Is this name as bad as I think it is?

[wb]

...and if so, should I say anything?

Briefly, a friend is expecting a baby boy in April. She told me today they are considering the name John.

Ordinarily of course that would be fine, nice name, but, but, but their surname is Doe. So, John Doe.

To me (avid fan of CSI etc) John Doe is the name given to unidentified bodies at the morgue. Am extremely to think about someone calling a baby this.

So, is it just me? Is dead body the first thing that springs to mind? Should I say anything? Normally, I would never dream of suggesting I didn't like a name but this has really blown my curcuits. Think I just gave a strangled squeak when she told me

bad, but better than Doe Doe

Are you having us on?

If it's true it's bloody awful. Unspeakable.

That cannot be true

It is true, honest! Not a joke, at least on my part (I did wonder if she was having me on but if so she has discovered an amazing acting ability).

The thing is she is quite a strict Christian (Quaker) and doesn't really 'do' TV, and certainly nothing violent or nasty so I did genuinely wonder if she wasn't aware.

It's not just me then. Will have to say something won't I?

rofl

sorry, you will have to say something

if this is true

Piratecat, I am not making this up (look at my posting history, I am dead dull).

If I say something and she is having me on I will probably never live it down.

I think she is having you on.
No one in their right mind would call their child John Doe. John Deere would be bad but John Doe is just ridiculous!

You must tell her. If she's not having you on.

I know a girl with sur name byrne. she told me she was considering the name william. I SAID willy byrne ha ha ha ha.

she went on to call her son William Bryne, Can't quite believe it and he's a year old. i'm in shock still!!

And a good point from the Wiki entry on this subject:

"Bearing the actual name John Doe can cause difficulty, such as being stopped by airport security or suspected of being an incognito celebrity"

I work with a 40-something John Doe and he does indeed occassionally have trouble entering the US .....

At least it isn't Dohraymefarsolatea Doe.

I have some alternative suggestions for your friend

Bred
Mouldyole
Needin

and my personal favourite

Afemaledeerisa

What's weird about William Byrne?

Agree that John Doe is terrible. If she really doesn't know, you must tell her. Unknowingly calling your baby the name given to unidentified corpses in US cop shows would be rubbish.

If it's a girl is she thinking of Jane?

Have to say that I would never have known the connection to corpses.

However, I think I'd have prefered someone to tell me at this point, rather than after the baby is born.

I know someone named Jane Doe.

My sister wanted to call her baby Sanchez. When I told DH this he and his friend simultaneously sprayed tea all over the kitchen. When I discovered why, I felt in incumbent on myself to mention this do my sister and she changed her name choice as a result.

How famous is CSI? I've no idea what it is but then I'm hopelessly, willfully out of touch with popular culture.

It's not just CSI - it is the actual accepted name for unidentified person/corpse in America. Apparently first used inthe UK in 1659 if you believe Wikipedia.

How about suggesting Homer?

iloveGregoryHouse me tooooooooooooooooooo, when's series five on???????? I loved the last series. Pure excellence.

What's wrong with willy Byrne???

too much shagging gives you willly byrne (well not yooou)

OMG!! I'm sorry but that's frigging hilarious!! Will they call any future DDs Jane??

it isn't only CSI, it's widely used for unidentified (live) people as well as corpses

I've never watched CSI but believe me, John Doe is the de facto "no-one" and "fake" name in the US. And I am so out of touch I don't even know what popular culture is .

It is not funny [affronted glare]. Honestly, if she is trying to wind me up it has really, really worked.

So we are agreed that the associations with the name are pretty well-known. If she still likes the name when we next talk about it I will say something. And, quite possibly, be laughed out of town.

catinthehat2 that's inspired. I could point out the potential difficulties with the name and sort of slip the corpse thing in, as it were.

OK, you can all go back to laughing now...