Creative Baby Names: How About Abcde?

by The Name Lady (Subscribe to The Name Lady's posts) Sep 28th 2009 8:00AM

Someone I know just named her baby girl "Abcde." What do you think of that???

- Julie

Someone you know? Not just someone you heard about? I'm just asking because reports of babies named Abcde outpace real Abcde's by a mile.

That said, this name is not just an urban legend. There are some real Abcde's out there, ranging from babies to young adults. The name is pronounced AB-si-dee, and it seems to be exclusively female. You'll find Abcde's most often in Latino families and in creative-naming outposts like Hawaii and New Mexico.

You can think of Abcde as an extreme version of Nevaeh (heaven backwards, pronounced neh-VAY-uh). It features the same element of wordplay, though without the religious aspect, and it seems to appeal to some of the same parents. Unlike Nevaeh, though, the name has a fatal flaw. No, I'm not talking about the lack of vowels or the fact that the name regularly makes "worst baby name" lists. That's just a matter of taste. Abcde has a concrete, practical problem: It sounds fake.

For every real live girl named Abcde there are dozens using the name as a placeholder or a pseudonym. At presstime, Facebook listed 861 members named Abcde, including Abcde Fghijk, Lmnop Abcde, and Abcde Edcba.

Get the picture?

For a glimpse at the potential problems faced by an Abcde Smith, talk to any John Doe. Yes, there are real men with that name, and they endure endless hassles. The New York Times recently reported on one Mr. Doe's struggles with skeptical landlords, airport security agents and even prospective dates. An Abcde might not face that level of trouble, but it's still a burden other names don't bear.

If you're drawn to wordplay, I'd say stick to the anagrams. Traeh, anyone?

Have you run into any creative names? Share your experiences! And if you have your own question to Ask the Name Lady, drop her a line!

Comments (39)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

LS 9-28-2009 @ 8:56AM

"Someone you know? Not just someone you heard about? I'm just asking because reports of babies named Abcde outpace real Abcde's by a mile."

I'm not Julie, but yes, there is someone I know, personally, named Abcde. She's a delightful little girl who lives in our town.

I feel for her, and hope that, as she grows, she will begin to go by "Abby", perhaps even adopting that as a working name for herself. Why? Because of perception.

Like it or not, we are judged on first appearances. If you have multiple piercings, a mohawk, or blue hair, you are going to be judged differently than the person next to you who has no piercings, a normal haircut, and brown hair. So when it comes time for the Abcde's of the world to generate resumes, what's going to happen? Those bosses of the future are likely to look at that name and say, "what??? trashcan." Especially if it's an online application/resume. Specifically because of the "place keeper" idea mentioned in the article.

If you want to give your child a unique name, go for it. But think about that child and his/her future. And if Abcde is still on the "required" list... make it her MIDDLE name. And give her a "normal" first name. That doesn't mean that you must call her by that first name, it just gives her the option, later in life, to use it, instead of having to suffer your whim for the rest of her life.

A name is for the child, not for you.

Tomyka 9-29-2009 @ 9:22AM

You mean throw resumes in the garbage can like is done when HR managers see names like Devon, Tomyka, Andre, Latisha, etc even though the qualifications are impeccable.

Kyla 9-29-2009 @ 10:00AM

I agree. My name is different, though more common than it was when I was a child, but not so radical as to be a problem for me and reasonably easy to spell and pronounce. "Kyla" - my parents spent a good deal of time planning on naming their son "Kyle" and just switched the last letter when the chromosome came out differently.

Mila 10-01-2009 @ 6:39PM

I think it's ridiculous to assume that the only names that kids won't get ridiculed for are "traditional" ones (BORING) like Sarah, Jane, whatever. There are too many people out there with the same name. Where's the originality there? I have a strange name and so do both of my sisters. I grew up with a friend named Shadoe who everyone adores. I also know a Jazzlynn, a Sashalynn, and a Sage. I think having a unique name gives a person a totally different take on the world, allowing them to be more creative and open-minded. I don't think that names should be "trendy," I think it's the parents' right to name their child what they want. Abcde is a lovely name.

Kitten 9-29-2009 @ 6:32AM

LS....I couldn't have said it better myself!!..I've read articles where names that are "different" have problems with getting jobs.

