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The term 'Nominative determinism' refers to the idea that some people are attracted to certain jobs that match up with their names. Can this phenomenon really hold weight?
It sounds incredibly narcissistic to be attracted to things that remind us of ourselves, but the research suggests that your name really does have a great influence on your life choices.
One study found that people named Dennis or Denise tend to become dentists at a higher-than-average rate. Patterns were also identified among doctors, showing high incidences of fitting names in areas like urology, for example, where there were a number of surnames like Cox, Ball, Dick, and Waterfall.
Of course, occupational surnames, such as Butcher, Smith, Baker, and Miller, suggest some kind of family legacy.
However, sometimes the matches are so bizarre and funny that they cannot be explained. We here at Bored Panda have collected a list of people who are unwittingly doing exactly what their names are telling them to do, along with a few others who just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Scroll down below to check it out for yourself, and don't forget to vote for your favorites!
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#1
Neuroscientist Lord Brain
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#2
Firefighter McBurney
Ryo Bakura 6 years ago
Les is usually short for Leslie. Or Lesley, depending on how it's spelled.
Load More Replies...
Dian Ella Lillie 6 years ago (edited)
Please tell me his first name is actually Bernard (or Bernhard)...
Rosemary Turpin 6 years ago
Actually, what could be more logical? Many of our early surnames were given based on profession: Miller, Taylor,, Mason, Smith (of any kind or colour), Cooper, Harper, and many many more I could think of -- but so could you!
cashmeremanufacturer.com 6 years ago
Lieutenant Les Mcburney is a Lieutenant in fire fighting. Today he is MC (emcee) of this fire fighting broadcast.
#3
Lawyer Sue Yoo
Ladies and Gentlemen 6 years ago
At Least hide her contact information please, Else Sue will Sue you!
#4
Cashier Ka Ching
#5
Andrew Drinkwater
#6
Volunteer Toogood
#7
Physician Dr. Docktor
#8
Cashier Kashera
#9
Ophthalmologist Ashley Seawright
#10
Gastroenterologist Joshua Butt
#11
Music Teacher Miss C Sharp
#12
Librarian Bookendorf
#13
Paul Paulos From St. Paul Police
#14
Chef Tom Kitchin
#15
Meat Manager Brad Slaughter
#16
Jason Weed
#17
What A Name For A Weather Presenter
#18
Dr Mike Loosemore Talking About Need To Lose Weight
#19
Lawyer Jonathan Law
#20
Just To Show To All My Clients That Don’t Believe My Surname Is Barber
#21
Runner Aaron Farr
#22
Funeral Directors Wake And Paine
#23
Weather Presenter Sara Blizzard
#24
President Robin Mahfood
#27
Funeral Directors Thomas Grieve And Son
#28
Archaeologist Dr Pam Graves
#29
Scott Forrest
#30
Amy Parks
#31
Literature In French Editor Peter France
#32
Dentist Rachel Pullin
#33
Dentist L. Justin Payne
#34
Race Car Driver Scott Speed
#35
Todd Cutright
#36
Hand Surgeon David J. Mitten
#37
Assistant Deli Manager Margaret Bacon
#38
Fiona Lander In Perth Airport
#39
Weather Anchor L. Sprinkle
#40
Sled Dog Champion Vickie Pullin
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What do you think ?
troufaki13 6 years ago
There's a dietician in Greece and her name roughly translates to "Maria Starve-to-death" :'D
glowworm2 6 years ago
My boyfriend saw a sign for elections this year that said "Crook for Congress." He couldn't stop laughing at it.
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
Wonder if his opponent ran ads saying, "I am not Crook!"
Load More Replies...
Trent Kamerman 6 years ago
I am a Cameraman.......We call it jobonomatopoeia . www.800kamerman.com Screen-Sho...42-png.jpg 
Misterscooter 6 years ago
I used to work for an oil company and one of the leaders had the last name of Greaser.
