For many parents, a distinctive name is seen as an opportunity to help their child stand out from the crowd—but it does have drawbacks. Speaking to Live Science, Northwestern University researcher David Figlio noted that people make subconscious judgments about an individual if they have an unusual moniker.
“People draw subconscious cues all the time about people,” he said. “You meet a person for the first time and without thinking about it on an explicit level you’re looking at the way they’re walking, what their accent sounds like, how they’re dressed, whether they smell […] and you’re developing these immediate reactions.”
One post to Mumsnet received many suggestions. According to the woman writing in the post, she and her partner have been arguing fiercely over what name to give a boy and it’s left her feeling frustrated and emotional. “I’ve had a little cry because I can’t see us ever agreeing,”
While she is in favor of “more traditional names” like James and Isaac, her husband has been suggesting names like “Ozymandias and Balthazar.” Though the woman said she is “open to more unique names” his suggestions are a little bit too “out there” for her liking.
Of course, people weighed in with opinions to her names post:
Tsuni Wed 30-Mar-22 22:35:08
Balthazar is a demon. Tell your husband to call himself Balthazar if he thinks it’s so great. Bet he wouldn’t but he thinks it’s alright to saddle a baby with the name
PeskyRooks Wed 30-Mar-22 22:38:13
I love the name Balthazar! Is it not one of the three wise men?
Mumsnet
She said that when she flatly rejected those two suggestions, he spent at least “half an hour” reeling off “bold” names that were not to her liking. Things came to a head when he then asked: “What is wrong with Balthazar though?” At this point, she asked him to “leave the room.”
In a post the earlier in the week another couple noted a similar problem:
The post, sent on Saturday, sparked a fierce debate, racking up more than 600 replies, and can be read here. And in response to numerous people demanding to know the name, Fringely confirmed: “The name is Genghis.”
And she added: “So now I’ve said the name, most people seem to be agreeing intervention is required…”
A few people questioned whether it was real, as she replied: “To answer a few questions: I definitely do not think it’s a joke, clothes are being made with ‘Genghis’ embroidered on them. (Newsweek)
In 2022 there are some names cannot be given to babies; they are illegal in the U.S.
- King
- Queen
- Jesus Christ
- III
- Santa Claus
- Majesty
- Adolf Hitler
- Messiah
- @
- 1069
In 2022, other countries also have names not allowed: These are a few examples. . . .
- Chief Maximus (New Zealand)
- Robocop (Mexico)
- Sex Fruit (New Zealand)
- Linda (Saudi Arabia)
- Snake (Malaysia)
- Friday (Italy)
- Islam (China)
- Sarah (Morocco)
- Osama bin Laden (Germany)
- Metallica: (Sweden)
- Prince William (France)
- Devil (Japan)
- Blue (Italy)
- Circumcision (Mexico)
- Quran (China)
- BRFXXCCXXMNPCCCCLLLMMNPRXVCLMNCKSSQLBB11116 (Sweden)
- Harriet (Iceland)
- Cyanide (United Kingdom)
- Monkey (Denmark)
- Thor (Portugal)
- 007 (Malaysia)
- Griezmann Mbappe (France)
- Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii (New Zealand)
- Bridge (Norway)
- Anal (New Zealand)
- Nutella (France)
- Wolf (Spain)
- Tom (Portugal)
- Camilla (Iceland)
- Judas (Switzerland)
- Duke (Australia)