“I Hated It So Much I Legally Changed It”: 30 People With The Most Stupid And Unfortunate Names Describe How Life’s Going

What's in a name, you ask? A whole lot, especially if it’s an eccentric one like Genifyr or Dementia. See, while unique baby names have long been the domain of celebrities (X Æ A-Xii, anyone?), that no longer seems to be the case. The days when parents wanted their kids to fit in are long gone. Now they want them to stand out — without putting too much thought into how many funny looks, mispronunciations, and misspellings will follow them for the rest of their lives.

"People with stupid names, how's life been treating you?" Redditor MrsLadyMadonna wondered when they reached out to members of the 'Ask Women' community to share their experiences. From jokes in school to annoying comments that made them change it completely, some people have been dealt a bad hand from the get-go.

We at Bored Panda have gathered some of the most interesting responses to share with you all. Some of them will spark a smile, others will reveal the real struggles people with rare names have to face in life. So sit back, pull your chair closer, and get ready to take a peek inside a world of living with an unfortunate name. Scroll down to upvote your favorite stories, and if you have any similar experiences to share, be sure to let us know all about them in the comments.

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I hated it so much I legally changed it in 2016. Much happier now.

It wasn't stupid before that song "Stacey's Mom" came out, but since that song my name has been the bane of my existence. Even at 25, people would start singing the lyrics when they learned my name, just to get it out of their system.

I changed it to Anastasia, since I'm Greek and that's what my father wanted to name me originally. Now I get "Like the Disney princess??" And honestly that's much more bearable.

Anilxe , Sofia Alejandra Report

Final score:

167points

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TheAquarius1978 2 years ago

Don't complain lol, my dad though it would be a good idea to name me after a very famous Singer in this country, i SPENT the 1st 25 years of my life listening the the same stupid joke " também tens dois amores " ( do you also have two lovers ) which was the title of One of his songs, i'm 44 now and i STIL listen to that stupid joke, though not as Often these days thank what ever Deity you follow....

30points

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Not me, but I know someone who’s surname is Potter, and she had a son about a year before the books came out who she named Harry. He’s probably totally sick of it.

anon , Warner Bros. Pictures Report

Final score:

156points

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Deborah Harris 2 years ago

Tell him to ask for royalties eveytime someone writes his name

66points

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My legal name is Kimber, which most people think is pretty cool (I do agree). Some people however, throughout my entire life have found it pertinent to yell “TIMBER” and then look at me expectantly like it’s the funniest thing ever and like I’ve never heard it before.. it’s not that funny and y’all ain’t as clever as you think.

edit: spelling

Kjadews6 , Lukas Report

Final score:

147points

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Skara Brae 2 years ago

Kimber Lee?

42points

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A guy I work with is named Daniel Daniel Daniel. He takes it in stride since a lot of people ask if this is really his name. He gives ever changing Joker like answer about how he got the name. My favorite is his dad lost a poker game and had to name his kid the same name first, middle, and last.

jvlpdillon , Warner Bros. Pictures Report

Final score:

144points

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MiriPanda 2 years ago

How ia that even allowed...

41points

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"I Hated It So Much I Legally Changed It": 30 People With The Most Stupid And Unfortunate Names Describe How Life's Going My daughter's neonatalogist had a last name Doctor. So everyone called her Dr. Doctor and her name tag said Doctor Doctor. I guess it was inevitable that she'd become a doctor.

shimbio , RF._.studio Report

Final score:

130points

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Jaden Alexander 2 years ago

🎶🎶...can't you see I'm burning, burning...🎶🎶

74points

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I am Egyptian and my name is Moaz elgharib "pronounced mo'aaz al-ghare'eb" moaz means a place fortified by god and gharib means strange. Most people including arabs dont know hit to pronounce it so they call me mohammad because its the only name they know how to pronounce easily, its been 16 years of being called mohammad and close people call me strange or dr strange for I was studying pharmaceuticals.

moazelgharib , charlesdeluvio Report

Final score:

130points

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Crouching hippo hidden panda 2 years ago

How hard is it to say Moaz? Ppl actually add a syllable and call him by a completely different name. So disrespectful

111points

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I once taught a kid named Tequila and her younger brother Jack middle name Daniel. I wish I was making this up.