Ari Niemelä 6 years ago
There is a hospital in Finland where is two doctors, other name is translated as Smart and other is Luck. When Smart is not enough, then Luck goes to help him.
Amanda Panda 6 years ago
My postman growing up was Mr. Stamps and I had an OB/GYN named Dr. Hymen
Ayra 6 years ago
In my hometown, it could happen that you had this dream team when having your wisdom teeth removed: Dr. Lücke (= Gap) as dentist, Dr. Messer (=knife) as surgeon and Dr. Sandmann (=sandman) as anaesthetist... Another one which I drove by on my way to university was that lawyer called "Streit" which translates to "argument"
movie maven 6 years ago
doubt this counts though we do have a doctor whose full name is Richard Hung, he goes by Dr. D**k Hung, urologist & surgeon.
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
I can't stop thinking 🤔 according to this coincidence profession/name ,what profession will have that girl named ABCD, will she be a teacher. ?😂😂😂
Donna Cheung 6 years ago
I love this post so much... I guess you can say that for some people, their occupation is truly their "calling"...?
Jo Johannsen 6 years ago
There is (or used to be) a pathology lab in Torrance where the doctors were named Tisue and Samples
Sandra Gushulak 6 years ago
Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after the magazine's humorous Feedback column noted several studies carried out by researchers with remarkably fitting surnames.
SirWriteALot 6 years ago
German therapist called "Gisela von Hinten" which means "Gisela from behind"
Isabel Care 6 years ago
Knew a Mr Capon who worked in the food industry. Worked for Herr Kopfli who exported Swiss food (on a menu creme caramel was caramel kopfli.) My family surname is Care and my brother is a psychiatric nurse
Quick & to the pointless 6 years ago
The librarian in my elementary school name was Ms. Dewey....
Ryo Bakura 6 years ago
Not sure he will. Squires aren't really a thing anymore, and if he became a senator, he would be Senator Squire Sebastian Senator whatever his last name will be, so he'd be known as Senator (his last name), because that was just his first name.
Load More Replies... 
Ron Howard 2 years ago
My mother's doctor was Dr Deathridge. There was a podiatrist here in town named Dr Trotter.
Jo Brockberg 3 years ago
We saw an ad for Paul Schwinghammer, builder for Hallmark Homes in Indiana!
Jo Johannsen 5 years ago
There is a pathology lab in the South Bay whose doctors are Tisue & Samples - partners in nominative determinism as well as in business.
Joannie Goulet 6 years ago
The doctor that followed me during my last 2 pregnancies is called Larrivée, wich translate as arrival.
Simon Levene 6 years ago
There is a criminologist who has written the standard handbook for judges on criminal sentencing. his name is Rob Banks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Banks-Sentence-2018-Two-set/dp/0993202292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544971630&sr=8-1&keywords=BANKS+SENTENCING
Sarah Gardner 6 years ago
Aptronym, interesting that people who have that sort of name are actually statistically more likely to then go into that profession.
BlackestDawn 6 years ago
This one been floating around for a while: https://cheezburger.com/8584659968/ditch-her-quick-and-hide-divorce-lawyers . Not sure how genuin it is though.
Alexandru Bucur 6 years ago
As someone already said, some names come from professions, so it's not unusual to find someone still doing the profession several generations later, especially if it's the family business. In my case, for example, I'm a third generation architect, because my grandpa was one, so are both my parents and one of my siblings (the other is a graphic designer). and we have a family firm. Amusingly, the other branch of the family are all doctors, and my brother originally wanted to become one, before switching back to architecture.
troufaki13 6 years ago
There's a dietician in Greece and her name roughly translates to "Maria Starve-to-death" :'D
glowworm2 6 years ago
My boyfriend saw a sign for elections this year that said "Crook for Congress." He couldn't stop laughing at it.
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
Wonder if his opponent ran ads saying, "I am not Crook!"
