What's up with black names, anyway?

Salon.com ^ | 8/25/08 | David Zax

[redstates4ever]

A twin brother and sister entered the world on July 12 and were bestowed these names: Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. Considering they were born to a celebrity couple, namely Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, these little ones dodged a serious bullet. Others born into the tiny victimized class of the celebrity baby have not been so lucky, and the wee Jolie-Pitts will surely be grateful if they ever share a sandbox with Freedom and Reignbeau, Ving Rhames' children, or Pilot Inspektor, Jason Lee's child, or Jermajesty, Jermaine Jackson's son.

[BigCinBigD]

I have seen “Orangjello”.

[ErnBatavia]

Around these parts, it’s my suspicion they’re named after either freeway exits (Etiwanda, Rosecrans) or something from the medicine cabinet (Senokot, Noxema)...

[jdub]

Governor Hogg of Texas named his daughters Ima and Ura.

[bvw]

A combination of hatred of whitey, and group self-identity. “Don’ wan’ be havin’ no whitey name fo’ my chil’!”

[crusty old prospector]

Sorry, must have been his cousin. I went to high school in Denton, Texas.

[Non-Sequitur]

And I went to grade school with a Timothy Timm.

[CodeJockey]

Names in “Paging Richard Smoker” by Bob & Tom

Richard Smoker (Dick Smoker)
Seymore Butz
Dick Peter
Jack Hinoff
Sharon Peter
Harry Beaver
Peter Stroker
Mister Bater
Harold Balzak (Harry Balzak)
Phil McCrackin
Ivana Wiener
Stewart Pedasso (Stu Pedasso)
Heywood Jablowmie
Wilma Fingerdoo
Willie Fisterbottom
B.J. Hunter
Peter Wanker
Amanda Kiss
Woody Spanker
Michael Hunt (Mike Hunt)

[dragnet2]

Or the J names.

Joshua, Jeremy, Jeremiah, Justin, Jason....A few years ago, every other boy was named this.

[theDentist]

Met a girl named Latrina. She told me she was having it changed.

[Non-Sequitur]

Bill Murray, big time Cubs fan, named his first son Homer Banks Murray, after Ernie Banks and what he used to do to the ball when he was at bat.

[brytlea]

When I named my boys, I thought I had chosen *normal* but not common names. Then, suddenly all the yuppies started naming their kids the same names I used! I was first!!!!
susie

[Heart of Georgia]

My aunt had a neighbor named Brick Mason.

Actress Susan St. James named her kids (boys, I think) Harmony and Sunshine. I believe they changed them as soon as they could.

[KSoldier]

I know quite a few school teachers back in SC. They always had a list of their favorites. The ones I remember right off were two students named "Omegatron" and "Chocolate." The second, while not being too obnoxious, had to be pronounced "Shoka-la-tay."

Then there was that New-Zealand couple who wished to name their child "4real" (to include the number) Thankfully, A court stepped in and bitch-slapped them both. Unfortunately the ended up naming the poor infant "Superman."

Child abuse.

[Allegra]

I went to school with a girl named Penny Nichols.

The weirdest name I remember of my high school classmates was a girl named Summer Knight.

[brytlea]

There was an Ima but no Ura Hogg.
http://www.snopes.com/racial/language/names.asp

susie

[brytlea]

Had a student named that.
susie

[mad_as_he$$]

Not too funny but interesting. i worked with a guy whose name was William Copp. His kids were Traffic, Motor and Detective.

[mad_as_he$$]

Not too funny but interesting. i worked with a guy whose name was William Copp. His kids were Traffic, Motor and Detective.

[Nea Wood]

My first name is Michael. I once worked in a place where we had TEN GUYS named Michael all in the same room...

I can't beat that, but I'm a Nancy and I once worked in a place where there were about six Nancys. Someone circulated a joke memo saying, "Please don't hire any more employees named Nancy!"

[Terrence DoGood]

You think blacks have somehow cornered the market on weid names? Try these on for size:

‘Pirate’ - Jonathan Davis from the band Korn
‘Fifi Trixibelle’ - Paula Yates and Bob Geldof
‘Tiger Lily Heavenly Hirani’ - Paula Yates and Michael Hutchence
‘Brooklyn’ - Victoria and David Beckham
‘Banjo’ - Patrick and Rachel Griffiths
‘Daisy Boo’ - Jamie Oliver
‘Audio Science’ - Shannyn Sossamon
‘Moxie CrimeFighter’ - Penn Jillette (also has a child named Zoltan)
‘Kal-El Coppola’ - Nicholas Cage (Kal-El is Superman’s original birth name and Cage’s real last name is Coppola)
‘Tallulah’ - Bruce Willis and Demi Moore (they also have kids named Scout and Rumer)
‘Spec Wildhorse’ - John Cougar Mellencamp