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50 Names People Once Encountered And Couldn’t Forget Because Of How “Yooneek” They Were
Interview With Expert
In today’s world, we’ve grown used to hearing some pretty unusual names, especially with celebrities leading the way by naming their children things like Apple, Blue Ivy, and North.
However, these choices often pale in comparison to those shared on the subreddit ‘Tragedeigh’, where people reveal the most bizarre and creatively spelled names they’ve encountered. In one of their posts, we found some truly jaw-dropping examples. Check them out below and upvote the ones that surprised you the most!
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#1
Vegan. "Vegan, come sit down and eat your burger." Actually heard this. They were eating McDonalds.
RELATED:
#2
I used to work with a woman in her 30s named pebbles. customers would always ask, “is that your real name?” and she’d be like, “unfortunately.”.
To understand why parents are choosing unconventional names for their children, Bored Panda got in touch with baby name blogger Abby Sandel.
In the US, Sandel observes that fewer children are receiving top-ranking names compared to fifty, twenty, or even ten years ago. She views this trend positively. “We’re less bound to traditions, freer to choose names that reflect our heritage, identities, and values, and just plain open to more creative names than in the past,” she explains.
This growing acceptance has paved the way for more unique options. “If we meet kids named River and Willow, we’re more open to choosing, say, Canyon and Marigold for our own kids,” Sandel notes. But not all modern names are as extreme. Nature-inspired, surname-style names like Wrenley, Oaklynn, and Wylder are particularly popular these days. However, in the quest for originality, parents sometimes end up with choices that sound quite similar. “Classrooms are filled with girls called Lily, Lilah, Lola, and Lyra. Four different names, but easily confused!”
#3
Justin Sane. Mom swore she didn’t realize.
#4
Somewhere in the world there is a person named Delicious Bush. I engraved a corporate award for that person 25 years ago and never forgot the name.
#5
Twins named Deevious and Keevious. Deevious in particular—both crooks but it feels like someone named Deevious was doomed from birth.
They were identical and at some point got identical tiger tattoos on their right arms so it was always fun figuring out which one you had and if the warrant was for him or his brother.
As far as I know Keevious is still around but Deevious tried to rob the wrong dude in midtown Atlanta a few years ago. Rest in Peecious.
Evolutionary biologist Dr. Mitchel Newberry believes there is an evolutionary reason behind why parents opt for less typical names. In his research, he analyzed databases of names in the US over the last century and found that they go through what he describes as ‘boom and bust’ periods.
When a name becomes very popular, it often ends up being perceived as too common by new parents. Consequently, the more popular a name gets, the less likely future parents are to choose it. This phenomenon is known as negative frequency-dependent selection.
“If people are always thirsting after the newest thing, it creates a lot of new options,” says Dr. Newberry. “Every time a new name is created, it gets attention, allowing rarer names to become more common, leading to greater diversity in the population.”
#8
Pistol, she’s a kid in my son’s class. Siblings include Remington and Colt.
But while standout names like River and Wylder tend to be well-received, others raise quite a few eyebrows. God, Famous, Casanova, Elmo, and Vader are among the most eccentric baby names Sandel came across last year. “The line between strange-amazing-cool and strange-wait-what is pencil thin, shifts over time, and varies dramatically from person to person,” she writes on her blog.
“Assuming we choose unusual names with our eyes wide open, I think they can be great,” Sandel tells us. “Parents need to recognize that a really different name will require more frequent repetition and spelling, as well as questions. And even if you love that really different name, chances are someone in your life will not. That’s okay, but it’s best to be prepared that grandma might not like the idea of calling her grandchild Wonder, Givenchy, or Gnash.”
“Of course, your child might grow up and wish for a more conventional name,” she adds. “When in doubt, it’s better to name your child Wonder James than Wonder Givenchy. A little bit of balance can make a bold first name feel more wearable.” Ultimately, the decision is entirely in your hands.
#9
An old school friend named their daughter something like Aevyrleighy (Everly) I know I've spelled that wrong, because no one is ever gonna spell that right.
And my cousin's daughter's name is Emyhleigh (Emily). .
#10
Felony. Poor kid.
Crazy-Excitement-684: I met a newborn with the name. Her parents were step siblings and thought they were immensely clever.
#11
Revenge, Chaos, Ransom, and Rage. Not related but I was their teacher (different years.) Always made me scratch my head and feel bad.
#12
Felatia. She worked with my sister at a pizza place. I was dumbfounded when I read her nametag.
#14
I've worked with a Justin Case, and an electrical engineer whose surname was Sparks.
