When we’re painting we talk about all sorts of weird things that we probably wouldn’t otherwise get around to. And while painting the bedroom we got to the topic of “names that our parents almost gave us.” Get this. My mom wanted to name me Gina. We would have been John & Gina. That made us titter. Not sure if it’s a had to be there thing though. Either way, John’s dad’s choice of names takes the cake. He wanted to name John… wait for it… Lars.
Lars Petersik.
How funny is that? If I had seen tall dirty blond John at work and asked a coworker “oh who’s that?” and heard them respond with ” that’s Lars Petersik, he’s an account manager.” Let’s just say I would have been all “niiiiice to meeeeeeet you Laaaaars” with that over-enunciated-because-I’m-not-sure-you’re-great-at-deciphering-super-speedy-NY-talkers connotation. The same long drawn out delivery I use with my only-speaks-Italian grandmother. It would have been hysterical. John probably never would have let me live it down. Or asked me to marry him a year-ish later.
But that’s not all. Apparently John’s dad also wanted to name John “Vector.” Because he liked math. How I was able to continue painting with tears of laughter streaming down my face is beyond me. So it got us wondering what you guys were almost named. Come on… someone out there can beat Vector and Lars, right?
Dominique Teall says
My brother’s name wasn’t suppose to be anything outlandish. Just Andrew. But one day after my mom wrote out his full name she saw a big almost oops. He was suppose to be named Andrew Scott Smith…just look at what his intials would spell. She quickly changed his name to Zack!
Rindy R says
I have an older brother Curt – Had I been a boy I was going to be Rod. They were so excited they would have a Curt-n-Rod. Thankfully I was a girl – they named Rindy (equally weird but at least it doesn’t fall into the home decor catagory)!
Jules says
My name is Julia, but up to delivery my parents had decided on Roberta. But I was really tiny and pink and my Mum said I looked more like a Julia…and that is how I got my name!
Jamie says
These aren’t names that I know personally – just second hand stories…
The first was a story in the news a couple years ago.. In New Zealand a judge had ordered parents to change their daughters name after she was too embarrassed to tell people her name at school. They had originally named her “Talula does the hula from Hawaii” No joke.
The second is from a friend who saw a baby on a hospital website that had been named “Abcde” (sounding like Absedy). Really?!? Yeah, that won’t cause any problems or confusion in that kids life…. eek.
Huck says
I was almost Bambi Dawn. Somehow I managed to escape with the very benign Emily Anne.
Angela says
Too funny! Vector, huh? Have you guys seen “Despicable Me”? (Of course not, you have a baby….) You should rent it!
Juli D. says
My husband, Andrew, was almost named Judd. My friend, Troy, was almost named Tron. This was revealed one night when we were all drinking. In order to decide which was worse, I called my mother. I asked her if she had to choose to name her baby Tron or Judd, what would she pick. She said she would have an abortion. True story.
Maggie says
My maiden name was “Hill,” my father wanted to name me Moe, Moe Hill. Thankfully my mother put the nix on that. Now I am married to Chad Crabb, whose father wanted to name him Ulysses, Chad’s mother put the nix on that. However, she did let her husband name thier first child, my brother-in-law, Thor, Thor Crabb. Very unique. And yes, we are all excited for the upcoming movie. :)
Lacy says
I have a great aunt name Orangie, a male cousin named Carroll, and a friend with a Uncle Mayo
There are some crazy older names out there, I guess they had so many kids they just had to think of something.
Kathleen says
I went to college with a girl named Elizabeth Sara Herp. Not bad in and of itself, right? However, the email convention for our university was last name, first initial, middle initial…so her email address was–yep, that’s right–herpes@___.edu.
You can’t make this stuff up!
Beverley Danette says
My Mom & her sisters made a pact that all the female grandkids would have either their first or middle name end in ‘ette.’ My uncle, the only brother, always joked that if he had girls he would name them Corvette or Cigarette. Thankfully, he had two boys :) (And in case you were wondering, all the girl names are Nenette, Danette, Lizette, Arnette, Lovette, Yvette, Annette, and Dawnette)
Soleil says
My dad wanted to name my brother Axle. He’s a mechanic. His real name is Rylan. When my mom was young, she used to want to name her daughter Crystal Spring. Thank goodness she didn’t go that route or my maiden name would have been Crystal Spring Poole. Instead she named me Soleil (pronounced solay). It’s french for sun. I get alot of “Soleel?” I like my name, but always dreaded substitute teachers calling role when I was in school.
Faith says
My parents always tell me they had two names picked out that some members in our family very seriously were rooting for. My parents “say” they were also serious about these names, but knowing them, they just like to teese a lot. So here they are….Donna Dewayna (after my parents first names) or Wilma Jane (after each of my grandmother’s first names). My actual name is Faith!
Hesper says
Well, I ended up with a unique name as it is… Hesper. But it could have been even more weird. My dad wanted to name me Cassiopia. Or Tuesday (which I actually kind of like).