SG 9-29-2009 @ 2:16PM

how about these ones that ive heard of:
ladynasty pronounced la-dynasty
organgejello pronounced or-on-gel-o
a-ah pronounced a-dash-ah
shithead prounced sh-thead

Natalie 9-29-2009 @ 8:17AM

and I would pronounce this as A-B-C-D-E's when calling roll call.

M A Dark 9-29-2009 @ 1:54PM

I have a family member who just used the middle name ESPN for her little boy. The parents are big sports nuts.
THey pronounce is Es-Pen. I certainly hope this child understands when he is grown up.

NancyY 9-29-2009 @ 8:39AM

Parents need to think ahead when naming their children, including the spelling of whatever name they choose. A child's name can be a source of embarassment for him or her, and a source of annoyance to teachers and other officials who have no clue as to how to pronounce it. Last names can be hard enough to pronounce; give folks a break with the first names! Names with extraneous characters in them [like Le-a (Ledasha)] and names with apostrophes all over the place are the worst culprits.

Rick 9-29-2009 @ 9:06AM

Not just female. I met a man here in Florida who had that name but carried one farther and ended in F. His family and friends called him "Abe" for short.

Tomyka 9-29-2009 @ 9:22AM

pronounced ab-c-de I have heard of this before in Texas. Not all that weird just creative. No different that any other name. She doesn't need to adopt another name. I have also heard of Adbc which is a male version.

J. Cog Flywheel 9-29-2009 @ 9:21AM

Sounds like a Socialist Liberal name form someone to lazy to think.

Laura 9-29-2009 @ 12:36PM

Maybe you should learn to write in coherent sentences before you try to talk down a group. You're a troll.

thundercat1945 9-29-2009 @ 9:28AM

Hope the kid is smarter than his parents and changes it at a legal age, but probably not.

Frankie 9-29-2009 @ 9:32AM

Some parents think it's unique and creative to give their kids strange names. They're mistaken. It's bizarre and freakish. The poor kids suffer their whole life shackled with their names.

chililuver 9-29-2009 @ 10:10AM

While parents want their kids to be noticed, this is not a way in which a child will be positively noticed. Kids want to fit in with their peers. Giving them oddball names will only result in having others laugh in their faces, or behind their backs. Shame on those parents!!!!

Alex 9-29-2009 @ 12:04PM

The recent (past 20 years) surge in so-called "trendy" names is, in my opinion, something of a "social experiment" that has not reached a conclusion yet. One concern of many is that these names "identify and label" a person in some stereotypic fashion (usually detrimentally rather than favorably). If you think about it, this is nothing new. Many traditional European names are regional, which, during the Great Immigration in the early 1900's, labeled and targeted people for prejudice. The concern over "trendy" names being a potential discriminatory problem for a child in adult life is probably less of a real concern than is the simple fact that many "trendy" names border on the absurb and can even be comical. That is a gross disservice to any child. Foolish rationale, such as naming a child "Sir" so that he is "always shown respect", misses the truth that respect is EARNED, not assigned! Parents should be more thoughful when naming a child. And, if the parents lack good common sense or the ability to think logically, they ought to play it safe and go with a time-tested traditional name! I great rule-of-thumb that way too many people don't apply is: If the average person can't figure out how the name is to be pronounced, then it's probably not a very good choice! One last thought: Don't most of us look back at "trendy" things and laugh at it? Probably NOT something a grown child will come to appreciate 15 years after the parents have had their creative "fun"!

SB 9-29-2009 @ 12:21PM

I worked in the Labor & Delivery Unit; one lady was so off her rocker she named her baby Holloween Candy!! (to the amusement of all the nurses on staff). I also know a Neveah (sweetheart lil girl). Haven't met a Abcde yet..

Pati 9-29-2009 @ 12:38PM

I taught a little boy named IBM (ib-em). We joked that his mother gave birth, saw the baby moniter and thought it would be a good name.

Carlene 9-29-2009 @ 12:53PM

My dad named me...and CLAIMS it was an accident. I have a twin sister named Darlene Rae. My name is Carlene Mae. The twist? My last name is Bragg. Get it? Read my name like a sentence!

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments