Naming your child could be catastrophic

I was encoding a list of names for a yearbook project in some school when I encountered weird names of children and I was amaze at how parents could have thought of such names. One thing I am sure, there would be mixed reactions of course. Someday, these kids will be blaming their parents for their choice of names which they will suffer for the rest of their lives.

Been there.

My unusual name created a lot of teasing and other nicks I don’t want to hear. Worst, people would ask me to repeat what I just blurted out when asked for my name. People who are not Bible savvy would always think that Melchizedik (pronounced as mehl-KIHZ-eh-dehk) is a woman’s name! Melchizedik, by the way, was the first high priest and the King of Salem (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6, 5:10, 6:20). He was believed to be a foreshadowing of Christ.

Come again? What was that name? Ms Mechichi… Melch. Damn. How do you spell that? Are you foreigner? How do you call yourself?Frustrating indeed!

Nowadays parents baptize their children names that have no connection to the family. Why should you call your child Dreed? Is he dreadful? Or Bretch to remind you of your britches? Or Danthanian Lance because you misheard the name of one of the Knights? Or Quir Chloue because you expect your child to be queer when she grows up? Or Silver Krysler to remind your wish to buy that car you could not afford?

Those are real names, mind you.

I remember an article from Foreign Policy, a weird story about a Pakistani diplomat who has been denied his assignment in the Middle East for a simple reason that his name meant Biggest Dick in Arabic. Imagine the reactions of people when he would be introduced. I wonder if his assignment in that area was a punishment.

Strange that a name could make or ruin your future. So if you are expecting now, be sure to name your child right.

Picture from john.ellingsworth.org