Are silly names an impediment?

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Micca
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:31 AM

My friend Jim SWEARS he went to school with a guy called Cartwright, whose 1st name was Orson...

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:16 AM

Terrance Bull, (TerryBull)

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: weerover
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 05:44 AM

A number of families around my area have the surnames Hailstones and Kneebone. As a boy I had acquaintances at various times called John Peel, James Bond and Davy Crockett (who may well read this as I know he has sung in folk clubs since)

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 05:18 AM

when i was in college, a number of other students had unfortunate names- especially when the names were called out surname first.

there was charles prince who's reversed name would cause a minor smirk, and willy stretch when called out had everyone doubled up with laughter.

where i later worked, a colleague gaynor o'connor married a mike mann & became 'gay mann'!

we had a manager called mike hunt. a young female temp typist came around the office on her first day looking for mr hunt.

she kept asking 'have you seen mike hunt?'

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 12:43 PM

That's a beauty Tony. Where you at the Carlos del Junco show at the Dungeon in Oshawa last fall?

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Tony Burns
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 12:13 PM

Here's a story you may like Steve.

At a previous company I asked to have my cubicle name plate inscribed Tony Burns only to be told that the company policy was that the name plates had to be only frist initial and last name. So a name plate arrived inscribed T. Burns and all the other employees had the same format to conform to the policy. The policy suddenly changed one day when we hired Flora Yu.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Penny S
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 12:05 PM

Pearl Button and Cherry Orchard were at school with my sisters, so I'm told.

Penny

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 10:11 AM

I have long been a fan of unusual names.

I attended St. Michael's College School in Toronto. No newcomer ever made it through the Athletic wing without being shown a picture of one of the the championship football teams from long ago. One of the players had the misfortune of being named Harry Kuntz. Alas, the last time I was there for a reunion the picture was gone, The Basilian Fathers probably being tipped to the long standing joke.

My buddy insists that there was a professional tennis player in the seventies named Shlomoe Glickstein. I never heard of him, but think this may be the greatest handle of all time.

I once was trying to get credit information from a Chinese person who spoke very little English. It turns out that she was applying on behalf of her boyfriend, whose name was Yu. Trying to get to the bottom of it was almost like an Abbott and Costello routine. Her saying 'me not Yu' and me replying 'who is Yu? This is kind of the readers digest version, but I wish that I had a tape recorder present for the entire conversation.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 09:13 AM

The vet who tended our critters when I was growing up was Dr. Hatchett.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Bert
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 08:25 AM

I knew an electrician once named Ted Flicker.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: McMusic
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 02:28 AM

Went to high school with a guy named Jack Frost. One night he was pulled over by the cops; when theyasked him his name, and he replied....well, it wasn't pretty. Also, knew of a couple with the last name "Hamm". Had a baby girl--named her Virginia (poor kid).

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: ddw in windsor
Date: 06 Jul 99 - 01:23 AM

I went to school with a kid named Peter Heimann; we used to call him bloody pair.

The moniker didn't seem to hurt him, tho' -- he was one of the brightest guys I ever knew and the last I heard of him he was in medical school.

Other names I always thought a little strange were a couple of USAF acquaintances named Jack Roach and Gary Mudd.

ddw

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: LEJ
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 07:45 PM

In my long-haired youth, I had a friend named Bob Latter. Since he was short, he naturally acquired the nick-name "Step". We also had the habit of calling a grim situation a "Bumer", pronounced BYOO'-mer , kind of a play on bummer. When Step's girlfriend got pregnant, he was a reluctant father, and insisted on naming his daughter Steppanie Bumer Latter. She grew up to be a beautiful woman with all of her Mom's class, and most of her Dad's sense of humor.

Mom had a proctologist named Dr. Asman (pre-destination?) I also have a regular customer last name Duck, first name (you guessed it) Donald. And the poor bastard in my High School Home Room, Dickey Short."Robinson,Tom[here!]...Sears, Judy [here!]...Short, Dickey [general laughter]

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Nathan
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 01:37 PM

In Amarillo, Texas, there's a funeral home called "Boxwell Brothers".