Kimberly Ianaro (Kim) 5 months ago
An old money family named their son Richard Breath. His parents them nicknamed him - D**k. Not Rick. He's an elected official in my town. Met him in a bar. They said meet D**k Breath . I lost it cause I heard dickbreath! 30 years ago. I'm still laughing E
#15
Escherichia - this could conceivably be a girl's name, but it's what the E. in E. Coli stands for. The couple that named their daughter this were biology teachers. She'd be about 16 now.
#16
Not in “real life,” but while doing family history research, I found a woman in my family with the name Heterogenous Clementine. Nicknamed Hettie Clemmie.
Maggie Fulton 5 months ago
I had an aunt named Forest Fern. Not kidding. She went by Pete. Still not kidding.
#17
A male co-worker named Sugarplum Fruitcake. The name fits him well though.
#18
I went to elementary school with a girl named Quinnzola. My friend said it sounds like a cooking oil lol.
#19
Someone in my town is named Knickolle.
Sound it out. It’s the same name as mine (except mine is the usual spelling) and it took me a good 30 sec to realize that.
#20
Bodacious Jr.
I also met his father, the senior Bodacious.
#21
My dad approved name changes as part of his job. He had someone come in to change his name to Pythagymus Toadstool.
#22
Mine won't be the worst but it triggered me with the hyphen. Jake-ub. I cannot unsee it. It haunts me.
#25
Jacsun. Just... Why? It was on his name plate outside his office.
#28
I was doing voter registration and I met a guy named T. His first name was the letter T and his last name was unremarkable. He showed me his ID, he was very proud of this fact.
Nannychachi 5 months ago
My paternal grandmother had a brother named A. That was it. Last name Taylor.
#29
Velveeta.
#32
Geccika -_-. Her parents actually chose that, it wasn't some edgy teenage desire to be yooneek.
Outgraygeous 5 months ago (edited)
Took a couple tries: Gekicka, Guess-ika, Gechika... Jessica!
#33
Daexia (pronounced day-ja).
#34
LaSagna. She was married to one of my forklift drivers. I thought he was kidding,until she brought him lunch one day.
#35
Traeh. It is Heart spelled backward.
#36
I will never understand people who name their kids Karma.
#37
JesusIsLord. No joke, that was his first name. Went by Jesus.
#39
Abcde pronounced absidee.
#41
There was a girl at my work named Ambiyen. No idea what her parents were thinking.
#42
Expensive. A woman named her baby girl this. Truly WTF.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 5 months ago
Mom wasn't wrong, kids ain't cheap to raise. Doubt I'd name my kid that though.
#43
Harmonica.
#44
Capers. His last name was weird too. Word beginning with A that means “crooked or in disarray.” Ends with W and sound like “ask you.” (Trying not to doxx.)
I also once rode a Greyhound bus with a little girl named Kiwi Strawberry NormalLastName. I know because her mom full-named her when she was misbehaving.
#45
Maighdelynne.
#47
Bridalveil. It was about 15-20 years ago. I saw her ID and that was her actual, legal name. Pronounced exactly like it sounds: bridal veil 👰.
#49
Freya Andrikitis Zork and her brother Noah Zork. Say his name out loud a couple of times.
#50
Ahhnjellyka (Angelica).
What do you think ?
Miss Tinker 5 months ago
There really needs to be a dedicated person at every maternity ward in the world armed with a rubber bat, able to smack sense into people thinking about giving their child a stupid name.
brittany 5 months ago
had one named Golden Hymen. poor kid is probably in high school or early college by now.
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StPaul9 5 months ago
I overheard a girl called Atlas at an airport. Not only is Atlas in Greek myth male, he is also one of the Titans who tried and failed to overthrow the Greek gods and is sentenced to hold up the Heavens for eternity. So, naming your daughter after a male failure and prisoner is pretty big.
Royal Stray 5 months ago
On the same line of technically a name but why. Artemis for boys, why name them after the one Goddess who didn't really like them? Same but not as horribly bad with Athena. Neither of those are unisex names no matter what any name websites say.
Load More Replies...
Miss Tinker 5 months ago
There really needs to be a dedicated person at every maternity ward in the world armed with a rubber bat, able to smack sense into people thinking about giving their child a stupid name.
brittany 5 months ago
had one named Golden Hymen. poor kid is probably in high school or early college by now.
Load More Replies... StPaul9 5 months ago
I overheard a girl called Atlas at an airport. Not only is Atlas in Greek myth male, he is also one of the Titans who tried and failed to overthrow the Greek gods and is sentenced to hold up the Heavens for eternity. So, naming your daughter after a male failure and prisoner is pretty big.
Royal Stray 5 months ago
On the same line of technically a name but why. Artemis for boys, why name them after the one Goddess who didn't really like them? Same but not as horribly bad with Athena. Neither of those are unisex names no matter what any name websites say.
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