If you’re like the staff of RVtravel.com, your name is probably pretty normal: Chuck, Emily, Diane, Kim, Gail… But maybe you aren’t so lucky. Maybe your last name is Faartz (yep, that’s a real one!).
Check out this list of 198 unfortunate names. You’ll get a laugh out of it, we guarantee it. (But please note: Some of these names are R-rated. You’ve been warned!)
Anyway, will you tell us in the poll below if you like your first name? Do you wish you had been named something else? Tell us in the comments if so. Thanks!
I disliked my name so much I changed it. My parents named me and for some unknown reason didn’t like my first name either and always called me by my middle name… but blew a head gasket when I changed it..
I have always loved my first name, it was very unique in the 50’s and 60’s and I received a lot of compliments on it. Now, it’s a pretty common name but I still love it.
Apparently, my name was a very popular name for girls in the year I was born. I love my name, but am mildly disturbed that it is now used to speak about people in a derogatory way, “She’s a Karen”. It doesn’t bother me too much though, since no one who knows me would associate the negative characteristics with who I am.
Hi Karen, I agree with you completely. Thank you.
I had a younger sister named Karen, who was born in 1950. I’ve always like that name, and wish people would quit using it disparagingly. Have a great day, Karen. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
anyone naming a child with a suffix (Jr, II, Iii, etc) should be flogged.
Agree!
I like it. I’m named after my Grandfather and Dad. But I don’t use it. I go by a nickname.
I like my name. Was born 15+ years before the song was wrote. Get sung to all the time. Funny thing middle name is Elvira. Also was born before this song too. Try putting both together. Makes for interesting rhythm.
My first name is Donald. ‘Nuf said…
Same here, although being 87 I am known to most as Dad or Grampa
I proudly share my name with my grandfather, my father and my son.
I like my name Patrick as it references my Grandfathers name. Unfortunately, my parents were first generation Italian/Sicilian, I was born in 1949. Dad fought in the Pacific during WW2. They strove to become Americans and wanted us children to be so. My regret is that instead of naming me Pasquale, my Grandfathers name, they Americanized it to Patrick hoping I would be more accepted. I am proud to be of Italian descent and wish they would have named me Pasquale. It has been awkward to respond to people who ask how an Italian was given an Irish name.
Oh well, I still like who I am and it always makes for an interesting story.
My name is Robert but of course I’m called Bob, which is way too common. I would have preferred a less common name that’s for sure. My wife’s first name (Ralphlynn) is very uncommon to the extent that we have never heard of it. If you have, let me know.
My name is John and of course I’m called John. Other than an occasional toilet related joke (I’m going to the john), it’s a fine name. Same as my father, his father and his father and my son.
I like my name. Was born several years before the song was wrote. Get sung to all the time. Interesting thing middle name is Elvira. Also several years before. Makes for neat sounds.
I’m not crazy about it. Sounds like a little girl’s name, or an airhead. There were three of us in my class going through elementary school. None were what I’d consider an airhead. Just a popular name at the time. I’m 63 now and “Cindy” sounds weird for an old lady.
My daughter’s name is Cynthia and she will be the first to tell you, it’s Cynthia, not cindy. My wifes friend named her daughter Cindy. Never Cynthia
I like my name cuz that’s what everyone calls me
I love my name. It’s common today, but was very unusual as I was growing up. I’ve only met two people close to my age (I’m 71) with the name Erica.
My dad was a botanist, and he picked Erica. It’s the botanical genus name
(Erica cinerea) for one type of heather plant.
It’s special to me, and so fitting that I am posting this on Father’s Day! He’s no longer with us, but I thank him for my special name.
I was named after both my Grandfathers. Thats Ok, but the combination of Louis Harry was a real pain/ embarassment growing up. Even today my first name gets mispronounced.
Louise, Luis, etc, oh the combinations classmates would come up with.
My brothers have more normal names Dave, John, & Jim.
i go by Lou and that EVEN gets misspelled.