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 07:53 AM

If my daughter turns out half-human, I'll be satisfied. Judging from the bottom of her wardrobe (closet over there!), she's turning into Imelda Marcos.

A funny name never did Doc Boggs any harm, did it?

Steve

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 04:00 AM

People can take very ordinary names like Morgan and transform them into 'Big M - small organ'. Friends of the family named Punch had no idea that the name Judith may cause problems, nor the Kok family who gave their daughter the perfectly acceptable name of Chooi.

Regards
John

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 12:33 AM

A friend who built the Hawaiian Chieftain & loved anything to do with salt water named his boy Sea, he was such a bright kid I'd've thought he would've called him Sun. Another friend named his daughter May Day, after watching how kid turned out I thought if my daughter turns out to be half the human I'd be real proud. Barry

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: emily rain
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 11:52 PM

i heard tell of a kid whose last name was "shithead" pronounced "shi-theed". my friend kevin rich was always seated next to him in elementary school (alphabetical), and as the teacher read down her list of names she would say "rich" and then stop........stunned.......until the poor kid piped up "it's pronounced shi-theed, ma'am"

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Bill D
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 08:19 PM

there used to be a waitress in Winfield,Kansas named Eva Mae Scritch......and for years I had..(may still have in one of those boxes in the basement) a little newspaper with an ad for a strip joint outside of Wichita --featuring, (with picture!).."Penelope Klutchenback...300 lb. Go-Go Mamma"

on another tack..I've always been uncomfortable around women who choose to go thru life named "Fifi, Dodo, Bubbles,Boopsie, Zha-zha...etc....(I know, if it didn't bother THEM, why should I care?) *shrug*..I just wish they'd discard cutsey little nick-names after about 12 or so...

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From:
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 07:47 PM

There is a well-known lady here noted for her community involvement named Victoria Cross -- I've often wondered if she has a brother George.

There was a family in my home town with the surname Quackenbush, which led to any number of jokes about ducks in their trees.

There really was an historical person by the name of Englebert Humperdink, from whom the singer took his name. I can't remember what the original did. Just like there was a real Jethro Tull, who IIRC invented the seed drill. (Could be wrong on that.)

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From:
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 07:34 PM

There is a Doctor Deathe here in Ontario too, a respected specialist in an area that escapes my memory right now. He pronounces it "deeth" however.

I am lucky unless I am around those who know Elizabethan English. My name is pronounced "Jakes", hardly a flattering surname. Oddly enough, I had a great-aunt with the surname Outhouse.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: RiGGy RACKIN
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 12:08 PM

School days name with bathroom onomatopoeia: ........Fritzi Dudi !! Not that I would know if there's an impediment to having a silly name ..... RiGGy

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: annamill
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 10:44 AM

This is going to sound like a joke I may have made up, but a friend of mine who works as a modem engineer for Lucent had a boss named ..ready..Eberhardt Wonderlick. Honest!!

When he first told me I laughed for half and hour. Hell, I'm laughing now! I so desperately wanted him to take me to an office party so, when I was introduced to ole "Eberhardt", I could say "is that true!!".

Love, (giggling) annap

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: bob schwarer
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 10:03 AM

Went to a Dr. Butcher once.
A kid back in school had the last name "Cherry". Everyone called him "Buster".

Bob S.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 09:38 AM

I worked once with a Doctor Doctor and a Doctor D'eath
Dentist in Cairns Chu and Payne
Friend swears he went to school with Dwayne Pipe
Regards, Ted

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Sourdough
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 04:51 AM

When James Dean's Porsche collided with a large American car, killing him instantly and transforming him into an icon representing a period of cultural history, there was another story. It was about the effect of an odd name.

