Baby Names
 

This forum has been very quiet lately. So I would like to spark some conversation.

I read about a sick little girl in a magazine. She was a two year old and her name was Talejashalexis. In some cultures, it may be the norm to have a name with 14 letters or more, but in African American culture, it is not. I have also come across a little girl recently, whose name is Nautica. And I know an adult woman whose name is Tangerine. What do you all think about giving children these kind of names? Think about when these children learn to write their names. Also think about how these children may be discriminated against when they fill out a job application or submit resumes to a company.


Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

Well,
For those of you that know me on this site, my name is FAAAR from your average name. But at the same time, it's not that long and outrageous. I do think its a valid point that those children may be discriminated against when it comes to job openings. Maybe their parents just didn't think of that. But its sad that that even has to be a factor in a decision like choosing a name.
Take this scenario:
One of my best friends' father (who is African American) named his new baby daughter "Carson Willow". I think it's a beautiful name.
BUT, his reason for giving this name was
A: He didn't want her to be blindly discriminated against (like on applications) for having a typical female name (hence "Carson")
B: And he didnt want her to be blindly discriminated for having a "BLACK" name (hence "Willow").
Now one might say that his intentions were good, but that hurt me so bad. Its like he is encouraging his daughter to DENOUNCE her WOMANHOOD AND HER BLACKNESS, rather than EMBRACE them. Those are 2 things that a minority woman needs to embrace in order to fully realize her worth in this world... especially if our cultures and gender are to ever gain any REAL power.
So, I wouldn't put too much into a name. I think my brother Shakespeare said it best with: "What's in a name. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

Enough rambling... just something to think about http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

SoloRHO

I WOULD agree w/ SoloRHO..BUT..
these names are getting RIDICULOUS!!

I am serious, it seems like people will name their children anything!!! Oh, boy, I wouldn't even run down the numerous ridiculous names I have come across. They are hard to spell, pronounce, remember. I know everyone wants their child to be unique and an uncommon name can be a start, but I think people put more effort into these silly names and less into RAISING unique and successful individuals.

I don't think these names could PREVENT people from attaining success, but seriously, it MUST be frustrating to ALWAYS have your name mispronounced, to ALWAYS have people ask you where'd you get a name like that, and to ALWAYS have people forget your name or make up nicknames for you that are easier to pronounce.

I guess I'll never understand because my name is very common, and I like it that way.

some parents are just not thinking!!!

Some names are cute for little kids, but these kids do grow up to be old people. It's not nice to say, but in the corporate world (especially in sales and marketing) your first impression can make or break you. And if a 40 year old woman by the name of Alize', Peaches, or Shay Shay is applying for a position, she can (and often times is) discriminated against simply because of her name!

For companies that are highly competitive in regards to recruitment, they receive tons of resumes and they throw sooooo many out just by their look. If IT doesnt look professional, or YOU dont sound professional, you can forget it.

BTW---I really like those ambiguous names like Tyler, Taylor, Carson, Erin.......dont know why!

Good afternoon lovely ladies. Forgive the intrusion, but me and my LB had this very same discussion not to long ago.

I personally love African names, and the meaning behind them. But I do believe that more thought should be given to what a person names their child. I was named after my father, and I am proud to bear his name, but I might have had a problem had they named me after something that he likes to drink like (Aleze'), or a car he wanted but can't afford (Lexus), shay shay, Ray Ray, or some of the other ghetto fabulous names that I am sure that all of us have heard.

When I am blessed with a child, I would love to give him a strong African name to go along with his regular American one.

While in college some of my friends took on African names, and we were the self riotous, warriors who would not bow down to "The Man." We just knew that what we would forever be warriors.

As time went on, we soon learned that the work world is very different from college. And there are a whole new set of rules that the game is played by. We should not handicap our children by sattleling them with some of these outrageous names. It is going to be hard enough for them when they get out here.

MN


[This message has been edited by ManndingoNUPE (edited October 24, 2000).]

I used to have a position where I reviewed applications and I used to laugh at all of the names I came across. Sometimes you can almost tell certain things about some people even before you meet them.

OMG
Et Tu BlueReign?
LOL
I guess yall all got me on this one.
But my position stands.
It still is horrible that a person's name can stop them from getting something (whether it be friends, a job, whateva) out of life. I'd hate to see that happen to me. And I'd hate to have some of you screening my applications in the future. It probably wouldn't be taken seriously, just because of my name.

Yeeep Out Pretty Poodles!

SoloRHO

[This message has been edited by SoloRHO (edited October 25, 2000).]

Greetings to All,

As a former teacher I can tell you the first day of class when one tries to pronounce a child's name can be hell.

Not only is it difficult for children to learn to spell names (you know how we change things like Deborah but pronounce it Devarah or Daborah) but I can't keep up myself.

When and if I ever get married - - oh and become a father - -I want my son's name to be Garrett Andrew (I've always liked the name Garrett and all the men in my family have the middle name Andrew. I like Ashton for a girl.

Great discussion ladies (and Gent!) http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I do think parents do their kids a disservice when they saddle their kids with extra long, made up names with no significance. I have no probably with long, hard to pronounce names--if there is a reason for them (i.e. the meaning of the name, family name, etc.)--but what I do have a problem with is just straight up made up name. I have a cousin who named her son a multisyllable name. When my mother asked her the baby's name she couldn't even pronounce it, let alone spell it!! That is just crazy!! Now, with that being said I also have what some people will call an unusual name. People are forever mispronoucing it. I don't think it is that difficult so I try to "work with" people. (It's only 5 letter for goodness sakes, but it is one letter off from a more common name.) I do not allow them to give me nicknames or mispronouce my name.

