the same, as an obscure folk hero.

But then I'm sure his life chances have already been irrevocably sabotaged by him having a northern accent.

'How can you like Condaleeza Rice?! '

So what? She's hard-working, comes from a poor background. I admire that, regardless of her politics.

I like some Labour MPs, too, though their politics make me shudder.

Hard-working, poor background, black and female - but also part of an administration that instructed agents to use torture, lied about global warming and committed war crimes.

a woman who appeared in Emmerdale was called Malandra Burroughs. I thought, Malandra - that sounds fairly exotic... it turns out it was a cross between her father's name (Malcolm) and her mother's name (sandra). That's not right, is it?