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40 Moments Fathers Had To Pick A Name For A Baby, But Failed Epically, As Shared Online
If you've seen the movies Warcraft or Moon, for example, you probably know that they were directed by Duncan Jones. The son of the legendary British rock musician David Bowie. And perhaps you didn’t know that at birth, dad gave the boy the name Zowie. Yes, that's right, Zowie Bowie.
When the boy grew up, he first began asking others to call him Joey, and then completely changed his name to Duncan (Jones, by the way, is his father’s real last name while Bowie is a pseudonym). Well, the participants of this viral thread on X in fact have had similar experiences, opening up about various weird names given to them by their own dads...
More info: X
Image credits: Mikael Stenberg (not the actual photo)
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It turns out that some fathers are better off not being involved in the process of choosing a name for their child at all, because their excessive creativity often results in a bad pick. It happens that some random dude thinks the name looks ‘funny’ or ‘cool’ holding a baby, without thinking that later this very baby will grow up and may face, for example, problems or ridicule at school or somewhere outside home.
On the other hand, we have many clear examples of parents coming up with a non-standard name for their kid for an equally original reason. For example, Kobe Bryant, the late basketball legend, as you may know, got his name in honor of the famous Kobe beef, which his parents once saw on a restaurant menu. Well, if Michael Jordan has to share the name “Michael” in his legacy with Michael Jackson, at least then Kobe is forever one and unique...
#7
bigoldthor 10 months ago
What a tremendous PITA this is going to be for you throughout your whole life, trying to correct people's spelling and pronunciations.
#9
Terry Tobias 10 months ago
Exactly! I always thought that it was pretty egotistical of him doing that to so many boys.
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mysterious(all pronouns) 10 months ago
Why didn't he think of Josie? Clearly similar to Joseph, and not something she'll have to tell people how to pronounce.
Astro 10 months ago
I have a friend named Josie, we call her Jo for short lol
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Melanie Filmer 10 months ago
My dad named 2 of my brothers, Christopher and Christian. They're both Chris 🤦🏻♀️ (It's also my husbands name lol)
Sue Koches 10 months ago
Grandfather: Joseph, Uncle (deceased) Joseph, Dad: Joseph Alexander, Brother Joseph Aloysius, Nephews, Jeffrey Joseph, Joseph Gordon, Joseph Anthony, and I added Benjamin Joseph to the mix. (Couldn't help myself!)
Poison Ivy/Boo 10 months ago
The males in my family are all called Paul. Granddad was Paul, my dad was Sonny and my brother is Paulie. And me? I was named after my grandmother and a deceased aunt (who died when she was a baby). So my family wins no awards for creativity. And I hate my name......it's so old-fashioned.
Crybabyartist 10 months ago
It's telling that you have to explain how to pronoun your name... thank you Na Dash leen (Na - Leen). oh this is not a cute thing for you to copy! Na-leen!
SheamusFanFrom1987 10 months ago
Guess her sister is Josephine? (I really hope so if her name really is Joe See Yuh)...
bigoldthor 10 months ago
Knew a woman who had four boys and named them all "Joe". She could only keep them straight by calling them by their last names.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 10 months ago
Where I come from, that's a racist joke.
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However, why go far for examples? When I myself was born, my father, who by that time did not live with my mother, decided that I should be named Ivan, in honor of his own late dad - and began to tell this “news” to all his friends and acquaintances. Now imagine my mom’s surprise when, having registered me as Oleg, she once met one of these friends on the street who addressed her: “Well, how is little Ivan doing?”
#10
bigoldthor 10 months ago
Tried to? So he went with something else, and this name is now just water under the bridge. (I know. I'll see myself out...again.)
Well, going back to David Bowie and his son, the rock legend wasn't worried about picking a name, saying in an interview: “If, when he gets old enough to care about his name, he doesn't like it, he can always change it or give himself a nickname. It's OK by me.” That's what happened in the end. After all, if you were given an unusual name, then who knows, maybe this is just another reason for you to emphasize your uniqueness? Or probably share your unique name in the comments to this post...
#16
#18
bigoldthor 10 months ago (edited)
I bet more than 50% of people who see her name for the first time pronounce it "Curtis". I honestly would pronounce it "Ker-'teece".