Now in terms of people knowing who you are by your name...I attended an HBCU. Regardless of whether my name is Willow, Heather or Bonequesha Shanaynay, people will automatically assume that I am African-American!! I am certainly not going to hid my beloved Spelman so that folks won't discriminate against me!

straightBOS hit the nail on the head...it's about raising unique individuals not just naming them!!

Ok, My sons name is very long, but it has a meaning behind it and that is why I stand by my decision to name hime that.

His name is William C. Joseph-Marion

The william C. is after my grandmother, her name is willie c.(and I refused to have him stuck with the name willie as an adult male, it just doesn't seem right to me so I went with william)
Joseph-Marion is his middle name and Joseph is my great gandfathers name and Marion is my granfathers name.

I want my son to remeber that were ever he goes and what ever he puts his name on, he is repesenting a lineage of strong African-Americans.

Many wonder why I name him afeter my grandmother and that is because she is one of the strongest women I know. She passed away when I was in the third grade and I can remeber every year how we still celebrated her birthday and my mother has always instilled in me how strong and good of a person she was.

Also my son is the first male born into my maternal family in five generations that is why I want him to know that he is surrounded by a strong family and every time he writes his name he will know that
And for the record. He will be four in Decembert and he can spel his first name outloud and is currently working on writing it. He can also say his full name for all of you out their who think that that is too long of a name for a child to learn


Now to the idea of taking letters out of a bag and just making up a name....it is ridiculous. No child should have to be called alaze' for the rest of her life. Think of how that name woiuld bother this child if she was a teacher and the class was dicussing name orgins. Orif she was a minister or evangilist. That is just to ghetto and not cute at all. Strong african names are another thing however, they have a meaning behind them.

Whatever the case just be sure to set down and remeber that this child will one day be an aduly working for a company wearing siuts and heels on a daily basis, you don't want her/him to be stuck with Alaze or some STUPID name because you thought it was cute for a 3 week old child. Children grow up and they are stuck with and become what their name mean many times. Make sure it has a rich and friutfull meaning behind it.


http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gifNow I'm stepping off my soapbox. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by blu_theatrics (edited October 25, 2000).]

This is a deep discussion and it makes a lot of sense. It is good to know that I am not the only one that thinks a child should have a name that will reflect upon him as an adult. I have an 8 month old son and I named him Marquel (pronounce the q as if it was a K) and I thought about how it would sound calling him this as a grown man. I didn't want to give him a silly name just because I thought it was cute for someone his age. I hope I gave him a name that people will not discriminate him for having. But I must agree with SoloRHO. No one should have to worry about whether or not their name will keep them from getting the job they want, or helping them to get far in life. However, parents do need to put a little thought into a child's name and stop naming them after alcholic drinks, or coming up with names that make no sense at all.

Yiiip Out

[This message has been edited by EspeRHO (edited October 25, 2000).]

Thank you for sharing your opinions ladies and gentlemen. I have a very uncommon name as well, but it is a hebrew name and has a significant meaning.

Also, I'm glad to see Blu_Theatrics back in the swing of things. What does the C. stand for in Willie C? Just being nosy http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I just wanted to clarify something I said based on blu_theatric's post. When I said 'long name' I meant a long, no significance, first name. I think it's wonderful when a name has family significance. It truly ties the child to their heritage.

Your son's name made me think a bit. I am married and hypenate my last name. But, I did not like the way the name sounded with my maiden name first, so I put my husband's last name first. Example:
Maiden name: Wanda Jones
Husband's last name: Williams
New Name: Wanda Williams-Jones instead of Jones-Williams.

People give me such grief about that! You would think I was married to them!! It also confuses the heck out of folks because they want to call my hubby Mr. Jones if they meet me first! I'm glad he is a secure man!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I use my entire name: First name, middle initial and hypenated last name. People told me I would get tired of writing it, but I don't (and it's been almost 5 years). It also ticks me off when people (especially customer service people) want to call me by part of my last name instead of the entire thing! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif

blu_theatrics, is your son's first name William or William C.?

I agree with Eclipse. I meant long first names as well.

This is off the subject, but I also intend to hyphenate my last name when I marry. I have actually met some men that disapprove of this. I can't imagine why.


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We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

Aesop c550 BC

MIDWESTDIVA: are you really confused? Its non-traditional and the only real purpose that it serves is to satiate the ego of the woman. It is symptomatic of the state of gender relationships. Your name signifies that you are your own woman. A single, financially and emotionally stable, whole person, who does not need a man nor his name to validate her. That is the real ideology behind keeping ones name. When a man and woman marry, they become one entity, not two seperate whole ones thrown together. For a unified relationship to last it must be headed in the same direction and on the same page. To hyphenate your name suggests that some part of you wants to be your own person, indicating that you are empowering yourself above the goal and purpose of a union. When the unity candle is lit, what once was two becomes one, there is not a little hyphenated candle left lit in the corner. I know that hyphenated names are small and trivial, but it is symptomatic of the larger problems afflicting gender relationships. Everyone in my house will have the same name, parents, and siblings. It eliminates the confusion and energies can be combined and directed in its most powerful form: unified and with a common purpose. Sorry for invading ladies.

[This message has been edited by DoggyStyle82 (edited October 26, 2000).]