The driver of the other car survived but he had the unfortunate handicap of an unusual name. I don't remember his first name but I can understand why he changed his famly name. If you had read a couple of articles about the post accident life of young Mr. Turnipseed, you would have remembered his name. Every Turnipseed you met you would wonder.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 01:33 AM

Went to school with a Molly Cassandra Clark; we called her Molly Cassandra Candy Clark.
Some friends named their son Tucker; I always thought it was a mistake to call your child a name that rhymed with a common epithet, but he seems to be coming out okay.
My dad went to school with a William Pence, but I didn't know that was his name as Dad and all his buddies called the man "Sus". He also got our first sailboat (actually a sinkboat) from a Harry Broad.
My first optometrist was a Russian man named Dr. Ivan Doctor.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 12:57 AM

I had a suite mate in college named Liza Lipschitz. I loved that name. (She didn't.)

kc

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From:
Date: 04 Jul 99 - 12:38 AM

we've always giggled at the family friends named:
Shirley Whirley
Buelah Houlahan
and
Firley and Fifi Fife

and a college friend of mine is named Richard Edward Schultz Jr., and encourages people to call him "the Little Dick Ed". his father is, of course, the Big Dick Ed.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From:
Date: 03 Jul 99 - 08:26 PM

There is a lawyer in my city named Brick Wall, short for Brickford. Nice guy, but he must have taken some teasing in his time.

Look at the hockey player, surname Satan. I know it isn't pronounced that way, but it could open you up to some joking for sure.

I'll always said that if I am ever blessed with a daughter, I am going to call her Celestial Fallafel. It has a nice ring to it.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 10:22 PM

Names are a favorite of mine. Especially when UPS drops off some metal from the refinery. I got a call from my silver supplier asking if I had an employee named "Dover Straits" I said yes.

But I also employ, Amanda Huggenkiss, Grover Muttley, Wadlow Cuffington, Garland Van der Snane, Wilcox Crittendon, Boyle DeMonion, the list seems endless some times....

Don

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: catspaw49
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 09:16 PM

I went to school with a girl named Sharon Peters. When we were in about the 7th grade and starting to figure things out a little, my best friend's Dad (who was one of the funniest people I ever knew) looked at Mike and I and said, of course, that it sounded like a new kind of bathroom game. A few years ago she came to the 30 year reunion and I wanted to tell her that I'd been using her name as a joke for 35 years. Fortunately I had an attack of good judgement.

Then there was the race for the new Columbus phonebook every year to see if Peter Pounder was still listed. I think he was deleted in about '79.

For those of you who wanted to know why the maw-in-law is called "Clarence," a few years back, for various wacko reasons, she had her phone listed under "Clarence O'Doull." Since we are both named Pat, I started referring to her as Clarence and it caught on with the rest of the family.

Like Banj said, some parents are a bit perverse, but mine decided to simplify the name issue. If your last name is Patterson, they're going to call you Pat, so they named me Patrick. Hence, I'm always a little amazed when people ask, "What should I call you?" Being a longterm smartass, for many years I'd answer, "Either Cletus or Buford, whichever you prefer." This explains Cletus and Buford for you too.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Rita64
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 08:47 PM

Silly names:

Savage Nettles Freeze Quick Even Keel Wanda Farr Love Joy Ima Hogg Ura Pigg Parry Keet Upson Downs Phoebe McKeeby Lo Fat

Can anyone think of more?

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Pete (inactive)
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 08:37 PM

I used to be called Wells Fargo

- But it was only a stage name!

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 07:04 PM

I do indeed believe that the monicker you're stuck with can change the course of your life. Remember the old sit-com "WKRP" Les Nesman actually thinks he has a chance with Jennifer (fly me to the moon) until he meets one of her tradesmen. "Hi, I'm Les...Glad to meet you, I'm Steel!" says the guy. Les shrinks away. Personally I always thought Richard Fielding sounded like an English barrister. I would have much preferred to be named "Lance Boyle" or at least Kato Kalyn!
I (being a good "new man" sort) would have been happy had Heather wanted to keep her maiden name, but she said after having "Docherty" mis-spelled and mis-pronounced for 30 years, Fielding would be fine!

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Chet W.
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 06:51 PM

I don't know if all you teachers out there have my experience with odd student names. I have had kids with the following first names (honest to God): Mayonaisse, Pajamas, two brothers named Lemonjello and Orangejello (pronounced so that they sort of rhyme with Angelo), Female (rhymes with tamale), four brothers named James, James Junior, Junior James, and James the Last, and Ovary. This is just the beginning. I'm compiling a list.

Chet W.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 06:51 PM

In my newspaper days, I ran across a name in an accident report (I think): Pomeroy Grumbles. --seed

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Helen
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 06:49 PM

Hi all,

There was a girl at my high school called Helen Mellen, and I heard of a girl called Tess Tickell (testicle) but I can't vouch for the truth of this one personally.