Jaime says
I actually think you guys DO look like a Gina and Lars. Seriously. I think it works.
justine Wicks says
First name: Justine Middle: Christian Last: Wicks
Justine Christian Wicks is, well not too awkward sounding if you blur my middle name when you say it but my maiden last name was Stricklin.Yep, that’s JUSTINE CHRISTIAN STRICKLIN…. its a mouthful and sounds really bad if your trying to say it with a cold. …. Oh wait this was supposed to be what my parents ALMOST named me- well my middle name was almost Christine- yeah, I guess that would have been worse:)
p.s. i do love my first name though:)
Deana says
In the South, we have a history of strange family names. I have an aunt named..I kid you not…Verneria. How’d you like to be stuck with THAT one for life!
orangesugar says
I know someone who is a social worker and one of her clients used the name on the birth certificate for her child. She thought female was actually a name and pronounced it like tamale except with an f instead of a t.
Lara says
I was the first of my siblings to have a baby, and and one night during a holiday get-together, while I was still expecting, we sat around discussing possible names.
Ok, let’s call it what it really was: a roaring, rawkus, free-for-all of them tearing thru baby-name books to scream out the next, most outrageous name that could be found.
To this day, it is one of my favorite sibling memories.
Oh, and the name we finally settled on…the oh-so-exotic and unusual…Jonathan.
Jesse says
My parents were toying with the idea of naming me Welcome. When paired with our last name, Nabers, the name was nixed. Haha…Welcome Nabers… can you imagine?
Erika James says
A distant cousin of mine has a last name of Weiser. Amusing, but common enough. His first name, however, is Bud. And no middle name. Why, oh my goodness why?
Alina says
This is most likely the most random, silly thing you will ever be asked, but Sherry, do your ever wear your hair down?
Sorry for the crazy Q, but I just can’t help myself :s
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alina,
I do sometimes! It’s just usually easier to toss it back for painting/hammering/baby wrangling. Someday I’ll post a hair-down pic to shock the heck outta everyone.
xo,
s
Laura says
I’m plain old Laura Helen, but every summer as a kid, I went to camp with a girl named Kristie Lyre whose REAL full name was Kristal Shanda Lyre. Not kidding!!! She didn’t tell anyone until our third year at camp together. Can’t imagine why!
Allison K says
My parents opted not to find out my gender before I was born. The boy name they had picked out was Theodore, and the girl name, (my name) was Allison. If I was a boy they were going to call me Teddy for short. So,prior to my birth they called me Teddy-Allison. When I was born, they were so used to calling me that, that for a hot minute they almost legally named me Teddy-Allison.
Teddy-Allison doesn’t even make sense.
Ali says
I was almost WILLIAMETTE!
Eek! Eternally greatful to the adorable daughter of a family friend who was named Alison! I can’t imagine life as Williamette.
Its due to my Dad being a William & my mom Starlette = combot it…. & no that does NOT work.
LOVING YOUR BLOG!
JR says
My sister had a baby just about two years ago. When she got married, her last name became Kayode (pronounced Ky-o-day). As a joke, I suggested “Wylie”, thinking we would have a giggle and move on. No such luck. Somehow, she didn’t catch the Looney Tunes reference, and almost named her child “Wylie Kayode”.
That story is up there with a business associate I use to have: Richard Weiner. No joke. I have his business card framed by my desk!
Melissa says
I was almost ZOBIE FRANKIE!
Thank you to the crazy ICU patient my mom had named Zobie. Instead I ended up being Melissa Sue (thanks to my dad and Little House on the Prairie)
Jackie says
Vector & Lars is hard to top but my first sonogram picture is titled “Jason” because the doctor decided I was a boy and that should be name…not exactly how things turned out
Cassity @ Remodelaholic says
This makes me laugh. My sister tried to convince my parents to name me Bethany(she wrote about it in a letter to me when I was born) because then my initials would have been B.O., and well- that just plain stinks! So I am glad my dad stuck with Cassity!
Ashley W says
I have an extremely normal name (and one of the most popular names of the mid-80s), so this doesn’t really apply to me. But I did go through the check-out line at a big box store once and i had a cashier whose name was Aquanetta. Poor girl.
Annette says
My dad wanted to name me Ursula after the blonde bombshell Ursula Andress. Thank goodness my mom stepped in! They didn’t know the gender before I was born (they were pretty sure they were having a boy) so my mom sent my dad to get a baby book since they didn’t ha e a t girl names picked out. They cracked open the book starting with the A’s and that is how Annette came about!
Newlyweds on a Budget says
Dude, I think I have almost everyone beat:
My name is Erika. My husband’s name is Eric.
I don’t think we will ever live it down.
fran says
Vector? Have you guys seen Despicable me? Please watch it you will laugh!
YoungHouseLove says
We have to rent it! So many people are mentioning it thanks to Vector!
xo,
s
Tricia says
My mom was going to name me either Patricia or Priscilla. Thank GOODNESS she chose Patricia! *shudder*
Janine says
Britta Jo, like the water filtering system. Ach.