My mother wanted to name me Anastasia. The family revolted. While I don’t love it I’m ok with what was given me, Martha. I go by Marty spelled wiyh a “y”.
I like the abbreviated Ron. There’s only a few people who can still get away with calling me Ronnie, which everyone did when I was a child. My father disliked his first name and always went by his middle name.
I was named after my two grandfathers. So the second “named” grandfather didn’t get up set by coming second, that’s the name I was called. I never used my first name on any documents except my passport. Shortly after 911 I booked an airline ticket using my second given name and my surname, which I have done all my life. When I went to board the aircraft the attendant looked at my ticket and said the name on the ticket doesn’t match the name on my passport which had my two ‘given’ names on it. She said she would allow me to board but next time my ticket must match ‘exactly’ with the photo ID I was using. From this I was pretty much forced to change all my ID, my home and vehicle insurance, my driver’s license, my vehicle registrations, my land title, etc to contain both given names. Now when I go to the doctor or elsewhere I can expect to be called one of either given names..
I like having an unusual name. I get Kathleen alot but don’t bother to correct unless I will be interacting with them alot.
Common enough name, after my mum. The different spelling, though, had me miss out on all the cool beach shop personalized pencils and bike license plates, etc., when my sibs got theirs. Didn’t know basic spelling was a thing, either, until I got in trouble for ‘fixing’ all the ‘Jane’ names in my ‘Dick and Jane’ reader book!
I don’t know that I was named after anyone. There are no Toms (or Thomas’) in my family history. I was Tom for 40 years until I met my wife. SHE said Tom was too stuffy. Tommy sounds much more approachable. So I adopted the new moniker and I think she’s right (as she most often is – but don’t tell her I said that). Tommy just seems more laid back and unofficial sounding.
Pamela, it’s who I am, it’s the name my Parents gave me. What’s not to like?
I’m just a regular Joe!
I had a supervisor back in the mid-80s who’s name was Richard Holder. He went by Rich.
I said I’m not crazy about it because I started asking everyone to call me Sue instead of Susan when I was in Junior High. They all complied except one stubborn aunt. My legal name is Susan so I use that officially, but everyone knows me as Sue.
All five (5) boys were named from the Family Tree…🌟🌞
My name was very popular way back in the ’40’s. There were 8 of us in my 10th grade English class alone! It’s okay, I’ve had it for 78 years so I guess I’m used to it now.
Hi, Linda. I commented earlier that I had a younger sister named Karen, born in 1950. I have an older sister, Linda, born in 1943. I was born in 1946, and have a feeling there are a lot of Dianes out there, as well. However, when I was 40-something, my mom, out of the blue, said, “Oh, I meant to name you Diana, so you would have Grandma’s name (Anna) in your name!” Well, you remembered a little late, Mom.😅 (We weren’t even talking about names, so I have no idea where that came from.🤔) Have a great day, Linda! 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
My parents gave my 2 brother and me only an initial for a first name. Mine was the initial J. Never bothered me until I had to fill out forms that ask for last name, first name and middle initial. Many times the military, voting registration, drivers license, etc, I was often asked, “can’t you read”? I finally took the name Jay for my first name. Life has been more simple since.
Vanessa was a very rare name. After Vanessa Williams won Miss America it seemed to explode in popularity. My dad, happy heavenly father’s day to him, told me he read the name in an article about Sputnik which was launched 2 days before I was born and that I was named after a scientist.
My youngest son is named Andrew. He had a teacher who kept calling him Andy. He refused to respond. He told her many times his name was Andrew. Finally, the teacher took him to the principal. He told her the teacher kept calling on some kid named Andy and his name was Andrew. The principal told the teacher to call him Andrew and sent them back to the classroom.
I have the same issue as Andrew. Different name but people are too lazy to use two syllables I guess.
The very way I always know if people really know me… given Theresa but been Terri always!
Don’t mind Robert, but I hate my middle name Eugene if mom would’ve dropped the EU and just called me Robert Jenn I’d be ok.
