Naming daughter BJ

[Anonymous]

A friend announced she is expecting a daughter to be called BJ. She hasn't announced what the initials will stand for yet. And J is the middle initial not the surname initial, to clarify. The friend is kind of conservative and religious and maybe doesn't realize... Would you say anything?

[Anonymous]

I think you get to say something once, quietly, without drama, and then if they use it, you never mention it again.

Something like, "Isn't there a salacious meaning to the abbreviation BJ?" or the like. But however she responds, drop it. Beating that horse will go nowhere good and certainly will not bring it back to life.

[Anonymous]

They will call her BJ until the child is old enough to insist on Barbara or Babs or Belinda or whatever. I would say nothing.

[Anonymous]

It’s not your child. Zip it.

[Anonymous]

We know someone who did this. They are also conservative and religious, but it still surprises me that an adult wouldn’t have at least heard this.

Anyway, they named the child and everyone called her that and it seemed to be fine. They have since moved away, so I don’t know how things are going now. I wonder if the child chose to use her actual given name at some point- which was a lovely name.

[Anonymous]

I know two BJs. I am sure they get the odd comment but they have kept their name as BJ well into adulthood. One male and one female.

[Anonymous]

You could hire some 7th grade boys to come over to your house while she is visiting and bring up the name choice. That would resolve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you get to say something once, quietly, without drama, and then if they use it, you never mention it again.

Something like, "Isn't there a salacious meaning to the abbreviation BJ?" or the like. But however she responds, drop it. Beating that horse will go nowhere good and certainly will not bring it back to life.

This

[Anonymous]

I gagged on my coffee when I saw this.
The immature side of me couldn’t wait to open the thread.
The staid and mature side of me (which I try to tamp down b/c it’s no fun) said you are a big troll. But probably a hoot in your circle.
“A friend announced she is expecting a daughter to be called BJ.” Please reread that sentence very carefully. I thought wow is going to be salacious: can’t wait to read on. Then I read all the technical points about surnames and middle names and all that I was bitterly disappointed!

[Anonymous]

Surely she knows.

[Anonymous]

Belinda Joanne? NBD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could hire some 7th grade boys to come over to your house while she is visiting and bring up the name choice. That would resolve it.

+1 But it should probably be 8th or 9th grade boys.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I’d say something, perhaps as a general rant on how texting has increased the use of abbreviations. I also have examples in my family where their initials either spell words or are widely used for commonly known organizations. I don’t think she should necessarily change the name. I do think she should choose it with an awareness of the teasing that her daughter might have to deal with at some points in her life.

[Anonymous]

I just realized BJ Liederman on npr Is called BJ never occurred to me before

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just realized BJ Liederman on npr Is called BJ never occurred to me before

It's really quite possible not to notice, until you do. I grew up in small town with a "BJ's Flower Shoppe" and never gave it a second thought until I brought a friend home from college. She couldn't stop laughing.