Why are people so ignorant when it comes to names?

Question

Why do people make comments about names such as 'oh you will get bullied' 'nobody will ever be able to say it' 'the child wont be able to spell it' or making fun out of the pronunciation?

Answer 1

There was a Tyra Banks episode about this a couple of weeks ago...and the sad part is, some names do carry negative connotations.  I think that people should not judge someone based on their name, but it does happen.  Even some "normal" names with different spellings (ex. Danielle vs. Daniyeal) can have negative consequences...You should read "Freakonomics"...there is a chapter in it on this subject...plus the book is really good.

Answer 2

<sarcasm>Oh yes HOW DARE they be concerned about such things...</sarcasm>

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapc...

" Family Court Judge Rob Murfitt listed a series of unusual names that New Zealand parents had given their children, and said he was concerned that such strange monikers would create hurdles for them as they grew up.

"It makes a fool of the child and sets her up with a social disability and handicap," the New Zealand Press Association quoted the judge as saying."

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-49996

"The point I think people need to realize when they are naming their children is that unique is wonderful, but it can also be a burden when it crosses a line and subjects children to ridicule or makes getting through the average day difficult because of the number of times you have to explain it or spell it."

Answer 3

i don't know .. everyone has his own opinion , if i was in your position i will not care ... it is just talking from envy soul.  

Answer 4

Because some names just evoke certain reactions from people. They can't help it, but sometimes when you hear a name the first thing that comes to mind isn't always nice. I wouldn't call it ignorance though.

Answer 5

some people are just inconsiderate....they need to think...some of these people pick names because they have a certain meaning to them...or they are after someone they hold dear to them..that has passed on or something like that....it makes me really mad when someone gets rude..over a name....its kinda like the quote from Bambi..."If you can't say nothing nice, then dont say nothing at all"

Answer 6

U answered ur own question. Because they are ignorant. People usually put time and effort into giving their child a name that has special meaning to them and I think it's cruel for anyone to make fun of or riducule your choice in names. Ignore it and name the child whatever you choose.  

Answer 7

Because people are envious.

And stupid, most of the time.

They just hate their parents for their names.

So they take it out on other people.

Answer 8

Because some name are just simply wrong.  For instance I know this guy his name is:  Harry Dicks.  I am not kidding his first name is Harry his last is Dicks.  What the h**l was his parents thinking?  He put up with a lot of ribbing growing up and people think he is bullshitting them when he is giving his name over the phone.  

His parents must have been stoned and thought the name was hilarious.  Unfortunatly for Harry he's had to deal with the brunt of it his whole life.  What jerks!

Answer 9

because people are rude horrible and mean and idiotic! they have nothing better to do with their lives and instead of considering their flaws they like to vent by making fun of others when vice versa they should be making fun of them for being so immature!

Answer 10

Why are people so ignorant in general?  It's because people specialize.  That generates tons of specialized knowledge and so most people won't know very much of it.  Names aren't different.

My last name is unpronounceable, and can't be spelled.  I love it.  Well, it is short.

Answer 11

names are important, and though if you ask for peoples aoppinions they will give it to you.  There oppinions are  not there to annoy oir offend you but it will happen as we all have different tastes.

Like I hate the name chelsea but loe the name Martha and I just know most people would prefer the other way round.

I work in a school and some kids do have trouble with being called silly things because of their names and they do get embarassed when someone reads their name wrong.

I don't think they are ignorant, they just have oppinions.

Answer 12

Well I knew this kid in highschool whose parents named him Dane Shane Crane; his first name Dane and last name Crane with Shane as the middlename. How horrible is that!? and yes he DID get made fun of all the time.  

Answer 13

its impossible to please everyone as i learned when i was picking a name for my daughter. When I was growing up people were picked on for plenty of other things other than their names, so dont worry about what they say, choose what you want, not them. otherwise you'll regret it later.

Answer 14

I don't think they're necessarily ignorant but merely trying to help make the life of the mother and the child easier. Maybe they've gone through being bullied because of their name and want to help out.  

Answer 15

If you ask an opinion, you have to expect some you don't agree with!  I think that so long as it's an honest opinion, it's ok!

Answer 16

because its different than the norm but i have a lot of friends with weird names but now i think of it i would probably have a hard time if every one had the same name as me

Answer 17

i dont think they mean any harm by it, its just one of those little comments people make in jest, no malice intended

Answer 18

People come on here asking for our opinions.  THEN they don't like when we don't agree with their list of names.  No one wants to see a kid grow up with a terrible name.

Some names I've seen on here are crazy.

I think it would also help when asking for opinions is to write down your country name.  If you live in North America or live in Sweden or Africa.. the names would probably be differnet.  It will help having a bit more background then the names may not be judged as harsh.

Answer 19

You know I like different names, so what if people say they will be bullied or can't say it. A lot of kids names usually get a shorter name, or a nick name. I say name your baby what you want it to have, and if they don't like it when they grow up then they have a choice to change it if they want to. The heck with what everyone else thinks. A child name always has some sort of special meaning to the parents.

Answer 20

They have a point sometimes. Pick a sensible and appropriate name that's going to be of benefit to the child, not one that sounds cutesy-wootsie to you but insufferably silly to others.

In New Zealand there was a bit of controversy when a nine-year-old girl called "Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii" took her parents to court to get her name changed. Other controversial names included "s*x Fruit", "Violence", "Number 16 Bus Shelter" (where the child was conceived perhaps?), "Benson" and "Hedges" (twins), "Fish" and "Chips" (twins), "Stallion", and "Twisty Poi". Other parents have tried to name their kids after entire football teams, or have given them names that included numerals, symbols, or odd capitalization.

Frankly a parent shouldn't be allowed to give a child a name that a normal person would be reluctant to give to a racehorse. The needs of the child have to come first. In some European countries you have to pick from a list of approved names, and I think that makes a lot of sense.

Answer 21

There are a lot of unintelligent, uneducated people out there.  I think a name should be spelled correctly to be able to be pronounced correctly.  As long as its a real name without made up spelling and isn't some kind of joke like Ben Dover, or Jill Hill, or Tullula does the Hula, or you are naming a boy a traditional girls name like Elizabeth I say go for it.  Siobhan is a fine name, I really love it, and had I ever had a girl, it was right at the top of the list.

Answer 22

some people just feel like they have to say something. my own family members have said things like that to me when I used to think up baby names and I decided if i ever do have kids they wont find out the babies names until they are born.

Remember ignorance is all around us

Answer 23

thats just the way some people are, and it is mean. People make fun of my name all the time :(.

can you please answer mine, i need to know if this is normal, nobody has answered yet:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 24

They're not ignorant.  They're expressing their opinion, and opinions are neither right nor wrong, they simply ARE.

I have said some of those same things to people and been right.  What do you say to your 5 year old when she comes home from school and says she hates her name and is tired of people making fun of her?  At the age of 5 she shouldn't have to feel that way.

Her name was one that her folks just made up. They named her Marcheika.   Pronounced:  Mar - sheek - ah.

Answer 25

I just got two points too! HA...Well, there are some pretty weird names out there...and they are bullied...so maybe people should start thinking before they give their children a lifetime of problems.

Nobody is going to take a grown adult seriously named "Apple" or "Tizzy"  

Answer 26

I have no clue but I understand what your saying. People ARE ignorent and can ge SOOOO rude with names! Hate those people. I guess you can call them kinda racists.

Answer 27

Since people are asking for reactions to the proposed name of a child, they will get all kinds of feedback. Believe me, if you grew up with a name that other kids made fun of, you'd welcome some input if your name choice was inadvertently going to put your child in that situation.  

Answer 28

people are petty and ignorant when it comes to just about anything. best not to let what people think/say get to you.

Answer 29

I don't think that's "ignorant" at all.  In fact, quite the opposite.  In the real world, people DO get made fun of because of their names.  It's just a fact of life, and these people are just bringing it to your attention.  

Answer 30

i think it is because they are jealous, rude, and mean. just ignore them but if they keep bothering you ask a close serious friend for help.  

Answer 31

i dont know.....i really wanted to name our daughter Anya...and my boyfriend was like no way because everyone will say "on ya back!" and make fun of her! and i was like yeah youre insane i never would have thought of that.....

her name is now abigael lol