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What is your baby's google ganger?
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You've looked up the meaning behind your unborn baby's possible name. You've double checked to make sure his or her initials won't spell out anything embarrassing (like FAT or DUM) and that the name isn't associated with any past or present unpleasantness or been tarnished by historical or literary figures or celebrities. But have you researched the name's google ganger?
A variation of the German word doppelganger, a google ganger is someone who shares your name and shows up in a Google search. Most google gangers are friendly and benign, like mine, a Florida basketball player, but not everyone is so lucky.
One college student got an awkward surprise visit from her mother who had found the girl's name attached to a porn website when googling her. (I hope Eve Fairbanks told mom if she were actually involved with porn, she'd be smart enough to use a fake name like Swanky Ritz or Cheeky Peachblossom rather than her real one!)
So it might be a good idea to do a quick google search before getting your heart set on a name, something I'd never considered when naming my own kids. (Luckily, there's not a porn star google ganger in the bunch!)
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-01-2007 @ 4:03PM
Jamie said...For my two boys, one is a lawyer and the other is a renown scientist. We did ok I guess. I would bet that by the time my 3 year old and my 5 month old get to the age that this matters, there will be a new form of teasing.
Reply
12-01-2007 @ 5:25PM
Clarissa said...I have nothing to worry about...I made up my daughters name. Though since then I have found out that her name is also a town in Germany and there are a few (very few) people with the name...go figure!
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12-01-2007 @ 5:26PM
Ethel said...I guess we're lucky - for our boys the only names that match are dead folks from 100 years ago. For myself there is a pediatrician on the East coast with my name, lucky her!
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12-01-2007 @ 8:20PM
Melissa said...My kids are fine. It's me who has the problem. When I took my husband's name, my googleganger became an internet porn star. Or I became hers. Or something. Regardless, my married name is all porn. I really, really didn't want to change my name, but my husband guilted me into it. Hindsight: Would make a different choice if I had the option again.
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12-02-2007 @ 9:17AM
Tamyu said...No results for my son`s name, one result for my name that is really me (registration for my domain), and one result for my husband - which is also him (A patent he registered in college).
My maiden name, however, is shared with porn stars, real estate agents, an actress, photographers, sports players, etc etc etc.
I was very VERY happy to take my husband`s last name!
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12-03-2007 @ 4:36PM
Sally said...This is a good idea. My daughter googled herself and found out that she was some crazy fortune teller in England with her own website. And yes, my niece googled herself and found out that she was a porn star...So google that baby's name
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12-03-2007 @ 5:07PM
Marci said...My son's is an anal sex expert.
My poor little boy.
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12-03-2007 @ 4:58PM
sporty4144 said...I looked up my name and found... me! On my grade school sports team register. Weird
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12-03-2007 @ 5:11PM
Jessica said...Nothing came up for my kids. My hubby had a few Dr's with his name.
I found myself on my website, and with my maiden name, all that came up was a famous country singer like I knew would show up.
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12-03-2007 @ 9:47PM
Bubba said...Who gives a $hit?
Reply