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Image credits:Anna Shvets (not the actual photo)
The husband’s last name is “Doe” and he was often teased about it growing up, with people making jokes or puns
Image credits:Steshka Willems (not the actual photo)
Image credits:u/the_doeberman
The poster felt that nobody would believe his son if he said his name was “John Doe” and that it would even cause issues when he applied for jobs
There’s no denying that there has been a big culture shift in the last 50 years, and people are slowly moving towards giving their kids moreunique names. Parents get creative with either the spelling of the words or create a hybrid version from terms they like. In this particular case, the pregnant woman wasn’t planning on giving her son an odd first name. She just wanted to honor her deceased grandfather, John.
The poster explained that his surname was oftenjokedabout when he was younger. Although he didn’t have much of an issue with people making fun of him, he was worried about the effect that such a name and surname could have on his son. He mentioned that it might affect his job prospects and that nobody would believe that was the kid’s real name.
His concerns aren’t unfounded becausestudieshave found that common and less unique names are preferred during the hiring process. Unusual names connote less desirable characteristics and are less likely to be hired. So, it seems like the dad’s concerns were justified when he said that people would have an intense reaction to the kid’s moniker.
Image credits:RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo)
Hidden and unconscious biases related to people’s names can cause problems in their personal and professional lives. For example, a study found that people with names that are easier to pronounce are viewed asmore trustworthy, and the reverse is true as well. It’s shocking to imagine that a name can hold so much power, but that’s also why they’re so important.
AsQuartzstated, “It’s understandable that parents get nervous about picking a name: Our names send a signal to the world about who we are.” That’s why folks need to really think about the full name they’re bequeathing on their kids and how other people may react to it. The child is, after all, going to have to deal with it for the rest of their lives.
Jennifer explained the possible effect that a very unusual name could have on a child’s life. She said: “One really important thing to consider is that if you give your child a super-unique name, they will be easily found on the internet (well, maybe not if it’s John Doe). But if it’s a name you created or a hyper-unique spelling, they will always be found in a search. Online detectives love unique names because it narrows down the search pool.”
“Again, it all depends on the person who is going to have to live with the name. Write down a list of pros and cons. Ask an 8 year old what they think of the name, and you’ll know how kids will react to it. Think long and hard if you’re doing it for your child or for you,” she added.
Parents have a lot ofresponsibilityto name their children well. This post shows that even if a kid’s first name is great, their surname might cause problems. That’s why if one partner vetoes the decision, maybe it’s time to move on to the next idea without question.
What do you think about the name “John Doe”? Do you have any creative alternative suggestions for thekid’sname?
Netizens offered sensible suggestions, saying that the family should switch to the wife’s maiden name, which would solve the problem of the kid being called John Doe
Image credits:Sarah Chai (not the actual photo)
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