Sara Jane says
If I had been a boy, I would have been named Beauregard (Beau for short) after my grandfather. Thank goodness my chromosomes had other plans.
Erin says
I was going to be Phil III if I was a boy, but ended up being Erin Melissa instead! However, my husbands grandfather was a triplet…Herman Ferel, Thurman Carol, and Vernon Harol. Not sure of all the middle name spellings, but yikes!
Leslie says
Yes, my mom was going to name me a cringeworthy Louisa after my dad Louis. Luckily, I was named Leslie instead.
On another note, would you believe that I’ve had not one but TWO sister in laws named Kelly Kelly. Actually the current one is Kelli Kelly but what are the chances my brother in law could meet and marry two girls named Kelli(y)?!!
Hearing her introduce herself is funny too b/c she ALWAYS says Kelli Kelly, that’s with an i and a y. I’d hate to have to do that!!!!
Anna says
My mom LOVED the name Laici and wanted to name me that. But my dad, who has a very thick Mexican accent, couldn’t pronounce it correctly. He pronounced it “Lazy.” So that flew out the window.
I like being Anna much better. I’m definitely not a Laici! (Although I can be quite lazy.)
Anon. says
For some reason, I know so many strangely named people…
First, does anyone else remember the politician from NH named Dick Swett? Seriously? If your name was Richard Swett, would you CHOOSE to go by Dick?!
I know a girl named Pebble who has sisters named Patty and Piper. Pebble is unusual, but it seems to suit her somehow.
There’s a woman at the college where I work named Karen Caren — no kidding.
Finally…I have a distant cousin whose five children must have been named while she was watching soap operas in a post-delivery, drug-induced haze: Olivia, Stone, Blaze, Eliana and Skydra. I swear they sound like extras on the Bold and the Beautiful.
Kristy D. says
Almost named after Olivia Newton-John’s stellar performance in 1981’s Xanadu = Kyra. Would have loved it, too.
Met a Kristie who actually named her daughter Keira. Maybe it’s in the cards?
Another Annette says
My dad wanted to name me Carolin, after my grandma Caroline (Both pronounced in the german way: Kuh-row-lee-n(ey)).
It’s actally not a horrible name even though I of course can’t imagine myself being called any other than Annette.
What strikes me as funny is my mum’s reason to refuse this name: The neighbor’s cat was called Caroline and she would absolutely NOT give her daughter a cat’s name.
Hanna says
I don’t have any naming horror stories about me or my husband, except maybe that I would have been Robert Allen Whitney Hyde if I was a boy (RAW Hyde).
BUT some interesting names did make it onto the lists for our own children, including Ney and Hero for our first child. Ney for a boy name — Ney was one of Napoleon’s generals and my husband is a huge miilitary history buff (I said OMG NOOOO!) and Hero for a girl name — I am a big Shakespeare buff (Hubby said OMG NOOOO!). So he got stuck with Ian instead. /grin
I also threatened to name our second child (a daughter) with some of the WORST of my family names as middle names. Like: Evelyn Gijbertha Hepsibah Cage. Just to see all the grandmas get all hot and bothered. Tee hee. She got Evelyn Emma Ariana instead. :)
Out of our whole family I think only my brother was the only one who got shafted on names. Not only is his first name Whitney, which is a boys name in our family, but he got saddled with both a Dutch AND a Welsh middle name… neither of which I can spell so you will have to use your imagination.
Shantay Gattis says
This may have been asked already, but what were other names you almost chose for Clara? Wondering what she’ll be laughing about later!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Shantay,
Scroll back for that info! We shared a few names we loved, but they sounded a bit too crazy with Petersik at the end…
xo,
s
Nickea says
As a child of the early 80’s my mother wanted to name me Mariah-Carey.
No middle name.
I ended up with Nickea which is unusual, but much better than Mariah Carey.
Meredith says
My dad is a car guy and he really wanted to name me Mercedes. Seriously! My mom was gunning for Mary, so they settled on Meredith, and I am glad.
Leslie says
I had a couple I wanted to mention. I have a friend with two sisters that were named Kohlbe as in Colby and Bleu. They named their kids after cheese! His name is Alex so he got lucky.
I also was friends with a girl named Candy and her older sister’s name is Bambi. That always makes me laugh for some reason.
Hanna says
I have just been reading through some of the comments and I just have to say… God bless all of us born in the 70’s to parents who may or may not have been under the influence of some serious psychedelics. I am sure the names seemed like a good idea at the time. LOL!
Cynda says
Cinnamon.
Then when they didn’t use Cinnamon for me, they were going to name my twin brothers Cinnamon and Summer before they knew they were boys.
Vicki S says
I can top those. My mother wanted to name me Zipporah Eden. My father almost let her. Thankfully someone came to their senses.
Thanks for your wonderful blog. You inspire me.