Embarassing Names May Lead to a Life of Crime
Categories: Teens & tweens, Celeb Kids, Weird But True
Bronx Mowgli, Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa, and Huckleberry Edward Jocelyne will all likely live a life of privilege, but a recent study found that average kids with less-than-average names might be more likely to commit crimes. Here's to the Jacobs and Emilys of the world.
Celebrity Baby Names
Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa
Former "Cosby Show" queen Lisa Bonet takes top honors for now with their newborn babe. Bonet says that the child "was born on the stormiest, rainy night, so Nakoa (warrior), Mana (strength/spirit), Kaua (rain) and po (dark). Multiple middle names? Could become a trend for 2009?
Bobby Bank, WireImage
Princess Tiaamii
British "glamour model" Jordan (aka Katie Price) and "former pop star" Peter Andre named their daughter Princess because it was "unique." When the name was announced in 2007, The BBC reported that Jordan had wanted to call her Tinkerbell, but there were too many famous dogs with that name. Because that's really the only reason not to go with Tinkerbell.
Getty Images
Jermajesty Jackson
Amazingly, this is not a child of Michael. Jermajesty is the son of Jermaine Jackson Alejandra Oiaza. And they say Mike is the crazy one.
Bauer-Griffin
Barron Trump
The only thing that would make this name better is if it were Barron Von Trump. But alas, the middle name of the spawn of Donald and third wife Melania is William. Still, with dad's money and mom's bone structure, the kid is basically American royalty even if his name is Pubert.
Bauer-Griffin
Tu Morrow
Rob Morrow may have been trying to revive his career when he named his daughter Tu in 2001. (Tu Morrow. As in "see you") It may have worked. Though Morrow's first TV series, "Northern Exposure", was canceled in 1995, he currently appears on "Numb3rs." Maybe Shelley Long should have a baby and name her Tu. (Tu Long? Get it? Oh never mind)
Eric Charbonneau, WireImage
Moxie CrimeFighter
Penn Jillette and wife Emily clearly decided that they want their little girl to grow up to be a magician just like daddy. That way she can make this awful name disappear.
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Harley Quinn
Kevin Smith named his daughter after the Joker's sidekick in Batman comics. If he and wife Jennifer have a boy they can name him The Riddler, Clayface, Scarecrow the possibilities are endless.
Bauer-Griffin
b>Kal-El Coppola Cage
Speaking of children named after superheroes, Nicholas Cage (née Coppola) and wife Alice Kim went with Kal-El, which every geek knows is Superman's real name. Little-known fact: it's also an ancient Hebrew phrase that, loosely translated, means, "My parents are rich and I will never have to hold a real job."
David Westing, Getty Images
Audio Science Clayton
Son of actress Shannyn Sossamon and Dallas Clayton. You didn't realize Audio was a boys' name? For shame.
Bauer-Griffin
Brooklyn Joseph Beckham
The oldest of the three Beckham children continued a trend in the Posh Spice household wacky first name, regular middle name. Cruz David (pronounced "Cruth", since they live in Spain) and Romeo James round out this crew that could make a rap album without changing their monikers.
BIG PICTURES / bauergriffinonline.com
When researchers cross-matched crime records with popular names, they found that uncommon names -- such as Ernest, Kareem, and Malcom -- were associated with a higher likelihood of crime among both black and white teens. What gives? They suggest that unusual names may be associated with high-risk childhoods, or that teasing may make it difficult for them to make friends.
Here's where it gets a little Big Brother, though: "First name characteristics may be an important factor to help identify individuals at high risk of committing or recommitting crime, leading to more effective and targeted intervention programs," the authors conclude.
Targeting kids by first names? I'm not so sure about that. As Laura Wattenberg, a name expert and founder of BabyNameWizard.com, points out, "Uncommon and unpopular are two very different things." She gives the example of Lilian and Lillian. "By their measure," says Laura, "A girl with with one L might be ostracized, while a girl named with two Ls would not." Hardly makes sense.
Her advice to parents. "Don' just consult (popularity) charts, but think about the signals a name sends to society." This is a good reminder for parents that -- a life of crime aside -- it might seem cute and quirky to name your baby something like Tu Morrow or Daisy Boo, but eventually those bundles of joy are going to grow up and give you a choice name or two for their impossible weird or adorable names.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ame s 1-29-2009 @ 12:51PM
It should cause a butt-kickin for the parents ;)
I detest rhyming names for twins, too.
Reply
Karen 1-29-2009 @ 7:09PM
Ya know. I really don't think unusual names are that big a deal any more. I rarely hear kids teasing because of names. Actually, other than coming up with rhyming or nick names, I don't hear it at all. I think it is because everyone has a different name these days.
I just looked over my son't Valentine class list and there is maybe 3 names out of 19 that would be considered traditional, 5 that are part of the trendy different and the rest that couldn't be put on any list. Nobody seems to care.
I sub in a lot of different classrooms and just don't see it as an issue any more.
I even know a boy named ESPN, yes like the network and I have never heard the kids comment about it, only other adults.
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anu 1-31-2009 @ 2:13AM
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dearlizzie 2-01-2009 @ 5:38PM
For kids reared in an education-oriented environment with supportive caregivers, a distinctive name is an advantage. Barack Obama, Rush Limbaugh, Kanye West, Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Oprah Winfrey, Lindsey Graham, Saxby Chambliss, Steny Hoyer, Leonardo DeCaprio. John Wayne's given name was Marion for Goodness sake.
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