What’s in a name? It contains far more than just our government-recognized identity. Have you ever met a Jeff that really feels like George? Or a Katherine that could never be a Katy but is definitely a Kat? Names have powerful association and are not to be doled out recklessly. I’m all for naming your kid whatever you want to name them. I’m no “weird” name hater. I happen to think Apple is a beautiful name for a girl. But sometimes the wrong name can set up your child for failure.
Children can be cruel. They can and will single out the thing that makes you different and bully you for it. It’s one of those hard developmental truths. But as a parent, you can spare your kid some of that by giving them a name that doesn’t immediately invite teasing. Recently, Redditors came together to share some of the worst kid names they’ve heard, and boy are they a doozy.