#20
#21
bigoldthor 10 months ago
It's really hard to picture a cute, tiny baby boy named Horace. Sorry, Horace.
#24
Zoey Rayne 10 months ago
Marissa is a nice name; I assume Morrisa is pronounced very similarly, though getting people to spell it right is probably a pain.
#25
Victor Botha 10 months ago (edited)
Nothing wrong with Geraldine, pretty common girls name, unless the OP is a boy! Geraldine Chaplin was a pretty well known actress. Of German origin, female version of Gerald meaning spear ruler.
#27
bigoldthor 10 months ago
While different, I don't *hate* them. They sort of roll off the tongue.
#29
Angrykitten 10 months ago (edited)
I feel sometimes people name a baby forgetting they are naming a person
#31
Alias Fakename 10 months ago
Friend of a friend is named Bruno. I heard he punched someone for singing We Don't talk About Bruno... I'm not sure though. Might be made up.
#36
#37
Apatheist Account2 10 months ago
I thought it was after the US national anthem...Oshay can you see, by the dawn's early light...
#38
#39
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What do you think ?
Svenne O'Lotta 10 months ago (edited)
Why are so many men so set on naming their children after themselves instead of letting them have their own identities? So weird.
SnackbarKaat 10 months ago
I asked my husband to put his name as a second name for our son. He returned the favor by giving our daughter my name as her second name <3
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Jasmijn 10 months ago
My brother is called Max, which is a pretty standard name, except that he was supposed to be named Bram (which is a regular Dutch name, derived from Abraham). My mum sent my dad to register my brother’s birth, and my dad somehow managed to forget the name when he was at the registry office, and so he put down the first male name he could think of, which was Max - the name of our dog.
Stannous Flouride 10 months ago
I had a gf named Norma. When I pointed out that she was this >< close to being Normal she laughed.
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Erik Meyenberg 10 months ago
I live in Germany where you can't name your child anything. If a certain name is guaranteed to inflict harm to the child in his future life, they won't accept the name. Like you enter the name in the birth certificate but the officials can reject it. I guess, some names on that list would have been banned for the well-being of the child.... 😂😂
John O'Donnell 10 months ago
I am seriously starting to think that the guy who said you should have to have license to procreate might have had a point.
Headless Horseman 10 months ago (edited)
My great gmas name was Tracy, her sons name is Tracey. My cousins name is Traci, her fathers name is Trasey. Yes, this is real.
Steve Hall 10 months ago
I wanted to name my youngest son William Robert. I almost got away with it until my wife realized he would be called Billy Bob all his life.
Lara Verne 10 months ago
The only problem here is that their dads just had to name children after themselves
Andrew Cowles 10 months ago
Reminds my of the famous (and lovely) TV chef Nigella Lawson. Her father was a very important MP and I think the chancellor of the exchequer called Nigel Lawson!
John O'Donnell 10 months ago
He called his other daughter Thomasina. What an incredible imagination.
Load More Replies... River Daski 10 months ago
my dad wanted to name me Ransom...???? which, jokes on my mom who stopped him, its the PERFECT nonbinary name and i've begun to use it unironically
Holly's House 10 months ago
I knew a girl in high school with the same name as me, I got mine from being born close to Christmas, I asked how she got hers, she said her Dad named her after an old girlfriend. I said did your mum know??? She said yes...
TheBlueBitterfly 10 months ago
My ex husband wanted to name my oldest Roland. (Thanks, Stephen King.) I vetoed that. He got the name Sean. )Yes, after Connery.) My youngest son's name is an older German name (I won't say it, because he's still a minor and I don't believe in talking about kids without their permission.) But people think we named him after someone else, but it was really a paternal ancestor's name, the first of his family to come to the US.
Stannous Flouride 10 months ago
I chose my half-Venezuelan daughter's name. I wanted one that would work well in both English and Spanish so I suggested she be named after my wife's aunt Aurora. I also suggested the Spanish version of my sister Kate for her middle name so she'd have the same initials as my deceased mother.
Holly's House 10 months ago
I worked with a Filipino girl named Geramy. She said her parents wanted a boy and picked the name Jeremy, and when she was born they didn't bother changing the name they already picked
ConstantlyJon 10 months ago
This is as good a thread to share this on as any: We found out a couple years ago that we can't have kids naturally. I have two stepkids that I've adopted, so they're my kids, but I didn't get to name either. When we were trying for kids, before my doctor told me I couldn't, we had picked out names. I'm extremely proud of what we picked out for a girl: Harmony Harper. For context, my wife is a piano teacher, and good harmonies are my favorite part of any song. Harmony is also the name of a street I lived on growing up, and Harper is a family name. I thought it would be beautiful, but alas.
JayWantsACat 10 months ago
My entire family, aside from my Japanese mom, has names that start with J. My dad and his two sisters started the 'J's off, and they happened to marry men with J names, so they all kept it up. I had friend in high school whose dad's name was Elmer. His name? Elmerson.
witchling 10 months ago
My father, Michael, wanted to name me FawnMarie. My mother wanted Althea. They compromised with Michelle FawnMarie. Not the worst option.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 10 months ago
I just keep thinking of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when Gus is introducing everyone to Ian's parents. "Nicky, Diane, and Nick. Nick, Nick, Nick, Nicki...."
The wee giant 10 months ago
my dad tricked my mom into letting him name me Logan. I am named after a marvel character.
Caroline Driver 10 months ago
My dad wanted to call me Jacqueline, which doesn't sound so bad, but our surname was Dawe, so I'd have been Jack Dawe. My mum said no.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 10 months ago
I hate when people name their children the same as them. even more if it's a feminised version of a mans name. it's like saying "I wanted a boy"
Guess Undheit 10 months ago
And I thought the garbage names the breeders gave me were bad. Yes, I changed my names.
Gavin Johnson 10 months ago
Don’t fret folks, the wheel will keep turning, before you know it Matthew, Mark, Luke and John will be back.
Bogdan Chelariu 10 months ago
Once saw a video of a girl named treasure, but spelled "Treizjure"...... SMH
Zaphod 10 months ago
My dad wanted to name me Zeke, because he thought it was funny. My mom put her foot down, so I was named after my father (and his father). They let me switch to my middle name when I was 4 or 5, which was very cool of them. I couldn't stand being teased everyday (Duh, George, Georgie-Porgie, George of the Jungle)
Apatheist Account2 10 months ago
There were a lot of girls called Daenerys at the time of Game of Thrones...I imagine the way she turned out rather spoiled it for them, much as for the boys called Albus before his sexuality was revealed at the end of Harry Potter.
Cursed Starscream 10 months ago
next game of truth or dare imma dare my homie to name his firstborn megatron.
Svenne O'Lotta 10 months ago (edited)
Why are so many men so set on naming their children after themselves instead of letting them have their own identities? So weird.
SnackbarKaat 10 months ago
I asked my husband to put his name as a second name for our son. He returned the favor by giving our daughter my name as her second name <3
Load More Replies... Jasmijn 10 months ago
My brother is called Max, which is a pretty standard name, except that he was supposed to be named Bram (which is a regular Dutch name, derived from Abraham). My mum sent my dad to register my brother’s birth, and my dad somehow managed to forget the name when he was at the registry office, and so he put down the first male name he could think of, which was Max - the name of our dog.
Stannous Flouride 10 months ago
I had a gf named Norma. When I pointed out that she was this >< close to being Normal she laughed.
Load More Replies... Erik Meyenberg 10 months ago
I live in Germany where you can't name your child anything. If a certain name is guaranteed to inflict harm to the child in his future life, they won't accept the name. Like you enter the name in the birth certificate but the officials can reject it. I guess, some names on that list would have been banned for the well-being of the child.... 😂😂
John O'Donnell 10 months ago
I am seriously starting to think that the guy who said you should have to have license to procreate might have had a point.
Headless Horseman 10 months ago (edited)
My great gmas name was Tracy, her sons name is Tracey. My cousins name is Traci, her fathers name is Trasey. Yes, this is real.
Steve Hall 10 months ago
I wanted to name my youngest son William Robert. I almost got away with it until my wife realized he would be called Billy Bob all his life.