I also had a PE teacher at school called Mr. Game. He was a cool dude and clearly had the perfect profession!!

quellerosiel , Fidel Fernando Report

Final score:

128points

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Anne-Sophie Dumetz 2 years ago

My art prof was ... Art Green! Can't make that up

40points

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Not my name, but my daughters first pediatrician office had a board with pictures of various kiddos and some had names.

Spotted one with this cute little girl and I see the name “Demi” ... I go to read the full name above it thinking I’ll see Demetria, but I didn’t see that name.

Dementia. Was her name. I think of this little girl often and wonder how the world is treating her.

StellaFartois , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Final score:

114points

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Down With Agent Hedgehog! 2 years ago

Actually, I think Dementia would be a really cool name if it’s not for the definition and creepy atmosphere

39points

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My sister has what should be a very standard, normal name, but for some reason my mum decided to go the "unique" spelling route. Think Genifyr instead of Jennifer. So now she has to spell it out even though it's a name that everyone knows how to spell correctly. Having to point out your name is essentially spelt wrong every time you have to give your information must be so annoying - if I were her I'd just legally change my name to the correct spelling.

anon , Taylor Grote Report

Final score:

110points

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Jaden Alexander 2 years ago

So much THIS. I hope future parents are taking notes.

83points

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#10

I have a friend named Isis. She has not legally changed her name, but, about 5 years ago, at the age of 30, she had to start going by her middle name due to the associations.

clekas , Pixabay Report

Final score:

109points

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Deborah Harris 2 years ago

Such a shame as its a Goddess name. I know Marks and Spencers changed their perfume that had this name too

124points

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#11

I have an extremely uncommon name, to the degree that when I tell it to people I often get asked what my *real* name is, because they assume it must be a nickname.

I think having a unique name has served me well in life, but one consequence people with common names may not think about is that it makes me seem rude sometimes.

I am slightly worse than average at remembering faces and names but, frustratingly, no one *ever* forgets my name. So when I forget someone's name, I always look like an a*****e, even if we met so briefly that forgetting a name should be entirely understandable.

anon , fauxels Report

Final score:

108points

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Lea S. 2 years ago

I wish I knew what these names were.

9points

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#12

I had a patient last week named Ti’Lapia. I don’t think she knew tilapia was a fish.

Guess it was better than being named Tuna or Tunah

rninnj Report

Final score:

108points

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Ember 2 years ago

What were the parents thinking??!

32points

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#13

My name is really beautiful when it’s pronounced properly, but when it’s pronounced phonetically it sounds like ‘wiener moaner’

I hated it growing up but I think it’s hilarious now. Most people pronounce it correctly, but I don’t correct people who get it wrong. My 65 year old lecturer called me wiener for an entire semester, it was f*****g magical.

I really don’t know what my parents were thinking though. I’m thinking of using a different name professionally.

anon , Jussara Paulo Report

Final score:

106points

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Skara Brae 2 years ago

I wish it revealed the beautiful pronunciation.

110points

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#14

Here's a slightly different take on stupid name. My parents played it really, really safe. My first name was in the top 10 most popular for the entire decade around my birth reaching #1 not once, but twice. My middle name? In the top five of all time. Last name? Top five most common surnames. Do you know how many people there are with my exact name? When I first moved to a metropolitan area there were 5 of us in one apartment complex. None of us were related or even from the same part of the country.

GreebleSnort Report

Final score:

104points

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Crouching hippo hidden panda 2 years ago

Emma Sophia Smith?

33points

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#15

My Lithuanian maiden surname meant "a little wh**e". So yeah, that was fun growing up: from teachers and kids laughing, to doctors and various professionals, my sister even won a contest for the worst surname in our country. I quite liked all the attention and had a fun time growing up with this surname but now, even when I'm divorced, I'm not planning on changing it back.

Dids Report

Final score:

95points

Julija Nėjė

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keighterz 2 years ago

Yeah I really want to know what all these names are, otherwise this thread is kind of annoying ngl

101points

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#16

My mom gave me a name she made up when she was fourteen (think Renesmee or Neveazulu only uglier sounding). I changed it by deed poll at 17.

anon , Camila Bou Report

Final score:

92points

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zububonsai 2 years ago

My condolences for your first 17years. Hope you're better now.

41points

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#17

Not going to say what it actually is, but my first name is an animal. Not like "cat" or something that's actually a name, or something vaguely foreign-sounding like "okapi." Blatantly an animal. Think like "Tiger" or "Dolphin."

Life's pretty good. I like my name. Sometimes I use another one in coffee shops or somewhere that they call my name because if I use my "animal" name then people are just like "what? what did you say? what? how do you spell that?" so it's easier to just say like amy or something lol

ChuushaHime , Choi sungwoo Report

Final score:

85points

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Autumn 2 years ago

Is it Crow or Raven? Those are both names. I actually like them.

35points

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#18

I have a "unique" name that's spelled absolutely stupid. Think "Larin" instead of "Lauren".

Every. Single. Person. Pronounces. It. Wrong.

"LAY-rin? Is there a LUH-AY-RUN here?"

No, it's pronounced just like it's stupidly common counterpart.

Ill get it changed some day.

Midgar-Zolom , Pavel Danilyuk Report

Final score:

80points

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Jaden Alexander 2 years ago

Parents who are considering naming their children ANY of the regular(ish) names with the most God awful spellings should read this post 4-500 times and take notes. This could well be your future child right here.

67points

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#19

My first name is Walker and I am female. My old highschool had me listed as Male for about 6 years until I decided to go back to college. The secretary who was getting my transcripts for me goes, “uh, do you want me to change this now??”

Also get countless emails for “Mr. ______.” When I finally speak to that person on the phone they trip up for a solid 20 seconds, “err... um... is Walker available?” Yes, it is I - the shockingly female Walker. I then typically get an apology email later.

Also, I have a joke that anyone who makes a Texas ranger reference goes into the “75%” category and we cannot be friends. No bargaining. Get outta here.

I will say that people rarely forget my name and that helps with life in general.

madamwalkerrose , Pixabay Report

Final score:

77points

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Lady Goldberry 2 years ago

I like the fluidity of names. Names like Vivian, Evelyn, Kim, etc. were meant for men before they were used for women.

5points

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#20

My name is the same as a very famous hurricane (I was born about 8 years before it happened). Our class had to do a big case study on it in secondary school and the jokes pretty much never stopped. Almost every time I introduce myself to someone in a non-professional environment their reaction tends to be “oh, like the hurricane?”

schwarz_infernus , JD Designs Report

Final score:

69points

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wowbagger 2 years ago

I had a professor named Andrew. When Hurricane Andrew came along, he clipped a great newspaper headline and posted it on his office door: "Andrew terrorizes Florida" in giant font. It set the right mood for a student visit to his office.

20points

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#21

I have a Gaelic name and the area I grew up in was not Ireland. When I was little, ages 6-12ish I'd get very upset at people mispronouncing my name. And then I just kinda got over it. People tend to think it's a lovely name and aren't offended when I correct them. Half the time I don't even bother correcting, as long as you're in the ballpark I'm good. If I'm making reservations I just use my husband's name, it's easier.

I was always annoyed that I could never find my name on any souvenirs.

niroby Report

Final score:

66points

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Lindsay Ameye 2 years ago

Siobhan?

35points

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#22

"Oh like the Borealis?" - Every damn time I meet someone new. I usually give up and just go by my middle name.

Dawn36 , Luke Stackpoole Report

Final score:

62points

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Deborah Harris 2 years ago

AURORA? So 😍

74points

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#23

My surname is pronounced very similarly to my username. Unfortunate, but not the worst. Back in school people tried to use it to make fun of me, so I just adopted it as a nickname.

It's kinda stuck ever since and I actually like it, it makes people laugh which is all that matters :)

arsequeef , Mikhail Nilov Report

Final score:

61points

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Deborah Harris 2 years ago

Arsequeef? Please no ... lol

52points

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#24

I'm named after an unmistakable American state. I'm European. People call me all sorts of American states names, or even Mexico and Canada, as a pun.

But everybody seems to forget that hearing this sort of stuff since you're a child really narrows the puns that are actually original. Most are just improvised and lame, and people realise this after saying it and I just condescendingly smile, and are immediately embarrassed.

I tend to evaluate people who I meet by the originality of their reaction to my name.

zeeeeeeeeee , ATC Comm Photo Report

Final score:

61points

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L hill 2 years ago

Rhode Island?

51points

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#25

My name is not stubid in my country but in english my name can be pronouced as *Titty*

So yeah nice professional name when working with foreighers.

Tyza010 Report

Final score:

58points

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Skara Brae 2 years ago

Hmm, refreshingly uncensored.

42points

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#26

I don't know if it's stupid but I always found my name stupid. It's Lithuanian and it's spelled Jaune. Now in Lithuanian Jauna means young (in feminine form), which is what my mother named me after saying eternal youth and all that stuff. I always hated it thinking it will sound stupid once I'm a granny. Like it pretty much literally means young. It's like naming your child 'kid' or 'toddler' in my eyes.

Somewhat luckily, I moved to the UK later on in my childhood and started going by June, and later on exclusively Jane. So I guess it's better, although I still don't like either of the alternatives. I'd change my name but it would be crazily expensive to do it through the embassy or through gaining a UK embassy so not anytime soon. Sometimes I do have people asking me if my parents spoke French though. Now I'm more annoyed about my stupidly long Lithuanian surname, which I got from my Dad that I've not seen for 12 years and absolutely do not care about.

nucifera_no , Danie Franco Report

Final score:

58points

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Julie 2 years ago

Jaune is french is yellow

36points

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#27

My mother couldn't decide which name she liked better so she kind of mushed the spelling together. My name is Russian and sounds very pretty when pronounced correctly but the spelling is just... Why? People can never spell or pronounce my name correctly, and I've been called "Nat", "Tahlia", "Stacy" (I don't even know), "Tasha" and many more. None of my family is Russian, and I often get asked if I am from Russia because of my name.

WaifuD**k , Mehrpouya H Report

Final score:

57points

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zububonsai 2 years ago

And now I'm sitting here, trying to imagine a mushed-toghether version of "Natasha" and "Anastasia": Anashtasia? Natasia? Tashasia?

33points

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#28

My name is a classic name but it is the same as the word "Donkey" in my native language, so in school, the kids would often make donkey noises at me or tease me about it. It stopped in high school or junior high and has had no effect since; in fact, I had not initially thought about it when reading your question, until I read a comment about someone with another animal name.

No_regrats , TS Sergey Report

Final score:

51points

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censorshipsucks 2 years ago

ocel? esel? Those are the most common EU northern words for donkey

6points

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#29

My Chinese name has a beautiful meaning, but unfortunately sounds very similar to the Chinese word for gross. I hate it so much and am very hesitant to mention it. Luckily most people only ask for my English name

hellostrangerhi , Lukas Report

Final score:

48points

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censorshipsucks 2 years ago

Jeff. I bet it's Jeff.

23points

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#30

I have what's apparently a rare Norwegian nickname as my legal name. I've given up correcting people I don't know, and just let the coffee and phone people call me Linda.

neko Report

Final score:

46points

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Nienke 2 years ago

'Coffee and phone people' XD

31points

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#31

My parents were hippies and in a Buddhist cult, my mum heard my name in a dream and then the cult leader 'suggested' that they change it to something 'easier to pronounce'. I'm not going to say what it was, because it's quite unique and identifiable, but let's just say the difference was pretty significant and the new version was not pronounced the same way and I definitely think it's harder to pronounce. Growing up, nobody could pronounce my name unless they heard it before reading it written down. That resulted in my name being mispronounced by a lot of teachers. My PE teacher would literally invent a new name for me every week and I got so fed up with her not putting in any effort that I started skipping PE. As a teenager, I tried out a bunch of silly nicknames just because I hated my name so much and it didn't help that it was quite intrinsically linked to the cult leader.

I eventually settled on a simple and very short name that almost no one could mess up and started using it when I went to college. I legally changed my name in 2014 and added in the original version of my birth name that my mum had heard in her dream as a second middle name.

The biggest problem for me now is that I have a bit of an identity crisis at times. I'm comfortable with my new name, but I feel very detached from it, since I've only been using it for about 8 years, give or take. I equally feel a little awkward and uncomfortable when my family use my birth name. However, I absolutely love that my mum now refers to me with the original name, so definitely feel I made the right choice in adding it as a middle name. I'm currently pregnant and was very firm about the fact that my kids won't have difficult to pronounce names. One of my sisters disagrees entirely and likes unique names. I think she's just had it easy because she was named after a galaxy.

not-a-tapir Report

Final score:

17points

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Joi Cain 2 years ago

Andromeda!

10points

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#32

I'm a dude named Jody. Watch out deployed soldiers because apparently I'm coming for your girl.

jodwhy Report

Final score:

16points

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Upstaged75 2 years ago

I've known guys named Jody before.

3points

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#33

There are two problems I encounter regularly:

1. Since my name is in the Bible, people ask me what it means. Then, when I answer *they tell me I'm wrong*.

2. People assume I'm wrong about the spelling or pronunciation of my name, especially on paperwork. My sister actually gets this one worse - her high school diploma has the wrong name on it.

basilcinnamonchives Report

Final score:

15points

POST

#34

My last name is a slang word for 'F****r' in my country. When I graduated everyone started laughing.. but over the years when people started growing up no one seemed to care but I still get funny faces every now and then

TmzuXBOX , Ekrulila Report

Final score:

15points

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ispeak catanese 2 years ago

Cabrón?

2points

#35

My boyfriends dad named all his children Tonty because that was his nickname growing up. I'm not sure the story behind it but basically since hes something important in his country he thought it would benefit the kids to have them all named after him. The thing is Tonty is the spanish way of calling someone a dummy in an endearing way and my boyfriend now lives in Southern California where people laugh to his face when he tells him his name. Hes developed this great way of handling it but I cant help but resent his parents for naming his something literally so stupid.

5tacyMarie Report

Final score:

14points

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Contrariwise 2 years ago

George Foreman has 5 sons named George. Oh, and a daughter named Georgette

10points

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#36

I knew a girl called "Tissue"....... ***legal*** name... everyone in school called her "Tissue"... (pronounced ti-shoo)

When I asked her if she has a nickname or pet name she said everyone at home calls her "Marie" but that's just a dumb pet name.. I still think about this

vrvaetty , Pixel Rich Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Sonny Kohler 2 years ago

Whew... given the picture I thought her name was Terrazzo...

3points

#37

Hey. Hi. Hello. I'm named after a sports car. And not a normal one like mercedes or porche...no no. A f*****g weird a*s italian name that is such a common hispanic last name that people will set it as my last name on forms without asking and ill have to correct them. Im not hispanic or italian. My dad was just mad that he knocked my mom up so he named me after the car he'd never be able to afford.

I go by Rae now.

Cosmic_Hitchhiker Report

Final score:

13points

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zububonsai 2 years ago (edited)

Ferrari. Oh dear, this sends me down a rabbit hole: I my country everybody drove a Trabant/Trabbi. The "unreachable" politicians cars were Lada or Wolga or, even fancier, Saporoschez. I imagine I'd be called "Inhabitant of /coming from Saporoschje"....

10points

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#38

My name makes people break out into song. So... that's always interesting.

Edit:

I love your guesses. I suppose I'll throw everyone a hint.

Think Disney.

SnowglobeSnot , Dzenina Lukac Report

Final score:

12points

POST

Crouching hippo hidden panda 2 years ago

Gaston?

19points

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#39

I have a friend whose father gave all 5 of his sons the same first name. Needless to say, they all go by nicknames.

mosselyn Report

Final score:

12points

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Jaden Alexander 2 years ago

George?

6points

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#40

Well my first name is normal really but by maiden name is Minger, as you expect in school it was hard but I embraced it and people stopped making fun of it as soon as I made fun of it too.

crossstitchmetohell Report

Final score:

12points

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Deborah Harris 2 years ago

Probably worse for you if born in the UK hugs x

13points

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#41

All of the first born daughters in my family are named Danna. It's a lovely name, but almost everyone pronounces it like dana or Donna or Deanna. My mother will always tell people that it, "rhymes with banana" and that tends to help. Still, I've decided that if I ever have a girl it'll be a middle name and not a first.

kittypoocaca , Aditya Romansa Report

Final score:

12points

POST

Ember 2 years ago

You’d be amazed how wrong people can get names…I’m often called Amber or Emma (which I understand as they are similar to my name, which is Ember) but I’ve also been called Member, Remember, November and Lemon over the years which is just weird….lol

8points

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#42

My name is not really that stupid, but some stuff happened from time to time again and again.

Dröge comes from a low german word for dry (sometimes dry is used the same as boring).

The two main things happening were the really funny kids removing the dots from the ö to make Droge, which means drug (and we all no, drugs are so funny.. ^^) and (older) teachers using the word when explaining the coming topic might be a bit boring (without realizing its my last name) and everyone else knowing it just looking at me giggling.

Could definitely be worse tho ^^ (looking at you, Isaac C***s, from the other comments)

iKamex , Feliphe Schiarolli Report

Final score:

10points

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Sanne H. 2 years ago

In the Netherlands, people of 40 or older will probably ask you if you’re feeling a bit better already, when they hear your last name is Dröge 😀

5points

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#43

I mean, it's not totally stupid, but it is unusual and I constantly have to correct people when I introduce myself (they mishear my name as "Muriel"; this seems to be what the brain defaults to when hearing a name ending in "-rial"), explain how I got the name (hint: my parents had something to do with it), and explain how it's spelled (one letter off a real word).

As for how life's been lately, it's had its ups and downs. Sometimes ups outnumber the downs. Not this goddamn week...

But thanks for asking!

emiteal Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago

Mariel? Like Mariel Hemingway? I can see someone thinking Muriel with that one, only Mariel is much prettier.

4points

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#44

My name isn’t a pun or anything funny but my parents gave me a triple whammy to deal with.

My first name is a common one, but spelled unusually. I constantly get people spelling it incorrectly (when they ask my name and spell it incorrectly I understand, my hatred is for the lazy people who respond to an email and spell it wrong. Seriously, it’s right there in the email address AND my signature, it just feels disrespectful to then spell it wrong)

My middle name is a girls name from my father’s home country, but in any other country it’s a boys name. I got bullied about this when I was younger and less confident.

My last name is again from my dad’s home country. Just unusual and quite difficult for people to spell, so I have had a lifetime of slowly spelling it out to anyone I meet, or have to give details to on the phone.

I have learned to love my first and last names, I’m proud they are a little more unique than every last Sarah and Katie I meet.

Hate my middle name still. It’s only on my passport now, which I show to no one. It’s not on any other documents, my licence or anything. It’s not a very ‘pretty’ name and I plan to have it removed entirely if I change my name when I marry.

