Outlandish names have gotten worse in recent years, so much so that judges had to intervene. In 2015, France banned “Nutella” and “Strawberry” from being used for baby names. The UK did the same thing a year later when a woman from Wales wanted to name her daughter “Cyanide.”
In both situations, judges had the children’s best interests at heart, stating that the absurd names may cause problems when they grow up. It is quite unfortunate, as it seemed amiss with these parents.
#6 Mr. Perv
The trend of weird and quirky names has also been prevalent in the United States. According to a study by San Diego State University psychology professor Dr. Jean Twenge, Americans have been more inclined to give their babies less common names, which have decreased in popularity since the 1950s.
While names like Joseph, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Jennifer are still popular, you may also have noticed the rise in popularity of more unorthodox names like Maude, Phineas, Saffron, and Bevelyn, to name a few.
So, what is the reason behind the rise in popularity of uncommon names? Dr. Twenge suggests that American individualism may be a contributing factor. As she told the BBC, it’s their way of wanting to make their child more distinct.
“Parents have favored giving children names that help them stand out – and that means more unique names and fewer common names,” she explained.
#12 My Mom Named Me After Naruto
Anytime I tell someone my name, they never believe me, and I get in trouble with the law because they think I'm joking. They'll ask my name, I'll say Ninja, then they'll ask, "What's your real name?", and if I have my ID, I'll give it to them, and even then, I've been taken into jail because they think I have a fake ID. School was a nightmare, and don't even get me started on finding a job. I've been thinking about changing my name to Spencer so I can actually get some decent work, but I've lived my life as Ninja for so long, I don't know if I'll ever adjust. So speaking of which, any name ideas?
Wealth is another contributing factor, according to Arizona State University professor Michael Varnum. As he told the BBC in the same interview, scarcity isn’t a concern for people with infinite resources. In turn, they are more likely to be open to “stick out a little bit.”
“If you don’t have a lot of resources or wealth, the better strategy might be conformity and to do what most people are doing,” he said.
#13 My Name Is "Nasser". The Game Is Censoring The Middle Letters And It's Making It Worse
We’d now like to hear from you, readers. Which of these names do you think is most unfortunate? Are they that bad to warrant a legal name change, or are they acceptable enough to live with? Share your thoughts in the comments!
#18 Last Name Pretty Much Seals The Deal