Supposed to be Gene.
My mom and her sister-in-law were pregnant at the same time. As they were talking one day, my mom mentioned that if she had a girl, she thought she would name her Janet Denise. The sister-in-law delivered a girl a few weeks before I was born, and she named her Janet Denise! So when I was born, Mom named me Judith Diane. I’m glad, because I like my name a lot better!
When I was in grade school I did NOT appreciate my first name, but as an adult I rather enjoy it as I can tell folks that ask that the cartoon character was inspired by me, and appreciate the link to Dionysius, which is what I think my parents had in mind.
No one I ever went to school with in grades 1-12 had the same name as me. During those years I disliked it. Since then I have embraced it because of its uniqueness. However, it sometimes causes problems, especially over the phone, unless I am careful to carefully enunciate it to prevent being misunderstood. Even now, it routinely is misspelled because it is an unusual (but slowly becoming less so) spelling of an unusual name.
Not particularly fond of William, but I like Bill just fine.
Of course I like my first name. When Mom called it and I responded, I got fed. However Mom called us two boys by our first and middle initials. Very few people know my real first name even though they have known me for decades. My aunt started calling me Kelly and I liked it and continue to use it in case I need to get away with something. Only old family and the government know my real name. Even though my first and last name seem to be familiar, I have to spell both. You’ll never know.
“Only old family and the government know my real name.” I know it, or most of it (just not your middle name), but I won’t tell anyone.😉 Have a good night, Kelly. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
I knew it! I knew it! You really work for the government. (Next time I am contributing by cash.)
🤣Nope, not the government. And I don’t do anything with the contributions (i.e., I never see anything regarding them). But I definitely qualify for the “old” part of your first category.😅 Take care.🤗 –Diane
I hate riddles, but now you’ve got me in the middle of one. If you guessed my father’s name, Milford, that is not it. My mom would not let me be named a junior. She wanted a girl to name Crystal. That’s not it either. Now I won’t sleep tonight.
Your first and last names are on your subscription information for the newsletters (which has nothing to do with the contributions, BTW). Now go to bed, “Kelly”.🤗 –Diane
Thanks, maybe I can sleep. Dang, I gave my real name? I’ve got to watch myself. I don’t remember that. Well…I still got you on my middle name.
I could guess, but it might take a few tries. Anyway, I’m outta here. Have a good night, Kelly. 😀 -Diane
I do not mind my name now, I hated it as a kid.
What I really hate now is how people take the liberty to shorten it to a nickname. I do not mind being called by that nickname but that is something I reserve for close friends.
Having been gifted the #4 most popular name the year I was born, there have been issues over the years. In a school program with 30 students there were 4 of us. At one time, for about 20 years, I shared a name (first, middle, last) with someone in the same organization, which led to many, many funny email moments when I was mistakenly contacted to do something for her branch, hundreds of miles from mine. This same name is now down about 4,400+ on the popularity list.
I’ve made up my own name since I was in 7th grade. Family moved so much and I was always in a new school, so that was my golden opportunity. Even made up my now legal name. I even have aliases in case I want to disappear some day. Aah, but since I’m almost 80, I doubt that’ll ever happen. Forms are the worst when you go by your middle name. First name, middle initial just doesn’t work. I was particularly cognizant of this when naming my children.
My brother was given the first name of Jerry, when Dad called his brother to announce the birth his brother told of his new son Jerry. Without consulting each other and living 400 miles apart, they each chose to call their sons by their middle names. So my brother became J. Wayne and our cousin became J. Galen that’s the way they signed their name since, my brother is 70.
I was named Heather-Anne and was called that by my mother’s side of the family. To my Dad’s side I was just Heather. Had trouble filling out forms as my parents forgot to put the – on birth certificate so I quit using it. Am just now Heather with Anne as middle name. I was named after mothers youngest sister not like the flower. I always thought it was the flower until my 20’s when Mom told me I wasn’t. l got a lot of teasing with Heather rhyming with feather.