Overcoming Bias

Share this post

Odd Kid Names

www.overcomingbias.com

Discover more from Overcoming Bias

This is a blog on why we believe and do what we do, why we pretend otherwise, how we might do better, and what our descendants might do, if they don't all die.
Over 11,000 subscribers
Continue reading
Sign in

Odd Kid Names

Robin Hanson
Jun 8, 2007
Share this post

Odd Kid Names

www.overcomingbias.com
35
Share

From the May 5 New Scientist:

"Parents who make up bizarre names for their children are ignorant, arrogant or just foolish."  Psychologist Albert Mehrabian of the University of California, Los Angeles, on his study looking at how people reacted to names.  Traditional names aroused positive feelings, but alternative names did badly (The Guardian, London, 29 April)

My first name is unusual for a boy, I was far from popular, and some suggested the two facts were related.  We gave our kids unusual middle names, but common first names, thinking they could choose to emphasize their unusual names when/if they ever felt so inclined. 

So do people who give their kids odd names mainly have odd preferences, wanting their kids to be less popular and more distinctive, or are such people just mistaken about the consequences of their actions? 

Share this post

Odd Kid Names

www.overcomingbias.com
35
Share
35 Comments
Share this discussion

Odd Kid Names

www.overcomingbias.com
Horrid Baby Names
May 15

Follow me for awful baby names Monday-Friday.  @Horridbabynames

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
Overcoming Bias Commenter
May 15

We used to have a kid in HIGH SCHOOL he played football and some other sports his name was SPARROW TANG kind of like the little bird and speaking on birds i have a book THE BIRD ALMANAC and the authors name is DAVID BIRD

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
33 more comments...
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 Robin Hanson
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing