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The term 'Nominative determinism' refers to the idea that some people are attracted to certain jobs that match up with their names. Can this phenomenon really hold weight? It sounds incredibly narcissistic to be attracted to things that remind us of ourselves, but the research suggests that your name really does have a great influence on your life choices.
One study found that people named Dennis or Denise tend to become dentists at a higher-than-average rate. Patterns were also identified among doctors, showing high incidences of fitting names in areas like urology for example, where there were a number of surnames like Cox, Ball, Dick and Waterfall. And, of course, there are the occupational surnames which suggest some kind of family legacy, like Butcher, Smith, Baker and Miller.
However, sometimes the matches are so bizarre and funny, they cannot be explained. We here at Bored Panda have collected a list of people who are unwittingly doing exactly what their names are telling them to do, along with a few others who just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Scroll down below to check it out for yourself, and don't forget to vote for your favorites!
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#1
Neuroscientist Lord Brain
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#2
Firefighter McBurney
#3
Lawyer Sue Yoo
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
At Least hide her contact information please, Else Sue will Sue you!
#4
Cashier Ka Ching
#5
Andrew Drinkwater
#6
Volunteer Toogood
#7
Physician Dr. Docktor
Naima Ivansdóttir 6 years ago
i work in the field of nuclear medicine and medical physic and sometimes i have to deal with a dr. doctor too ...wonder if it's the same person???
Naima Ivansdóttir 6 years ago
oh no it's not - different spelling, just noticed
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Grace McEachin 6 years ago
while at Children's Hospital Medical Center there was a friend of mine whose name was William D**k - William was called D**k so the overhead page would resonant Dr. D**k D**k, call extension 347, Call Extension 347! hahahaha it made you laugh everytime!
Dian Ella Lillie 6 years ago
Now, if s/he had a PhD as well, as some of my old colleagues do, it'd be Doctor Doctor Docktor....
Craig Lee 6 years ago
The hyphenated Dr. you see on the sign is not the persons first name, it's the title.... Hence, PhD already.
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Arran Walker 5 years ago
Oh, Doctor Docktor, can’t you see I’m burning, burning? Oh, Doctor Docktor, is this love I’m feeling?
Mónica Elisabeth Sacco 6 years ago
Actually it's Doktor Frankenstein, but smb neglected the surname
Cece O 6 years ago
There are a few brave souls in the family who listened when someone said, "it would be so funny if you grew up to become a Doctor". No, it wouldn't be. It's hard enough when you tell people your last name is Doctor and they ask you how to spell it. As a married woman though I do hyphenate it sometimes and end up as a Dr.
DE Ray 6 years ago
There is a tradition among certain groups to name children after the job the parents hope the child will grow up to have. I have personally met three people named "Doctor", one "Teacher", and one "Umpire".
Craig Lee 6 years ago
In this case it's not parents naming a child after a wished for profession. Docktor is the last name.
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#8
Cashier Kashera
#9
Ophthalmologist Ashley Seawright
#10
Gastroenterologist Joshua Butt
#11
Music Teacher Miss C Sharp
#12
Librarian Bookendorf
#13
Paul Paulos From St. Paul Police
#14
Chef Tom Kitchin
#15
Meat Manager Brad Slaughter
#16
Jason Weed
#17
What A Name For A Weather Presenter
#18
Dr Mike Loosemore Talking About Need To Lose Weight
#19
Lawyer Jonathan Law
#20
Just To Show To All My Clients That Don’t Believe My Surname Is Barber
#21
Runner Aaron Farr
#22
Funeral Directors Wake And Paine
#23
Weather Presenter Sara Blizzard
#24
President Robin Mahfood
#25
Doctor Atchoo
#26
Dr Blood
#27
Funeral Directors Thomas Grieve And Son
#28
Archaeologist Dr Pam Graves
#29
Scott Forrest
#30
Amy Parks
#31
Literature In French Editor Peter France
#32
Dentist Rachel Pullin
#33
Dentist L. Justin Payne
#34
Race Car Driver Scott Speed
#35
Todd Cutright
#36
Hand Surgeon David J. Mitten
#37
Assistant Deli Manager Margaret Bacon
#38
Fiona Lander In Perth Airport
#39
Weather Anchor L. Sprinkle
#40
Sled Dog Champion Vickie Pullin
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What do you think ?
troufaki13 6 years ago
There's a dietician in Greece and her name roughly translates to "Maria Starve-to-death" :'D
glowworm2 6 years ago
My boyfriend saw a sign for elections this year that said "Crook for Congress." He couldn't stop laughing at it.
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
Wonder if his opponent ran ads saying, "I am not Crook!"
Load More Replies...
Trent Kamerman 6 years ago
I am a Cameraman.......We call it jobonomatopoeia . www.800kamerman.com Screen-Sho...42-png.jpg 
Misterscooter 6 years ago
I used to work for an oil company and one of the leaders had the last name of Greaser.
Dee Hunter 6 years ago
Near where I live there's a village which name translates to "Drugs", the former mayor's name translates to "Hemp" ...
Ari Niemelä 6 years ago
There is a hospital in Finland where is two doctors, other name is translated as Smart and other is Luck. When Smart is not enough, then Luck goes to help him.
Amanda Panda 6 years ago
My postman growing up was Mr. Stamps and I had an OB/GYN named Dr. Hymen
Ayra 6 years ago
In my hometown, it could happen that you had this dream team when having your wisdom teeth removed: Dr. Lücke (= Gap) as dentist, Dr. Messer (=knife) as surgeon and Dr. Sandmann (=sandman) as anaesthetist... Another one which I drove by on my way to university was that lawyer called "Streit" which translates to "argument"
movie maven 6 years ago
doubt this counts though we do have a doctor whose full name is Richard Hung, he goes by Dr. D**k Hung, urologist & surgeon.
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
I can't stop thinking 🤔 according to this coincidence profession/name ,what profession will have that girl named ABCD, will she be a teacher. ?😂😂😂
Donna Cheung 6 years ago
I love this post so much... I guess you can say that for some people, their occupation is truly their "calling"...?
Jo Johannsen 6 years ago
There is (or used to be) a pathology lab in Torrance where the doctors were named Tisue and Samples
Sandra Gushulak 6 years ago
Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after the magazine's humorous Feedback column noted several studies carried out by researchers with remarkably fitting surnames.
SirWriteALot 6 years ago
German therapist called "Gisela von Hinten" which means "Gisela from behind"
Isabel Care 6 years ago
Knew a Mr Capon who worked in the food industry. Worked for Herr Kopfli who exported Swiss food (on a menu creme caramel was caramel kopfli.) My family surname is Care and my brother is a psychiatric nurse
Quick & to the pointless 6 years ago
The librarian in my elementary school name was Ms. Dewey....
Ryo Bakura 6 years ago
Not sure he will. Squires aren't really a thing anymore, and if he became a senator, he would be Senator Squire Sebastian Senator whatever his last name will be, so he'd be known as Senator (his last name), because that was just his first name.
Load More Replies... 
Ron Howard 1 year ago
My mother's doctor was Dr Deathridge. There was a podiatrist here in town named Dr Trotter.
Jo Brockberg 2 years ago
We saw an ad for Paul Schwinghammer, builder for Hallmark Homes in Indiana!
Jo Johannsen 4 years ago
There is a pathology lab in the South Bay whose doctors are Tisue & Samples - partners in nominative determinism as well as in business.
Joannie Goulet 6 years ago
The doctor that followed me during my last 2 pregnancies is called Larrivée, wich translate as arrival.
Simon Levene 6 years ago
There is a criminologist who has written the standard handbook for judges on criminal sentencing. his name is Rob Banks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Banks-Sentence-2018-Two-set/dp/0993202292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544971630&sr=8-1&keywords=BANKS+SENTENCING
Sarah Gardner 6 years ago
Aptronym, interesting that people who have that sort of name are actually statistically more likely to then go into that profession.
BlackestDawn 6 years ago
This one been floating around for a while: https://cheezburger.com/8584659968/ditch-her-quick-and-hide-divorce-lawyers . Not sure how genuin it is though.
Alexandru Bucur 6 years ago
As someone already said, some names come from professions, so it's not unusual to find someone still doing the profession several generations later, especially if it's the family business. In my case, for example, I'm a third generation architect, because my grandpa was one, so are both my parents and one of my siblings (the other is a graphic designer). and we have a family firm. Amusingly, the other branch of the family are all doctors, and my brother originally wanted to become one, before switching back to architecture.
troufaki13 6 years ago
There's a dietician in Greece and her name roughly translates to "Maria Starve-to-death" :'D
glowworm2 6 years ago
My boyfriend saw a sign for elections this year that said "Crook for Congress." He couldn't stop laughing at it.
