I’m probably going to get BBQ’d for this article, but hey… it’s my opinion!
So the first baby of the year is born in Halifax County, and the mother names the little girl “Zarieyah Ayahvi”. What the hell kind of name is that? I mean, it’s got some weird-ass accent marks that I’m not going to try and find out how to type, but the name looks like a set of Scrabble tiles that I would throw back into the box and pass my turn.
I tried to look the name up to see what it meant at a website about baby names and got this result…
The meaning of Zarieyah – Could not find the name Zarieyah in our database.
The website probably exploded after putting that random string of letters in it.
And it’s not like the poor kid will be able to use her middle name to avoid spelling issues… “Ayahvi”? Guess what I got from the baby name website on that one?
The meaning of Ayahvi – Could not find the name Ayahvi in our database.
BOOM again!
I’ve got $20 for the next person that names their kid “QWERTYUIOP”. Based on that poor girl’s name, I might be paying out soon.
How in the hell do you pronounce that?
You guys know I teach so try this one on for size. The spelling is Xaxau; the pronunciation is Sasha. How about a Turquoise or an Idaly? What about Ar’shae or Artavy’us for a boy? One of the best ones ever in the Danville paper was Strawberry Ann; what will she get called in school????
Remember, folks — unique is not always a good thing.
I’m beginning to think everyone should get a chance at age 18 to change their name. I bet we’d see a lot of John Smiths and Betty Jonses.
This isn’t about race or class. I’ve seen people from all walks of life hang names like these on their progeny.
I just don’t see the big deal about the strange names.
I think they pronounce it Zaria but created their own spelling. The middle name WOW! Some of these parents are not thinking about that child when they begin school or even when they are getting ready to enter the working class. Unique is one thing DUMB ASS NAME IS ANOTHER. and bruce your title got it right. How about Z’nai-ja. I know a little girl with this name and she is three and when they told me the name then the spelling I was like WTH is up with the apostrophe and the dash. Wouldn’t it sound the same without the dash and apostrophe?
I remember years ago Bill Cosby had said a few words on this subject. He urged parents not to put stupid names on the baby’s birth certificates. His point was that when they are older and applying for a job, these idiot names are at the top of the resume. Seeing them leaves a prospective wide open for hidden discrimination. You know that 90% of the time, these names belong to certain type of person. (not color, just social class).
On the flip side, my name is unique. It’s even hard to pronounce simply by reading. However, I like it. It reflects my personality (Odd-ra)and I think I’m the only one around here…
OK – I gave my boys weird names, but I was motivated by having to share my name with many other children growing up. In one class there were 5 of us and we had to go by numbers. However, my boys may have unique names, but they shorten to more normal names. Benaiah is Ben and Tobiah is Toby. This way, if they do end up in a class where there is another child with their name they can go by their longer, more unique name rather than #2. (Try going through junior high being called that!) So, to those folks out there that want to give their kids unique names, please, think about your child and do right by them in some way.
I also substitute teach and have seen names that would blow your mind. In high school the kids are so used to it that when I pause to try to figure out what in the world I am looking at, the kid usually says “here” before I attempt to butcher their name. And I agree with what Bill Cosby said, your name will be your first impression to people when you submit a job application. If the interviewer has to make a selection between two applicants for a cut, they will probably go with the person whose name they can pronounce!
Awesome blog!
Next time I have a child, I will spell it’s name QWERTYUIOP, but I will pronounce it either “John” or “Mary”.
I used to love getting the sunday paper simply to look at the goofy baby names. My daughter had a kid in her class who’s name was Lemongello, his brother was named Orangello. It’s retarded, and it brings so much unwanted attention and stigma to the poor kids. Most of which can’t spell their own names, and are doomed to spend life being called everything but their name.
My favorite was the story about the girl in Louisiana named Le-a?
How would you pronounce it?
Leah?? NO
Lee – A?? NOPE
Lay – a?? NO
Lei?? Guess Again.
Read more here:
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.retirement/browse_thread/thread/b72a1c4014e92714
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