Helen, in Oz

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Emmie
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 06:30 PM

My boyfriend had a gp called doctor knob.I like that one a lot.I also knew someone called Cherry Pickles.The other day someone phoned my office and her name was Ms Fookar.(very hard not to laugh) I love silly names, there used to be a childrens tv presenter in england called christopher lilycrap that's a great one. At school there was a girl called Debra Allcock and she got called allcock no balls. So yes I think a silly name can be dificult!! I will stop now because I could go on for ever on this particular subject. Emmie

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Walrus
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 01:27 PM

I knew a young lady called Crystal James, nothing wrong there, but she seriously considered keeping her own name when she married, her husband's name was Chris Ball.

Walrus

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: John OSh
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 12:34 PM

If they are advantageous or detrimental, "funny" names give us something to laugh at!

I went to school w/ a Mary Christmas

A friend who is an lawyer gave me a couple of funny ones she went against.

One was Nosomo King (No Smoking) And another was Shithead (really) which he pronounces as she- tade

Pretty mean parents!

John OSh

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: reggie miles
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 10:48 AM

I'll attest that having a name that happens to rhyme with that favorite of school yard pastimes, giving wedgies, wasn't a piece of cake either. Presently I seem to have an almost unnatural aversion to thong bathing attire for some unexplainable reason.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: reggie miles
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 10:34 AM

I went to highschool with a guy by the name of Jack Knoff.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 06:42 AM

Fair Youngmaid--

I have taught folks with surnames like Hunkapillar, Screws,and Plunk, and those are just the ones which come immediately to mind. They didn't seem to suffer terribly from the onus of such monikers, probably because the families were well established in the mountains. I have also known a Pigg and an Axmaker and a descendant of a famous American lawmaker named Earp. As Seed points out, it's when parents become onomastically creative with Christian names that we encounter combinations that are notable. In my career here in Alabama I have taught two young ladies who were named Bama, and I attended high school with a girl named Phyllis Willis.

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Banjer
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 04:05 AM

I think parents who give their kids such names have a combination of a wicked sense of humor and a strong dislike for kids. Or as in 'Boy Named Sue' ala Johnny Cash they give them those names to assure that they will grow up strong because thay costantly have to defend themselves. I went to school with a poor kid whose surname was KNUTTSON, his first name was HAROLD. He went through school being called, what else?, Harry Knutts....

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:41 AM

Joe, you know how it is--who can tell the difference between us Californians with our hair bleached and our skin tanned from all those days spent surfing? How are the waves up there on the American River? Although it was strange to see my names in your posts above, FYM, I'm flattered to be mistaken for Joe Offer.

I had a student once named Fanny Darling. Of course on the roll sheets, it was written Darling, Fanny--which I refrained from pronouncing aloud, sweet guy that I am.

--seed

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:25 AM

And didn't I read in another thread that Conway Twitty likewise chose his nom de guerre himself?

Do Americans have names like "Cholmondley", "Farquharson" or "Featherstonehaugh" where the pronunciation bears little resemblance to the spelling (Chumley Farson and Fanshaw respectively), or are you all phonetic?

Steve

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 03:10 AM

Yeah, Youngmaid, and you spelled "Humperdinck" wrong. The guy who sang "Please Release Me" was born with the name Arnold George Dorsey in India in 1936. He took on the name of the German composer who wrote Hansel and Gretel. Click if you dare.
-Joe Offer, who bears no resemblance to BSeed/Charles Kratz-

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Rita64
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 02:49 AM

Aaaaaaaarghhhh - I meant to say it was Joe Offer but my fingers typed "seed". I'm really not as ditzy as this thread makes me seem. Honest.

Someone ... anyone ... rescue me from the foggy minded friday hell ...

Subject: RE: Are silly names an impediment?
From: Rita64
Date: 02 Jul 99 - 02:44 AM

AAAACKKKK! It was actually seed whose monastic religious zeal was coupled with Humperdink worship. Apologies to Mr Kratz ... who I suspect might chuckle when he reads that he was celibate for a while.