Stupid "black" names...why?

[KnitShoni]

I think that you really have to balance between unique/special/whatever and pronounceable/doesn't mean something absurd. Personally, I would go for a more "normal" (whatever that means) first name and then the really special meaningful name as a middle name.

See, I teach college. And the first few classes are super awkward, because I'm learning their names and such. The first time I take roll, if there's a crazy name that I don't know how to pronounce, it embarrasses both me and the student. Now, there are cases where this can't be helped, primarily international students. I will try to pronounce their given name however they want me to say it, but secretly? I'm relieved if they tell me that I can call them Mark or Suzy or Chad. Last names are such a minefield that I avoid them completely, except this year, when I had 3 Jessica's and 2 Brianna's.

This isn't about me judging the person or their parents or bearing them any ill will at all. It's about me being afraid of saying their name because I'm so afraid that I'm going to mispronounce it.

Thing is, by the time they reach college, they generally don't mind having to correct someone on the pronunciation, or, as you said, will have a nickname you can call them. I have 2 nicknames. One of them is part of my screen name here.

Then again, this thread isn't talking about international students. Based on the comments in this thread, those names are acceptable.

[Ree]

The question was, "since when does a name HAVE to dictate who and what we are as people?" No one asked whether or not it had some influence.

I may be dense, (oh hell, I know I am dense) but to me, that's saying the same thing. Obviously there are other factors that make us who we are, but from the day we are given our name, it does begin to shape who we will become as people.

I actually go by my middle name, which is a rather old fashioned name. I often wonder, if I had been called by my first name, Catherine, how I would have been perceived by others, and if I would have been a different person than I am.

[wolfie]

As for my name? I know I've told this before. But it's only 3 letters long. I had someone spell it: Aimieey. 7 letters. WTF? I don't have any I's or E's in my name.

Just curious, but does anyone shorten your name to Caroline?

[gremcint]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2...a-nz-name.html

A judge in New Zealand fed up with parents bestowing bizarre names on their offspring has given a girl named Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii the chance to change hers.

[KnitShoni]

I may be dense, (oh hell, I know I am dense) but to me, that's saying the same thing. Obviously there are other factors that make us who we are, but from the day we are given our name, it does begin to shape who we will become as people.

You're not dense, we just saw the question from different viewpoints, I think.

My best friend goes by her middle name, as well, for no other reason than she hates her first name with a passion. She doesn't, however, hate people with the same first name. You bring up a good point, though. Is it our given names that shape us, or the names we choose to use?

[linguist]

who decides what constitutes a "real" or "normal" name? at some point in their history, all names, even "real" ones, were made up.

and "normal" names have negative connotations as well. i for one associate john with toilet, and jack (and to a somewhat lesser extent jill) with masturbation. peter and richard (dick) with the male genitalia. virginia comes from virgin, and sounds suspiciously close to vagina, and delores rhymes with clitoris. hey! let's throw all those out, too.

names are what they are. no name is any more or less valid than any other, regardless of origin, spelling, or pronunciation. only small-minded bigots are going to judge someone by their name, and aren't those the ones we should be fighting, rather than bitching about the parents' choices in naming?

[linguist]

"Candida" with "lady parts itch" because in English, that's what they mean. I mean, come on.

i think you're confusing english with latin. doctors and others may refer to a yeast infection as candida, but in doing so they are using its latin name. in english it's just "yeast infection."

candida is latin for "snow white" or "spotless". it is the name of a play (and a character therein) by george bernard shaw. there are also six saints candida and two saints candidum (the male version of the name) recognized by the catholic church. one of them, st. candida the elder, is the patron saint of naples.

[Greenday]

\names are what they are. no name is any more or less valid than any other, regardless of origin, spelling, or pronunciation. only small-minded bigots are going to judge someone by their name, and aren't those the ones we should be fighting, rather than bitching about the parents' choices in naming?

Yea, but if someone starts acting out stereotypes, having a ridiculous name is the nail in the coffin.

Seriously, who are people to judge? They are people. When one thing continually results in another, a person is going to build expectations. So when I meet someone with a ridiculous name and they give all appearances of being the stereotype, odds are I'm going to think she IS the stereotype. That applies to blacks, hicks, Italians, whatever. I know it's horrible to stereotype people, but it wouldn't hurt for people to stop acting like them.

[KnitShoni]

I do have a question, though: What is so ridiculous about the names listed in the OP?

[Gravekeeper]

Ah, nothing like typing out a huge, articulated post only to have the board wipe it because it login timed out while you were typing it up.

<whimper>

I do have a question, though: What is so ridiculous about the names listed in the OP?

I think once you've hit the "Sounds like an Elf in Middle Earth" point you may have gone a bit too far. >.>

[KnitShoni]

Yeah...I'm missing which one of those reached that point.

[Greenday]

I think once you've hit the "Sounds like an Elf in Middle Earth" point you may have gone a bit too far. >.>

Usually, when a name makes me stop and think "wtf?", that's when it's gone too far.

Don't pick a ridiculous name just because it's different so you think it's cute and special.

And I think all the names listed in the OP are ridiculous.

[KnitShoni]

And I think all the names listed in the OP are ridiculous.

Why? Aside from the fact that you wouldn't use them.

[linguist]

And I think all the names listed in the OP are ridiculous.

the operative part of this sentence is "i think." but the true question is what makes your opinion more valid than that of the person who chose the name? or are you just that self-centered that you believe that yours is the only valid opinion?

[Greenday]

Why? Aside from the fact that you wouldn't use them.

Because they sound so abnormal it's stupid. Seriously, it's like someone took a bunch of letters and threw them together and that's what they got.