Do names impact behavior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe but spellings of names say everything. Why would you name your kid a fairly recognizable name like Brayden and then spell it Breighdan? Or a name like Alison and spell it Aleysen? Just don't.

I think they genuinely don’t realize how dumb they look.

It could also be they were not particularly good students and don't know the proper spelling of particular name. In Freakanomics, they talk about how as a name grows more popular it works its way down socioeconomic classes until only the poors will touch it and that is when all the alternate spellings pop up. In Freakanomics he also writes about how names are often aspirational and people don't want to "steal" ideas from friends so they take them from someone in a higher social class in their orbit. I think this probably happened to us. We are UMC and our son has a classic name with a classic but rarely used nickname. Our mail carrier used it a few years later with his son. I found this out by accident when I met his wife and baby in the ballet waiting room. She called him by the same nickname we call ours. She said her husband suggested the name and then I realized she was the wife of our mail carrier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone named Butch isn’t being raised by people who care about manners or ethics.

This. The question is what type of people would choose those names.

For example, I’d be willing to bet money that black people with classical names do better in life than the ones with the “unique” spelling names, despite them both having the same skin, because it shows the attitudes of the parents and how the kids are growing up.

Wonder what Ketanji Brown Jackson would have to say about your opinion.

She would agree. She’s also smart enough to understand that there will always be exceptions to things like this. And her name wouldn’t fall under the names in this discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe but spellings of names say everything. Why would you name your kid a fairly recognizable name like Brayden and then spell it Breighdan? Or a name like Alison and spell it Aleysen? Just don't.

I think they genuinely don’t realize how dumb they look.

It could also be they were not particularly good students and don't know the proper spelling of particular name. In Freakanomics, they talk about how as a name grows more popular it works its way down socioeconomic classes until only the poors will touch it and that is when all the alternate spellings pop up. In Freakanomics he also writes about how names are often aspirational and people don't want to "steal" ideas from friends so they take them from someone in a higher social class in their orbit. I think this probably happened to us. We are UMC and our son has a classic name with a classic but rarely used nickname. Our mail carrier used it a few years later with his son. I found this out by accident when I met his wife and baby in the ballet waiting room. She called him by the same nickname we call ours. She said her husband suggested the name and then I realized she was the wife of our mail carrier.

Dumbest story.. Classic names are used by all parents across the board. You’re probably thinking about John / Jack, Charles / Chad, Henry / Hank, David, Michael, James, George, all very common names. Or do you have a really embarrassing name that you think identifies you as umc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe but spellings of names say everything. Why would you name your kid a fairly recognizable name like Brayden and then spell it Breighdan? Or a name like Alison and spell it Aleysen? Just don't.

I think they genuinely don’t realize how dumb they look.

It could also be they were not particularly good students and don't know the proper spelling of particular name. In Freakanomics, they talk about how as a name grows more popular it works its way down socioeconomic classes until only the poors will touch it and that is when all the alternate spellings pop up. In Freakanomics he also writes about how names are often aspirational and people don't want to "steal" ideas from friends so they take them from someone in a higher social class in their orbit. I think this probably happened to us. We are UMC and our son has a classic name with a classic but rarely used nickname. Our mail carrier used it a few years later with his son. I found this out by accident when I met his wife and baby in the ballet waiting room. She called him by the same nickname we call ours. She said her husband suggested the name and then I realized she was the wife of our mail carrier.

WTF? Mail carrier is a good job, you are acting like a snob

[Anonymous]

I don't think I've ever known a mean "Michael," come to think of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I've ever known a mean "Michael," come to think of it.

Michael Meyers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I've ever known a mean "Michael," come to think of it.

Michael Meyers

HA!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone named Butch isn’t being raised by people who care about manners or ethics.

This. The question is what type of people would choose those names.

For example, I’d be willing to bet money that black people with classical names do better in life than the ones with the “unique” spelling names, despite them both having the same skin, because it shows the attitudes of the parents and how the kids are growing up.

Wonder what Ketanji Brown Jackson would have to say about your opinion.

The plural of anecdote is not data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I've ever known a mean "Michael," come to think of it.

I love the name Michael. I dated a Michael in college. He was on the hockey team and just the sweetest kid. Surrounded by guys not at all like him.

[Anonymous]

I have a book about this. It basically says that the sounds and words that sound like name are associated with the name and can shape behavior. It's very interesting.

[Anonymous]

There’s correlation between names and socioeconomic status and socioeconomic status and behavior. So there is a logical bridge although it seems more a result than a cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone named Butch isn’t being raised by people who care about manners or ethics.

This. The question is what type of people would choose those names.

For example, I’d be willing to bet money that black people with classical names do better in life than the ones with the “unique” spelling names, despite them both having the same skin, because it shows the attitudes of the parents and how the kids are growing up.

You have no idea the magnitude of discrimination and the ignorance that comes with being melanated, let alone, having a uniquely spelled name but still we rise. Your hate will never stop this glow, not in a million years, it actually makes it brighter. We are flattered that you are constantly thinking about us though.🥰

DP. I don’t think it was fair for the PP to specifically pick on AA names with unique spellings when there are plenty of white names with creative spellings (thinking of all the Kayleighs and Jaxxons out there).

From what I’ve found, the people who pick these types of oddly spelled names are usually lower income (although conversely in some cases wealthy). Whereas UMC worry more about appearances to make sure their kid is not lumped in with the lower class.

And statistically there are ties between behavioral issues and socioeconomic status. So I think people link bad behavior and/or trashiness to these types of names. Of course some kids rise above, which is great. But the knee jerk reaction for many people is to have negative associations with these names, which is unfair, but this reaction exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I've ever known a mean "Michael," come to think of it.

I grew up with one. He tortured me all through middle school. I don't hate the name though - I have two relatives with that name who are great people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a book about this. It basically says that the sounds and words that sound like name are associated with the name and can shape behavior. It's very interesting.

Can you share the book title?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe but spellings of names say everything. Why would you name your kid a fairly recognizable name like Brayden and then spell it Breighdan? Or a name like Alison and spell it Aleysen? Just don't.

Yes, I think it’s a good predictor of poor parenting stemming from entitlement - “I’m SPECIAL, see, my kid’s name has special spelling! You can’t discipline them because it can’t have been their fault because we are special!”

This! I find there is definitely “my kid is special, my kid does no wrong” feeling among parents (especially the moms) of kids with uniquely spelled names. The kid acts like a brat because of the parenting.