LokisB****206 , Stephen Phillips Report

Final score:

9points

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Upstaged75 2 years ago

We have one accounting person at work who continues to spell my name incorrectly even though I have been emailing back and forth with her for a year. There are 2 ways to spell my name - my way has an extra letter on the end. She leaves it off EVERY TIME, even though it's clearly visible in my email address and my signature. It really annoys me. So lately I have started intentionally misspelling HER name when I email her. Yes, it's totally passive aggressive. And I'm not sure she's going to catch on as she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But it makes me laugh. Seriously, it's not that hard to take 2 seconds to make sure you are getting someone's name right!

2points

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#45

My mom named me after a (not at the time) nautical Disney Princess, thinking it would be different and unique. it totally still is, but OMG the times as a child people would shriek Disney music in my face got old f*****g fast. I was born MONTHS before that movie came out, but it was double worse was b/c my first middle and last name all rhymed on top of everything else.

waddlinmabel Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Nilsen 2 years ago

I know a couple of people with the same name ;) Most are girls born after 2000, but one is a man in his late forties. It's a Hebrew name, relatively common in Israel, meaning Lion of God.

8points

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#46

I have more than one problem:

My parents chose one name for me, but from birth, have called me a "nickname" that everyone thinks is a totally different name. Think John - Jack but for a girl.

The second problem is that I'm named after my grandma, who we were extremely close with, and my middle name is after my mother. Very meaningful but I literally couldn't use my actual first name or my actual middle name. The middle name has no nicknames.

The final problem is that my "nickname" is actually a pretty common name for girls born in the era as me. *And it's not even really my name, but I can't just use my actual first name or my middle name*

ArtemisAlexakis Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)

My Aunt Edna was a real tomboy when she was a kid, back in the 1920s, and even dressed like a boy to go out and play. One day my Grandmother sent my Mother to get Edna because it was dinner time. She was calling “Edna! Mom wants you to come home now!” Eventually, up runs Edna, who grabs my Mother’s arm and races away from the kids she was playing with. She told my Mother that, from now on, when she came to get her for dinner she was to call her Bill, because that’s what the boys thought her name was, and they wouldn’t let her play baseball with them if they knew she was a girl. Edna was smart, though. A tomboy’s childhood playmates often end up becoming boyfriends if she hits her teens and decides to go all girly. Edna did that at about 15, and never lacked for a date until she met my Uncle Earl. If she’d decided to stay a tomboy, I’m pretty sure she’d have just continued calling herself Bill and gone on playing baseball with the boys.

6points

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#47

People always always always mispronounce my name. I often get called Ryan or Rhianna because people don't care. I just go by Rae, it's easier.

My last name isn't any better. Having a very Polish last name makes things difficult for some people.

thatrxtech Report

Final score:

8points

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Karen Grace 2 years ago

I have a Polish last name (by marriage) and it gets butchered a lot. Very often people will just use my first name. The thing is, it's pronounced exactly the way it's spelled but people see the ski ending and think it must be complicated.

3points

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#48

My name is very ordinary, but the first name and surname don't go together. Not in the sense of a cultural clash, they just sound weird. My parents were big on middle names, and it's lovely with my middle name included, but on its own it's just difficult to say out loud unless you enunciate like a 50s newscaster. There's one too many 'R's in there. I can tell when people get caught out by my surname because they kind of slur it and then look belatedly confused because it's so easy on paper. For someone who has a very common first name and a very common surname I spend a lot of time ready to catch mispronunciations.

SphereMyVerse Report

Final score:

7points

POST

#49

My mother thought it was all well and good to let my father name me after a violent American Indian tribe, but with different spelling so that it was still unique or whatever. If I was a boy his choice was Damien from the omen.

Still salty I couldn’t find my name on a coke bottle when those were trending. That and my name is hyphenated so bullying me always made the bully sound verbally challenged.

