I know somebody that works in HR and has said that when they get resumes with ethnic, hard to pronounce or "ghetto"-sounding names, often times their resumes are immediately disregarded. Should women take that into consideration when they go out of their way to be "different" when it comes to naming their kids?

I don't agree with that regarding first names. A 25 year old did not choose her name. I would despise to think that anyone in HR would look at first names and gauge that person on that. Applicants do come with resume or job app.

When parents name their kids, they're more focused on coming up with something that has a special meaning to them; not so much a future hypothetical. If someone has a harder to pronounce name, and considers it a hindrance in the workplace, then they can always shorten or simplify it. One of my co-workers full name is Boccaccio, but he is referred to as 'Chico' at work.

It's funny because I was going to ask everybody when it comes to their kids or future kids, did/would they go with more typical, common names like Mary, John, David, Sarah, Ashley, Elizabeth, Billy, etc., or something a bit less common?

Well, I was a blue eyed blond as a child. my mother gave me a norwegian name... and NO ONE got it right during my school years and it drove me nuts! I had to correct everyone. It was really aggravating when i would receive special awards in school and they would mispronounce the name. My last name is german which throws people for a loop too, so the entire name comes out wrong! There were times that i did not even know they were calling on me!

People need to thing about THAT! But when i got married i did not change my name--- I can trace my family back 400 years, i only knew my husband 2 years before we got married, why should i change who i am? lol

I think the only disservice is the parent is ensuring the child will have their name misspelled and mispronounced for the rest of their life. Especially if they decide on some unique spelling of an otherwise common name.

Well, my name isn't all that popular, but I don't think it's ghetto either. I do think parents should be mindful when choosing their child's name. I can get with a little creativity, a little ethnicity but you know in general when a name is too ridiculous.

Supernova wrote:

It's funny because I was going to ask everybody when it comes to their kids or future kids, did/would they go with more typical, common names like Mary, John, David, Sarah, Ashley, Elizabeth, Billy, etc., or something a bit less common?

My fiancee and I are trying to not go bland, but we're not looking to name the baby something that would make people go 'huh?' either.

Even common names can have probs for the anal retentive sticklers who insist you sign like on your birth certificate.

I go by Rob, named after my uncle Robert. But, they called him Bob and someone must have said that to the person making the birth certificate. IDK the story but my birth certificate officially had me as "Bobbie"

OK that was cute for a kid up to six years old, but what about wearing a business suit and signing Bobbie on official documents? Luckily I had opportunity to legally change my name as an adult to Robert, which is what it should have always been.

Chris wrote:

My fiancee and I are trying to not go bland, but we're not looking to name the baby something that would make people go 'huh?' either.

I imagine it can be a delicate balance between names every other kid has & ones that are unique without being bizarre.

CeCe wrote:

I imagine it can be a delicate balance between names every other kid has & ones that are unique without being bizarre.

Unless you're a celebrity and then you can be as creative as you like.

Depends on how ridiculous the name is. I have a "unique" name. It's not 'ghetto,' nor is it hard to pronounce (or to sound out), but it is different. It's actually pretty rare that people misspeak it.

I never had problems getting a job. The credentials on my resume speak for themselves (and my references back it up.) I wouldn't want to work for an employer who would pass someone up on the basis of having an atypical, ethnic…or ethnic-sounding…name.