Load More Replies... Trent Kamerman 6 years ago
I am a Cameraman.......We call it jobonomatopoeia . www.800kamerman.com Screen-Sho...42-png.jpg
Misterscooter 6 years ago
I used to work for an oil company and one of the leaders had the last name of Greaser.
Ari Niemelä 6 years ago
There is a hospital in Finland where is two doctors, other name is translated as Smart and other is Luck. When Smart is not enough, then Luck goes to help him.
Amanda Panda 6 years ago
My postman growing up was Mr. Stamps and I had an OB/GYN named Dr. Hymen
Ayra 6 years ago
In my hometown, it could happen that you had this dream team when having your wisdom teeth removed: Dr. Lücke (= Gap) as dentist, Dr. Messer (=knife) as surgeon and Dr. Sandmann (=sandman) as anaesthetist... Another one which I drove by on my way to university was that lawyer called "Streit" which translates to "argument"
movie maven 6 years ago
doubt this counts though we do have a doctor whose full name is Richard Hung, he goes by Dr. D**k Hung, urologist & surgeon.
Luisa Vasconcelos 6 years ago
I can't stop thinking 🤔 according to this coincidence profession/name ,what profession will have that girl named ABCD, will she be a teacher. ?😂😂😂
Donna Cheung 6 years ago
I love this post so much... I guess you can say that for some people, their occupation is truly their "calling"...?
Jo Johannsen 6 years ago
There is (or used to be) a pathology lab in Torrance where the doctors were named Tisue and Samples
Sandra Gushulak 6 years ago
Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. The term was first used in the magazine New Scientist in 1994, after the magazine's humorous Feedback column noted several studies carried out by researchers with remarkably fitting surnames.
SirWriteALot 6 years ago
German therapist called "Gisela von Hinten" which means "Gisela from behind"
Isabel Care 6 years ago
Knew a Mr Capon who worked in the food industry. Worked for Herr Kopfli who exported Swiss food (on a menu creme caramel was caramel kopfli.) My family surname is Care and my brother is a psychiatric nurse
Quick & to the pointless 6 years ago
The librarian in my elementary school name was Ms. Dewey....
Ryo Bakura 6 years ago
Not sure he will. Squires aren't really a thing anymore, and if he became a senator, he would be Senator Squire Sebastian Senator whatever his last name will be, so he'd be known as Senator (his last name), because that was just his first name.
Load More Replies... Ron Howard 2 years ago
My mother's doctor was Dr Deathridge. There was a podiatrist here in town named Dr Trotter.
Jo Brockberg 3 years ago
We saw an ad for Paul Schwinghammer, builder for Hallmark Homes in Indiana!
Jo Johannsen 5 years ago
There is a pathology lab in the South Bay whose doctors are Tisue & Samples - partners in nominative determinism as well as in business.
Joannie Goulet 6 years ago
The doctor that followed me during my last 2 pregnancies is called Larrivée, wich translate as arrival.
Simon Levene 6 years ago
There is a criminologist who has written the standard handbook for judges on criminal sentencing. his name is Rob Banks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Banks-Sentence-2018-Two-set/dp/0993202292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544971630&sr=8-1&keywords=BANKS+SENTENCING
Sarah Gardner 6 years ago
Aptronym, interesting that people who have that sort of name are actually statistically more likely to then go into that profession.
BlackestDawn 6 years ago
This one been floating around for a while: https://cheezburger.com/8584659968/ditch-her-quick-and-hide-divorce-lawyers . Not sure how genuin it is though.
Alexandru Bucur 6 years ago
As someone already said, some names come from professions, so it's not unusual to find someone still doing the profession several generations later, especially if it's the family business. In my case, for example, I'm a third generation architect, because my grandpa was one, so are both my parents and one of my siblings (the other is a graphic designer). and we have a family firm. Amusingly, the other branch of the family are all doctors, and my brother originally wanted to become one, before switching back to architecture.
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