What's In A Name?

I went to the grocery store a couple days ago to grab a few items. The clerk was very polite and efficient. We were casually chatting when I caught sight of her name tag. I know me and I know my face. I was entirely perplexed. For a moment, I felt like I was back in grade school seeing a "big word" for the first time: Day...day-ja...day-ja-nah....fuk it. I gave up. I simply asked her, "How do you prounounce your name?" She replied and my heart broke for her...Dejanaubra. (prounounce day-zha-naw-brah) WHY?!? Why did her mother do that to her?

I am a firm believer that there is a lot in a name! I have a running joke with my dad that the less conventional a guys name, the more likely he is to become an athlete, particulary, a football player. [e.g. LaDainian, Plaxico, Santonio, BenJarvus] My joke for females is the less conventional the name, the more likely she is to end up on a pole. (I know. I know. I'm an asshole with a sick sense of humor.)



Don't you wish some kids came out saying this.



I wonder what some folks think about when they name their children. They have to be thinking about what's cute and hip in the moment. I mean are they really thinking about a 50 yr old woman walking around telling people, "My name is Shanaynay, nice to meet you." (<--that's not cute ) Or, is that she was a young mother? Who knows?

It's easy to say what to NOT name your kids when I don't have any. I get that. At the same time, I don't know any parents that don't want their kids to do better. That starts with naming. What you name your children can hold them back. Employers don't just look at the job history and educational background on a resume. You are less likely to get calls back with what some people would call a ghetto name.

Just a little food for thought.