BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????

Subject: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 08:03 AM

Nicolas Cage has named his newborn baby Kal-el (Superman's name on Krypton). I mean, really. One thought this hippie burdening of your offspring was over ("Oh let's name him Peace-Love-Turnip to show our love for vegetables!"). Childhood is hard enough with ridiculous name abuse from the cradle. If the child leaves home at 15 and becomes a hardened accountant, I for one will not blame him.




yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 08:20 AM

Didn't Mr and Mrs Thomas from Birmingham name their child Ivor John?

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: robomatic
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 08:39 AM

I used to work with Jimmy Olson. He was Irish, though.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Brakn
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 09:13 AM

Spotted in my local paper - EbHoney.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:10 AM

I thought it sounded middle Eastern, Peter. I'll bet most of the kids peers won't even know it was Superman's name, unless they are told.:-)

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: MMario
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:14 AM

and when kids want to be mean it doesn't matter what another child's name is - they will find some way to make fun of it.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:16 AM

Frank Zappa's kids seem to be doing okay.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:21 AM

So they call him Kal... doesn't sound to bad.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: GUEST,H
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:26 AM

"Stupid Children's Names"

Doesn't every child deserve a name, intelligent or not?

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:32 AM

I have always thought Lex a neat name. It means Law and is an interesting contrast to Lex Luthor, it's owner.

I do have problems with names that beg to be ridiculed. Why would anyone name a child Isadore,eg.?

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: jimmyt
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:33 AM

We have a local elderly gentleman named Horace which is, under normal circumstances, just fine. His last name, however, is Dick. Makes it tough to be raised with that sort of challenge

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Seiri Omaar
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:00 AM

Lex= Alexander, at least the way I've seen it used.
Peter, Kal-el is not the worst out there. I mean, "Apple"???
Click here .

Cheers, Seiri.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:29 AM

Well, our reactions to names are culturally based, and therefore are usually pretty much arbitrary. However, I do agree with Peter that Nicholas Cage could certainly have chosen a better name for his child in this case.

Peter, it will NEVER be over. People will be giving weird names to their kids from here till kingdom come. Specially Hollywood people.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Seiri Omaar
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:43 AM

Oops, forgive the HTML blip. I of all folks should know better.

No problem. joe-clone

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:57 AM

I've known stupid people who thought that Frodo would be a good name for their kid....

People like that are the reason Tolkien died HATING his fans.... I'm confident that Jerome Siegel and Joseph Shuster would feel the same about Nick Cage...

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: artbrooks
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 01:13 PM

I have yet to see one that beats Bilbo, with the inevitable mutation.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: GUEST,H
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 02:17 PM

I am still wondering how we know he is stupid. (Cages' new kid)
Isn't rather early to make that assumption?

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 02:32 PM

How about the trendy new name for girls, Madison?

Hell, why don't they just send out a birth announcement that says "We'd been hoping for a boy?"

Good news: my neighbor, not an educated guy, told us they had named their daughter Rose Marie. He said, "We hate those girls' names they've got going now."
----------
"Kal-el" is never going to last. It's too hard to say, especially for young kids. Ten to one he has some other name by age 5.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: MMario
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 02:42 PM

?? I have a five year old great-niece named Madison - and they knew her gender from early in the prgnancy - long before they started to consider names.

But I've yet to meet a male Madison outside of the pages of fiction.

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 03:04 PM

"Madison" is a surname. The going rage these days is to give your child a well-known surname as her/his given name!

Examples: Taylor (for both boys AND girls), Archer, Tanner, Harper, Madison, Reese (as in Witherspoon), McCauley (as in Culkin), and there are a host of others...really, just pick ANY well-known English culture surname that ends in "er" or "or" and you've got a trendy first name for your offspring, who may yet become a big star and get persecuted by People Magazine and News Of The World! Yeah.

The above is a much more prevalent form of nominal abuse of children these days than naming your kid "Kal-el" or "Chastity" or "Moon Unit" or other off-the-wall things like that.

The things people do to be "different" (ha! ha!). Notice how so many people try to be different in the same way at the same time? Hmmmm...ummmm...gosh! They all look and sound so much the same...