Lara Verne 10 months ago
The only problem here is that their dads just had to name children after themselves
Andrew Cowles 10 months ago
Reminds my of the famous (and lovely) TV chef Nigella Lawson. Her father was a very important MP and I think the chancellor of the exchequer called Nigel Lawson!
John O'Donnell 10 months ago
He called his other daughter Thomasina. What an incredible imagination.
Load More Replies... River Daski 10 months ago
my dad wanted to name me Ransom...???? which, jokes on my mom who stopped him, its the PERFECT nonbinary name and i've begun to use it unironically
Holly's House 10 months ago
I knew a girl in high school with the same name as me, I got mine from being born close to Christmas, I asked how she got hers, she said her Dad named her after an old girlfriend. I said did your mum know??? She said yes...
TheBlueBitterfly 10 months ago
My ex husband wanted to name my oldest Roland. (Thanks, Stephen King.) I vetoed that. He got the name Sean. )Yes, after Connery.) My youngest son's name is an older German name (I won't say it, because he's still a minor and I don't believe in talking about kids without their permission.) But people think we named him after someone else, but it was really a paternal ancestor's name, the first of his family to come to the US.
Stannous Flouride 10 months ago
I chose my half-Venezuelan daughter's name. I wanted one that would work well in both English and Spanish so I suggested she be named after my wife's aunt Aurora. I also suggested the Spanish version of my sister Kate for her middle name so she'd have the same initials as my deceased mother.
Holly's House 10 months ago
I worked with a Filipino girl named Geramy. She said her parents wanted a boy and picked the name Jeremy, and when she was born they didn't bother changing the name they already picked
ConstantlyJon 10 months ago
This is as good a thread to share this on as any: We found out a couple years ago that we can't have kids naturally. I have two stepkids that I've adopted, so they're my kids, but I didn't get to name either. When we were trying for kids, before my doctor told me I couldn't, we had picked out names. I'm extremely proud of what we picked out for a girl: Harmony Harper. For context, my wife is a piano teacher, and good harmonies are my favorite part of any song. Harmony is also the name of a street I lived on growing up, and Harper is a family name. I thought it would be beautiful, but alas.
JayWantsACat 10 months ago
My entire family, aside from my Japanese mom, has names that start with J. My dad and his two sisters started the 'J's off, and they happened to marry men with J names, so they all kept it up. I had friend in high school whose dad's name was Elmer. His name? Elmerson.
witchling 10 months ago
My father, Michael, wanted to name me FawnMarie. My mother wanted Althea. They compromised with Michelle FawnMarie. Not the worst option.
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 10 months ago
I just keep thinking of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when Gus is introducing everyone to Ian's parents. "Nicky, Diane, and Nick. Nick, Nick, Nick, Nicki...."
The wee giant 10 months ago
my dad tricked my mom into letting him name me Logan. I am named after a marvel character.
Caroline Driver 10 months ago
My dad wanted to call me Jacqueline, which doesn't sound so bad, but our surname was Dawe, so I'd have been Jack Dawe. My mum said no.
Sheena Leversedge Wood 10 months ago
I hate when people name their children the same as them. even more if it's a feminised version of a mans name. it's like saying "I wanted a boy"
Guess Undheit 10 months ago
And I thought the garbage names the breeders gave me were bad. Yes, I changed my names.
Gavin Johnson 10 months ago
Don’t fret folks, the wheel will keep turning, before you know it Matthew, Mark, Luke and John will be back.
Bogdan Chelariu 10 months ago
Once saw a video of a girl named treasure, but spelled "Treizjure"...... SMH
Zaphod 10 months ago
My dad wanted to name me Zeke, because he thought it was funny. My mom put her foot down, so I was named after my father (and his father). They let me switch to my middle name when I was 4 or 5, which was very cool of them. I couldn't stand being teased everyday (Duh, George, Georgie-Porgie, George of the Jungle)
Apatheist Account2 10 months ago
There were a lot of girls called Daenerys at the time of Game of Thrones...I imagine the way she turned out rather spoiled it for them, much as for the boys called Albus before his sexuality was revealed at the end of Harry Potter.
Cursed Starscream 10 months ago
next game of truth or dare imma dare my homie to name his firstborn megatron.
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