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
Wonder if his opponent ran ads saying, "I am not Crook!"
Load More Replies... Trent Kamerman 6 years ago
I am a Cameraman.......We call it jobonomatopoeia . www.800kamerman.com Screen-Sho...42-png.jpg
Misterscooter 6 years ago
I used to work for an oil company and one of the leaders had the last name of Greaser.
Dee Hunter 6 years ago
Near where I live there's a village which name translates to "Drugs", the former mayor's name translates to "Hemp" ...
Ari Niemelä 6 years ago
There is a hospital in Finland where is two doctors, other name is translated as Smart and other is Luck. When Smart is not enough, then Luck goes to help him.
Amanda Panda 6 years ago
My postman growing up was Mr. Stamps and I had an OB/GYN named Dr. Hymen
Ayra 6 years ago
In my hometown, it could happen that you had this dream team when having your wisdom teeth removed: Dr. Lücke (= Gap) as dentist, Dr. Messer (=knife) as surgeon and Dr. Sandmann (=sandman) as anaesthetist... Another one which I drove by on my way to university was that lawyer called "Streit" which translates to "argument"
movie maven 6 years ago
doubt this counts though we do have a doctor whose full name is Richard Hung, he goes by Dr. D**k Hung, urologist & surgeon.
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
I can't stop thinking 🤔 according to this coincidence profession/name ,what profession will have that girl named ABCD, will she be a teacher. ?😂😂😂
Donna Cheung 6 years ago
I love this post so much... I guess you can say that for some people, their occupation is truly their "calling"...?
Jo Johannsen 6 years ago
There is (or used to be) a pathology lab in Torrance where the doctors were named Tisue and Samples
Sandra Gushulak 6 years ago
Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after the magazine's humorous Feedback column noted several studies carried out by researchers with remarkably fitting surnames.
SirWriteALot 6 years ago
German therapist called "Gisela von Hinten" which means "Gisela from behind"
Isabel Care 6 years ago
Knew a Mr Capon who worked in the food industry. Worked for Herr Kopfli who exported Swiss food (on a menu creme caramel was caramel kopfli.) My family surname is Care and my brother is a psychiatric nurse
Quick & to the pointless 6 years ago
The librarian in my elementary school name was Ms. Dewey....
Ryo Bakura 6 years ago
Not sure he will. Squires aren't really a thing anymore, and if he became a senator, he would be Senator Squire Sebastian Senator whatever his last name will be, so he'd be known as Senator (his last name), because that was just his first name.
Load More Replies... Ron Howard 1 year ago
My mother's doctor was Dr Deathridge. There was a podiatrist here in town named Dr Trotter.
Jo Brockberg 2 years ago
We saw an ad for Paul Schwinghammer, builder for Hallmark Homes in Indiana!
Jo Johannsen 4 years ago
There is a pathology lab in the South Bay whose doctors are Tisue & Samples - partners in nominative determinism as well as in business.
Joannie Goulet 6 years ago
The doctor that followed me during my last 2 pregnancies is called Larrivée, wich translate as arrival.
Simon Levene 6 years ago
There is a criminologist who has written the standard handbook for judges on criminal sentencing. his name is Rob Banks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Banks-Sentence-2018-Two-set/dp/0993202292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544971630&sr=8-1&keywords=BANKS+SENTENCING
Sarah Gardner 6 years ago
Aptronym, interesting that people who have that sort of name are actually statistically more likely to then go into that profession.
BlackestDawn 6 years ago
This one been floating around for a while: https://cheezburger.com/8584659968/ditch-her-quick-and-hide-divorce-lawyers . Not sure how genuin it is though.
Alexandru Bucur 6 years ago
As someone already said, some names come from professions, so it's not unusual to find someone still doing the profession several generations later, especially if it's the family business. In my case, for example, I'm a third generation architect, because my grandpa was one, so are both my parents and one of my siblings (the other is a graphic designer). and we have a family firm. Amusingly, the other branch of the family are all doctors, and my brother originally wanted to become one, before switching back to architecture.
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