Then there's Kyle. The Scottish name that recently returned from virtual historical oblivion and took over the World! Now someone on a tour boat yells, "Kyle! Get over here right now!" 312 boys named Kyle rush to the port side, and the boat tips over. Another avoidable tragedy caused by trends!!!

Why? Why Kyle? (I heard it was because of some soap opera.)

Subject: RE: B.S.:Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 03:44 PM

How do we know he is stupid? genetics. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: MMario
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 03:50 PM

Chastity is in the good old puritan tradition...

But I am probably influenced by the fact that my parents made up one daughters name - used the masculine spelling for a second daughter - changed the spelling on a third daughter's, let one son choose his own middle name (they gave him only an initial) and let their kids name their youngest by committee.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 04:23 PM

Here are some more surnames that have been made first names:

Whitney (as in Houston)
Tyler

And some that became popular because of a celebrity:

Dylan (because of Bob)
Lincoln (because of Abraham)

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 04:37 PM

And there is some surprise that Nick Cage named his child Kal-El after a comic book character.

As I understand it, Nicholas Kim Coppola (yes, the Director is his uncle) took his stage name from a Marvel comic book character "Luke Cage" (Power Man)

So maybe his child will grow up to be a film star and take the stage name of "Fred" just to reverse the trend

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: MMario
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 04:41 PM

Kal Fred?

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 04:41 PM

Little Hawk:

Here are some more surnames that have been made first names:
And some that became popular because of a celebrity:

Dylan (because of Bob)

Surely Dylan was a forename long before Robert Allen Zimmerman changed his name.
I seem to remember a Welsh poet & playright by that name!

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 04:49 PM

There was a priceless scene in an otherwise forgettable, and already cancelled sit-com in which the coach of a 6-8 year-old's soccer team is taking role...

"Kaylee Jones?"

"Here!"

"Kaylee Johnson?"

"Here"

"Kaylee Weston?"

"Here".....


What we lack in good sense when naming our young, we more than don't make up for by lack of imagination.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 05:16 PM

As I understand it, Bob Zimmerman first spelled his professional name "Dillon" because he was something of a fan of Matt Dillon (James Arness), the protagonist of "Gunsmoke." Then he heard about Dylan Thomas and changed the spelling. The given name "Dylan" has been around for a long time. It's Welsh, and it means "man from the sea."

'Course you have to be careful of initials, too. Long ago, in the comic strip "Gasoline Alley," Skeezix (!) and Nina Wallet (her maiden name was "Clock") were trying to think up names for their newborn son. They came up with a perfectly good pair of names: Michael Thomas. Then, one of the other characters in the strip said, "Not a good idea. Think of the initials:   M. T. Wallet."

When I was working for the telephone company back in the late Seventies and Eighties, a large percentage of the female operators, most fresh out of high school and on their first jobs, were named "Kathy" (no, not "Katherine," just "Kathy") and "Tammy (not "Tamara," just "Tammy"). Sigh. . . .

Tom and Ray Magliozzi ("Car Talk" on NPR) got a call from a listener a few weeks ago. She said her name was "Magica." One of them asked her where the name came from. Her answer was, "Hippie parents."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 05:20 PM

Since when is originality a bad thing?

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 05:35 PM

Since when is originality a bad thing?

1. When it inadvertantly shows ignorance of accepted and reasonable principles. For instance, every year a good teacher friend of mine emails me a list of the newest outrageous student names for the year. Quite often there is a high "cringe factor" as the spelling of the "original" name inadvertantly shows the parent's illiteracy.

2. Originality, while perhaps an admirable pursuit, is not always successful. For instance, LOBO...

When I saw you standing there
I 'bout fell off my chair
And when you moved your mouth to speak
I felt the blood go to my feet

...or...

Me and you and a dog named "Boo"
Travelling and living off the land
You and me and a dog named "Boo"
How I love bein' a free man

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 05:49 PM

See thread on African-American naming practices. Forget the number, but looking for posts by Azizi should find it.

Just saw in BBC Music (October) that the baritone, Jonathan Lemalu, abandoned his first name, Fa'afetai, so that "I didn't get teased at school and, therefore, didn't have to beat anyone up." (He is built like an NFL lineman)

The old Spanish name for girls mentioned in that other thread, "Imaculata Concepcion."
Born-again Christians are always talking about Jesus; why don't they follow Spanish practice and use that name?