GidgetCooper Report

Final score:

7points

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Jaden Alexander 2 years ago

I don't see how it would be too bad if you're from Native American ancestry. It should be celebrated. If not, then it's an insult. And by the use of the term "indian", I'm guessing it's the later.

8points

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#50

My Chinese name is a unisex kind and for years I keep having to repeat it and people still get it wrong all the time. So I would write it down on a piece of paper but people still get it wrong cos it's really similar to this other word. Sometimes I just go with the wrong name bec it's too much of a hassle to keep correcting them. And so that they wouldn't feel bad.

Meanwhile my English first name is a car model.

Edit: Changed car brand to model.

blackwoodsix Report

Final score:

6points

POST

Eb 2 years ago

Fabia?

0points

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#51

I don’t have a stupid name (I’m often complimented on it once people realise how to say it right), but the pronunciation isn’t immediately obvious from an initial read, and it’s very uncommon. It’s made worse by my last name also not being pronounced in the way it is spelt. Usually I might correct people on my first name and won’t bother with the last unless I know I’ll be seeing them a lot, but it gets exhausting so sometimes I just leave it alone. Worst time was working with someone for 6 years and they never said it right, but it just went too far so I never bothered to correct it!

Needless to say, I use a fake name when I order takeaway coffee, to save the baristas some trouble!

Billfreddie1 Report

Final score:

6points

POST

Elwood Schwartz (it/that) 2 years ago

Is the last name Bucket?

2points

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#52

I have a very ethnic name, it’s long and hard to pronounce and has too many consonants. It’s a word in Spanish and has a beautiful meaning, but so difficult to manage in he US. I regret not using my middle name as soon as I graduated HS. It would be so much easier to navigate adulthood and career searches.

In my years I have come across some strange names, however...

Christopher Chris

Jesse Owens

Aysiahah (Isaiah)

Rusty Rimmer

Chanda Lear

spinaz Report

Final score:

6points

POST

Jaden Alexander 2 years ago

How is Jesse Owens strange? He was an American Olympian and an inspiration to many, many people. If you don't know who he was, it's worth the Google search.

10points

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#53

I have a not so common name but it's not very hard to pronounce. I even give people easy ways to pronounce it and still, they call me the wrong name. So I just stopped telling people unless they ask

blackheart0903 Report

Final score:

4points

POST

What do you think ?

Helen Waight 2 years ago

(My username isn’t my real name Btw - it’s the punchline to a joke) My real name is one of those Irish names that a lot of people try to pronounce phonetically but forget that ‘bh’ etc have very different sounds in Irish. I went to school in southern England. Was bullied the entire time and ‘not having a proper english name’ was invariably the starter. On a lighter note my boss actually took the time to learn how to pronounce different cultures names and I made her an embroidery sampler of all the new names she’d learnt. She loves it :)

bh = v, right?

1point

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Hooked 2 years ago (edited)

I was born and raised a Roman Catholic and as (Catholic) tradition in my country dictates, I was "blessed" with 4 names when I was baptized. FOUR. Named after all my grandparents. To make it all worse, my parents decided to give me a 5th, A FIFTH, name for every day use. And made that a hyphenated name !! So essentially they are 2 , TWO, names in one ! Still counting ? My surname consists of 3, THREE, separate words ! The problem is that my every day name, the name everyone knows me by, is not in my passport. It gave me some problems over the years when for example, reservations were made using my everyday name and when I had to identify myself, the names did not match with my passport. Try explaining the above in a non-Christian country at the other side of the globe. Also : no forms I have to fill out ever have a name-field big enough to fit my (every day) first name and my last name. Let alone all names if required. Fortunately my names are all very common, nothing weird or anything. EDIT : typo

VM37 2 years ago

In my country you can legally give your child only 2 first names and 2 surname. Which is a good law as we can clearly see.

lib 2 years ago

my name is liberty, and it’s really annoying because everyone always sings the “liberty liberty liberty liberty” thing to me. i’ve grown to hate it because it happens so often. i have to go by lib because people are just jerks about it

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