ADVERTISEMENT

Being given a name when you’re born is a lottery. You might get lucky and end up with an amazing name like Jonathan or James (or Jonas), but your parents might give you an unfortunate name that will haunt you for the rest of your life, all because of some piece of pop culture that appears later on in your life.

Jesse McLaren, who describes himself as a ‘late night TV writer’ and has more than 1.2 million followers on Twitter, asked his fans what piece of popular culture ruined their first names. And the responses were awesome. That’s why we gathered the very best pieces of pop culture that ruined first names into this neat list for you to enjoy. So get ready to pity some people named Zelda and Karen, scroll down, and upvote your fave funny names. Keep scrolling for Bored Panda's interview with Nick, also known as Skyquake, about pop culture and how it 'ruined' his name.

More info: Twitter | Instagram

Image credits: McJesse

For those of you who might not know who Jesse is, he’s the guy who tricked Google into thinking that he was 2017’s Person of the Year. Jesse’s Twitter thread about pop culture and worst names was quite popular. More than 16,000 people liked it and 1,600 retweeted the question he asked his followers.

Jesse himself admitted that what ruined his first name was the song ‘Jessie’s Girl’ by Australian singer Rick Springfield. Of course, Jesse and Jessie aren’t the exact same name, but the extra ‘i’ doesn’t really matter much when you’re listening to a song, does it?

#5

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

ProducerLuke_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
lou_delue avatar
Zenozenobee
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And I'm sure every single one is happy about his/her joke, thinking no one ever thought of it. ;p

View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

luckysaabola Report

Add photo comments
POST
tenay_douglas avatar
Tenay Douglas
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my APES class last year there was a girl named Alexa; loved answering questions

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Bored Panda reached out to Nick, a Twtich.tv streamer from New Hampshire who goes by the moniker Skyquake online, to talk to him about how popular culture ‘ruined’ his first name. In a response to Jesse McLaren’s thread, Nick had said that the Nickelodeon theme song ‘did irreversible damage’ to him from the 1st grade right up to the 8th grade. However, now things aren’t as difficult for him.

“I feel like most people I know have outgrown making comments like that about my name, with a few exceptions. It happens so infrequently that I don't even consider it a problem. My younger self would wholeheartedly disagree with that and would say it's the worst thing that's ever happened to him.”

“As kids grow up, they tend to make these jokes relating to things that are popular at the time, typically at others' expense whether they realize it or not. Aside from a few comments here and there, it doesn't happen enough anymore to bother me,” Nick revealed.

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

shoupshouts Report

He also had some ideas about who it is that people make fun of the most: “I feel like I hear a lot of people poke fun at names that are referenced in songs, like Annie in "Smooth Criminal" or "Jesse's Girl" as Jesse McLaren mentioned in his reply to the original tweet.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“References in shows and movies come and go, but I think really catchy songs & lyrics stick in people's minds which make the jokes a lot more common.”

“I don't believe that the majority of parents willingly choose their child's name knowing it will embarrass them. I think most parents take the time to thoroughly consider what issues their child's future name or initials would create for them later on in their life.”

“You may have seen news headlines from a few years ago where a video game company rewarded new parents with a lifetime supply of their product if they named their child after one of their characters,” Nick said. “While that kid probably hasn't had the easiest time dealing with the inevitable comments they received, I can't imagine many other future parents make the same kind of decisions with their newborn.”

#10

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

zeldawilliams Report

Add photo comments
POST
jeffrequier_1 avatar
Jeff Requier
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her dad named her on purpose. I know i saw a commercial with the two of them about the video game. Thats how I know she exists

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

There are plenty of baby names, completely ruined by pop culture, as well. So think hard before you name your child Alexa, Katrina or Hermione. And who would consider naming their kid Hannibal, Paris or Donald now? Not that there’s anything wrong with these names — they’re great, but they might make your child’s life difficult because of the context surrounding them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Do you know anyone who has had their name ruined by pop culture? Perhaps your name’s been causing you some trouble due to some old or recent meme? What name do you think has been the greatest victim of pop culture? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share them in the comments.

#17

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

CarrieHFletcher Report

Add photo comments
POST
shoshannahcohen avatar
NCC~1701
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this one though. Anyone who’s seen the movie will know not to mess with you!

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#25

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

MaraWilson Report

Add photo comments
POST
louisejames avatar
CeramicPear
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the name, but it is also the name of the demon that personifies craving and death in Buddhism :/

sarah_67 avatar
chicken of darkness
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A mara is also a creature from swedish folklore who would come through a keyhole or under the door into your bedroom during the night and sit on your chest and give you nightmares. The victim would be paralyzed and have a feeling of being suffocated. However she could only get into the bed if she stepped through a pair of shoes next to the bed. Therefore it was recommended to keep your shoes under your bed with the toes pointing outward.

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! harsh of parents to tell this to kids, just to get them to move their shoes.

Load More Replies...
carofer_gonza avatar
Carolina Fernández González
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Colombian, and I had to look in google the word "Mara", since I've never heard that word in spanish. And she's right but it only applies to 4 countries and is slang... so I guess you learn something new everyday XD

danielavictoriaalbano avatar
mireia_frazers avatar
Mireia Dos
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not really. It's a slang term specific to two Latin American countries.

Load More Replies...
nataliejohnson_1 avatar
Natalie Johnson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, what? I love the name Mara, I didn’t know that’s what is meant!

pirunchitrudiamphai avatar
Pirun Chitrudi amphai
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mara(read with shortened -a sound) mean bitter gourd in Thai. At least you sound delicious when cooked.

alex_scott_newell avatar
Alex Newell
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yeah, from Persona! https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Mara

shoshannahcohen avatar
NCC~1701
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But I like the name Mara. Any other fans of Mara Jade from Star Wars expanded universe books out there?

ronielleningram avatar
Roni Ingram
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's Mara Wilson Aka. Matilda and the little on from Mrs Doubtfire

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would have thought being the child actress in "Matilda" would have had more of an impact...

mireia_frazers avatar
Mireia Dos
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's any comfort (probably not) , your name is pronounced like "mother" in my language (Catalan), although we spell it with a final "e", like a female horse 🙄. https://www.termcat.cat/es/cercaterm/fitxa/NDE1ODc5

keneric_murray avatar
Ken Murray
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somewhat unrelated but you have to consider what things mean in other languages. - one celebrity ( I can't remember who ) wanted a tattoo stating Hard Love but got Rough Sex instead LOL

nayla-garrana avatar
Yako G
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And in Arabic (or Egyptian slang) not sure but means b***h or actually I'm not quite sure all I know is that it's not nice

hoffdylan2006 avatar
ZeitCycloneTangram
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also the name of an evil snake in Doctor Who. But, by judging how unpopular that is, it isn't any real threat.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

pdx_hilbo Report

#33

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

rachel Report

Add photo comments
POST
vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How many times did you get hit with "WE WERE ON A BREAK!!"

View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

srdanan Report

Add photo comments
POST
vikrant-talponkar avatar
Vic
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sheera is also an Indian dessert: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sajjige

View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

McJesse Report

Add photo comments
POST
jksimm515 avatar
Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I married a Jesse. The look people get the first time they hear the song around me as they go "OH MY GOD YOU'RE JESSE'S GIRL" was funny the first time. We've been married almost ten years now though, and I hate that song.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

First-Name-Ruined-By-Pop-Culture

baddestmamajama Report

Note: this post originally had 43 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

See Also on Bored Panda