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 06:00 PM

LOL to LOBO!

Howevuh, "accepted and reasonable principles" have at one time or another, included such as,

1. The earth is flat.
2. Leeches are good medicine.
3. Light-skinned people are genetically superior to dark-skinned people and thems born with with peckers are genetically superior to thems born without.
4. Gertrude, Ethel, Herschel, Siegfrid, Eustacius and Honoria.

Not to mention Barbi.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 06:03 PM

Yes, I was quite mistaken about "Dylan". I was typing in haste. It has been a given name for a long time.

Kaylee is indeed popular. So is Kyley. With all the Kyles around, they had to do something for the girls too...

Almost any name beginning with "K" is considered trendy now, I think.

Kathryn is considered cooler than Catherine, for example.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 06:04 PM

I think Catherine is great.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 06:09 PM

Me too.

Here are some other variations on a name.

Susan
Susanna
Susie
Suzy
Suze
Sue

Of those, I guess "Suze" is the most obvious attempt to stand out from the crowd.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 06:09 PM

Leeches are good medicine, in certain circumstances.... Especially where circulation is a problem....

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: John Hardly
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 06:16 PM

I think that I will follow Nicholas Cage's hip ways. If I ever have a boy I will name him after a Superman character as well...

Mxyzptlk Hardly.

Then, should the kids tease him, he could just disappear into the 5th dimension. Hmmmmm... I wonder if Mr.Mxyzptlk ever knew Marilynn McCoo? va va voom! whatta fifth dimension babe!!

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 07:22 PM

It worked just fine for Suze Rotolo, LH.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: The Walrus
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 07:52 PM

There are some parents who almost warrent arrest for child abuse with the names they give their children
"Peaches" was bad enough, but "Fifi Trixibelle" ???

Mind you, odd names are not a new phenomenon, the man who started the first Fire Brigade/Fire Insurance company in London (late 17th Century) gloried in the baptismal name:
"If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-Thou-wouldst-be-damned" (I've forgotten his surname).

W

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 09:08 PM

I know, Elmer, that's exactly why I mentioned it! (I love you, man, cos you know your Dylan.)

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 09:17 PM

. . .and then there's good old Clarence Clapsaddle. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 09:22 PM

Catherine, Kathryn, Kat, Katy, Katya, Kate, Cat, Cathy, Kathy, Cathie, Katie...

Did I miss any?

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 09:26 PM

. . .Kitty. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 09:46 PM

Some of the best names of all time, thanks to W.C. Fields:

Mahatma Kane Jeeves

Eustace P. McGargle

Gretchel Schickelgruber

Snavely--Chester Snavely was the name of an actual Philadelphia undertaker.

J. Pinkerton Snoopington

Egbert Souse': Remember, not SOWSS, but SOO-ZAY (accent grave over the "e").

J. Frothingham Waterbury

Larson E. Whipsnade-- "Not LARCENY...LARSON--'E.'"

Ambrose Wolfinger

Marmaduke Gump-- In real life, Fields sometimes called his own personal assistant by this name.

source: http://www.louisville.edu/~kprayb01/WCWords.html

Elmer Fudd (now THERE's a cool name...)

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Peter T.
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 10:39 PM

Bizarro!

(What was Supergirl's
Krypton name, anyone remember? She was an "-El, I recall). I remember we used to say that Superman's girlfriend was Superwhore, whose Krypton name was Mot-El. (This is true 9th grade nerd humour!!)

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: John O'L
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:15 PM

There is a girl in my son's class at school named Tewsdagh. (Pronounced Tuesday)

Her mother calls her Chewie.(Pronounced Chewie)

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Oct 05 - 11:31 PM

KARA ZOR-EL - Supergirl's Kryptonian name.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 12:35 AM

Dejah Thoris - Barsoomian Princess.

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 05:35 AM

David Bowie called his son Zowie, he now tells everyone his name is Joe, more sense than his dad.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Stupid Children's Names: Kal-el????
From: Crystal
Date: 05 Oct 05 - 05:57 AM

I got off pretty lightly I guess! I COULD have been called Gladrial or Moonchild.

My parents are hippies

As it is Rosie isn't a bad name!