Ben Dover and Other Names You Should Avoid Giving Your Children

Anyone who is plagued with an unfortunate name sounding even remotely similar to an anatomical designate or physiological function (e.g. Dick Moore) knows the pain that school-age ridicule and cheap shots have brought forth. Children, as we all know, can be immensely cruel, and will find any reason to twist a perfectly ordinary name to resemble something crude or unpleasant. And then there are those names that feel like a true curse consigned from careless, oblivious, or truly twisted parents, like the New Jersey couple who named their extremely unfortunate son Adolph Hitler Campbell, who will no doubt inhabit a world of profound pain unless he gets his name changed real fast. However, beyond the unpleasantness, a bad name could be simply something to rise above, or something that is an out-and-out curse.

According to a recent study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, a bad name (whether it is your last or first, or both) can serve as a critical social stigma for years after adolescence. The research, which mined data from 12,000 adults, concluded that an “unfortunate” first name alone may significantly impact and inhibit relationship development into adulthood, and may even increase one’s likelihood to be a smoker (sounds somewhat random, I know). Data gathered from nearly 12,000 adult participants found that a bad first name can not only ruin your self-esteem, but it may actually make you lonelier, antisocial, and just a bit less intelligent. “Negative names evoke negative interpersonal reactions, which in turn influence people’s life outcomes for the worse,” the study said. The trend across all sub-experiments, which drew on 11,813 adults, indicated those with “unfortunate” first names were generally more likely to smoke, be less educated and have lower self-esteem than those whose names were attractive.

So it is difficult to know what the takeaway is from all of this. The research, while somewhat extensive, seems a bit circumstantial and maybe wholly unnecessary, as anyone with an unfortunate name could tell you that life is infinitely more difficult if your name is Ima Hogg, rather than Mandy Moore. If Negative names do evoke negative interpersonal reactions, what does this say about the inherent rigidity of our society? How are we able to celebrate someone named Justin Bieber, but not Tim Burr, or Doug Hole? Is a simple name really as powerful and impactful as the research would suggest?

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Teresa C.

7:17AM PST on Feb 4, 2012

Interesting.

send a green star

Lauren F.

8:52AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

interesting. thanks for the article.

Nicole B.

11:09AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

@Jane L: I remember hearing about the kid named "Adolph Hitler". He got taken away from his family, and many thought it was because of his name. The parents were under investigation for child abuse and all the children were taken away under they could figure out if there was a child abuse. No one would have cared if his name was just "Adolph" but since the name "Hitler" was applied to the child as a second name(Middle name), many were focused on that part instead of the rest of the article. He had siblings named after several commanding Nazi officers too.

Jane L.

11:02AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

really? someone named their kid adolph hitler? wow...

Debbie C.

6:22AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

I feel so sorry for the kids having to put up with the stupid name their parents gave them. At least when they get older, they can change it. But by then the damage will have already been done and the set up the low self-esteem.

Lika S.

10:31PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

I'd agree that there is at least SOME impact, yes... But I'd also say that many parents need to teach their children self confidence as well.

Anyway, life deals us doozies, and sometimes they come in form of parents... or names.

I came here to the USA as an 8 year old (from Japan - my dad's Japanese, mom is American), and well, that was more than 30 years ago. I remember hearing stories, and my mother bragging that America is the land of individual people, free thinkers, where you can be you and you are accepted... I found out quick, back in the late 70's that no, we're NOT as free as what is cracked up to be, and yes, social norms are still rigid in the wrong areas.

Carole R.

5:18PM PST on Jan 20, 2012

You do have to wonder what some people are thinking when they name their children. What sounds cute as an infant name is not so cute when called at a high school graduation. I went to school with a Penny Nichols. I can only hope she married someone other then Mr. Dime.

Jennifer C.

5:56PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Thank you.

Bridget M.

4:59PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

We once met with a Dr. Mittens who did vascular surgery including hand surgery. I also went to a vet clinic that had a Dr. Wolfer.

Kristina C.

11:34AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Truth be told! How often I encounter people with names I have to ask more than twice if I heard correctly - I don't even remember. At times I think that parents wanted to punish their offspring with the names they stuck them with.
On the other hand I get compliments for my name and I always hated it - it does not represent in any way who I am or believe in. But as I grew up I changed my mind about my name - it is what my mother wanted and so be It!

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