Naming after a literary character if you have the same last name too

ficbot · 09-04-2013, 10:13 PM

I got my class lists for school yesterday, and one of my incoming Kindergarten students shares a name (first AND last!) with one of the central characters---not the boy wizard himself, but one of the Potter parents. I have to admit, I snickered a little. I mean, how could they NOT know? I understand that Potter is a common surname, and perhaps they really liked the first name and couldn't agree on another, or perhaps they were honouring a relative. But really, the kid is going to get Harry Potter jokes just from the last name. Using the first name too just seems mean, doesn't it?

On the other hand, it IS a very common name. Maybe they didn't know? Could they really not have known? Part of me is dying to ask them if they did it on purpose, but of course it is not the child's fault either way about their name and it isn't really my business

But truly, it's like having the last name 'Claus' and choosing to name your kid 'Santa.' Why do people do that?

nohmi2 · 09-05-2013, 02:16 AM

This poor child is going to need a lot of hugs, plus develop a thick skin.

Cheers

FizzyWater · 09-05-2013, 04:16 AM

I once heard a woman scolding her two boys in the grocery store. She called one "Malcolm X" and the other "Blake Carrington" (yes, the Blake Carrington from the 80s show Dynasty).

I have often said that the mothers must have had horrible labor giving birth to children when I hear of names like this (or the one you mentioned).

HarryT · 09-05-2013, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

I once heard a woman scolding her two boys in the grocery store. She called one "Malcolm X" and the other "Blake Carrington" (yes, the Blake Carrington from the 80s show Dynasty).

I have often said that the mothers must have had horrible labor giving birth to children when I hear of names like this (or the one you mentioned).

As typified by my former great uncle who rejoiced in the name of "Wellington Boot". What on Earth would possess parents to give a name like that to a baby? A warped sense of humour?

Lady Blue · 09-05-2013, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ficbot

On the other hand, it IS a very common name. Maybe they didn't know? Could they really not have known? Part of me is dying to ask them if they did it on purpose, but of course it is not the child's fault either way about their name and it isn't really my business

But truly, it's like having the last name 'Claus' and choosing to name your kid 'Santa.' Why do people do that?

I think it's very possible that they parents didn't know. I've never read any of the Harry Potter novels, have no interest in reading them and have no idea what any of the characters names are besides Harry Potter. So, if my last name was Potter and I just had a baby, I guess there would be some chance I would saddle the child with a name that was also a book character. But you're right. Teasing will probably follow, at least through his formative years.

Maybe it would be wise for expectant parents to Google the full names they're considering to bestow on their progeny before they make their final decision, just to make sure there are no unfavorable historical or literary connections they're not aware of before they saddle the poor child with unnecessary teasing fodder.

On a side note ... I think many Hollywood Personalities should be shot, or at least incarcerated, for the names they impose on their poor offspring. Are they not at all concerned about the unnecessary baggage their inflicting on their children with some of the monickers they choose? You all know what I mean.

poohbear_nc · 09-05-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

As typified by my former great uncle who rejoiced in the name of "Wellington Boot". What on Earth would possess parents to give a name like that to a baby? A warped sense of humour?

Oh thank you Harry! I'm cleaning the Pepsi I just spit on my monitor from laughing at this .... Do you think the baby might not have been 'quite' wanted?

HomeInMyShoes · 09-05-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Blue

On a side note ... I think many Hollywood Personalities should be shot, or at least incarcerated, for the names they impose on their poor offspring. Are they not at all concerned about the unnecessary baggage their inflicting on their children with some of the monickers they choose? You all know what I mean.

The kids already have enough unnecessary baggage to contend with given their parents in the first place.

wodin · 09-05-2013, 07:33 PM

I sometimes wonder about women whose married names result in something like that. E.g. was she actually attracted to her husband because her given name was Scarlett and his last name was O’Hara?

09-04-2013, 10:13 PM	#1
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Naming after a literary character if you have the same last name too I got my class lists for school yesterday, and one of my incoming Kindergarten students shares a name (first AND last!) with one of the central characters---not the boy wizard himself, but one of the Potter parents. I have to admit, I snickered a little. I mean, how could they NOT know? I understand that Potter is a common surname, and perhaps they really liked the first name and couldn't agree on another, or perhaps they were honouring a relative. But really, the kid is going to get Harry Potter jokes just from the last name. Using the first name too just seems mean, doesn't it? On the other hand, it IS a very common name. Maybe they didn't know? Could they really not have known? Part of me is dying to ask them if they did it on purpose, but of course it is not the child's fault either way about their name and it isn't really my business But truly, it's like having the last name 'Claus' and choosing to name your kid 'Santa.' Why do people do that?

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09-05-2013, 02:16 AM	#2
nohmi2 Pensively observing. Posts: 1,758 Karma: 12675456 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Varied.	This poor child is going to need a lot of hugs, plus develop a thick skin. Cheers

09-05-2013, 04:16 AM	#3
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	I once heard a woman scolding her two boys in the grocery store. She called one "Malcolm X" and the other "Blake Carrington" (yes, the Blake Carrington from the 80s show Dynasty). I have often said that the mothers must have had horrible labor giving birth to children when I hear of names like this (or the one you mentioned).

09-05-2013, 07:33 PM	#8
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	I sometimes wonder about women whose married names result in something like that. E.g. was she actually attracted to her husband because her given name was Scarlett and his last name was O’Hara?

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