SPINOFF: How important are Names?

[MissK]

Alright so Goldie mentioned in the Ciara thread that we shouldn't all have the same names (well not those words but you get it)

I countered that while I agree I have always kind of thought beyond that to the fact that one of these days that person will grow up and have to enter the real world, the work force and their name can have potential negative impact.

As a parent and as a woman of color I did struggle with this. My gov. name is pretty plain and you can't tell my background from it. I determined that I wanted any future kids to not be labeled just off their name.

So what say the ABW on this issue?

(cut me slack I am not a thread starter, lol)

 

[Goldie]

Thank you for making the thread Miss K. I'll be in here to share my stance shortly.

 

[MissK]

@Chi-Town B

I believe ABCDE is pronounced AB-C-DE. Swear I thought someone was pulling a joke on me when I first heard this but then more than one kid had it and I'm like wtf? yea Mexicans can be just as creative when it comes to names as black folks lol

 

[AP3.0]

I like missk starting threads

But names are important for many of the reasons you've stated

I hate hate hate when people try to make names by mixing the names of the parents

Goldie thinks it's unoriginal but until we establish a culture where things don't get judged before actually meeting people, you need to ensure your kids the highest possibility at a job and don't name them no dumb shit

 

[Goldie]

If they're not gonna hire you because of your "black" name, they're not gonna hire your black ass with a white name either lol


So you can name your daughter Rebecca, but when she walks her black ass in that room she's not gonna receive the Rebecca treatment, she's back to being Tameka, having to prove herself.

 

[Golden]

If they're not gonna hire you because of your "black" name, they're not gonna hire your black ass with a white name either lol


So you can name your daughter Rebecca, but when she walks her black ass in that room she's not gonna receive the Rebecca treatment, she's back to being Tameka, having to prove herself.

You sound right in theory but you're wrong. It goes back to "acceptable blackness".

 

[AP3.0]

Well you are getting into an entirely different argument because I think we can all agree that nepotism is real so yea, if they wanna hire their kid or use influence to get them hired, it won't matter what the name is

But if you have two equally qualified candidates and their names are Jennifer and Kelly, and you find out both of them black, then that's black excellence

 

[Duwop]

I like researching names....names need to have meaning...

As long as you have a good explanation for a name it's cool... cuz it can be a conversation piece.....


My name while unusual for an American Male has ties to West Africa where the translation is "gift" and even more particularly Mali where it's a common surname meaning Lion....I'm a Leo, and my mother was not supposed to have children due to a heat stroke she suffered in her late 20's so I was her "gift"............

interesting right?

 

[LadyDu]

You put meaning to your name no one else does. So we chose lil DUs name Amir because we liked the meaning of it PRINCE/LEADER OF NATIONS we later taught him what it meant (of course that lil nigglet lives by it literally) but if I chose not to give him that name based off its origin because omg people are gonna think he's Muslim or part of a terrist group then he would be the strong willed person he is growing to be. Like Goldie said people are gonna judge regardless were they do it when they see your name, your face, or attitude.

 

[MissK]

You sound right in theory but you're wrong. It goes back to "acceptable blackness".

Bingo. Whites feel 'safer' if your name is Jennifer or Jane. Sure I have gotten a few raised eyebrows when they see me but I usually get the job. Now I doubt if my name was Ta'quisha I would have even gotten into the door. At least if you can get in the door you have a slightly better chance

 

[Golden]

There are a whole lot of employers who'll hire a black person named Patrick Rogers or Tyrone Smith, yet not look twice at the resume of an equally qualified Demeetrius or a Ladasha. I even know black hiring managers who do this.

They project negative stereotypes onto names that are perceived to be misspelled (even though all names are made up if you go far back enough). Even with all things being equal on the resume. Even tho a first name isn't something we pick but something our parents pick. Even tho the worst of names, like Orangejello Bloom, at most say that the parents r uneducated n nothing about the person who possesses it.

I aint sayin we gotta pander to racists or tip toe around people's preconceived notions but when u r naming a child, that isn't just an expression of ur creativity. they're a social being n they're a part of society. names are identifiers n u need to be mindful of whether ur child will be satisfied with their identifier. Last names r actually easier to change socially than 1st names. First names r damn near impossible to change unless u cut off ppl who knew u by ur old one.

You put meaning to your name no one else does. So we chose lil DUs name Amir because we liked the meaning of it PRINCE/LEADER OF NATIONS we later taught him what it meant (of course that lil nigglet lives by it literally) but if I chose not to give him that name based off its origin because omg people are gonna think he's Muslim or part of a terrist group then he would be the strong willed person he is growing to be. Like Goldie said people are gonna judge regardless were they do it when they see your name, your face, or attitude.

Amir is one of my boy's name choices, no lie.

 

[AP3.0]

So people really think L - A (la'dasha)is gon get a look over Kelly or crystal

Aight

 

[AP3.0]

@BNE, you spelled L - A wrong

 

[Duwop]

Well in defense, sometimes you gotta know what you're walking into....

a lot of my early resumes Just had my initials and my last name on them

 

[Goldie]

Exactly, sometime's u gotta play the system. If you think your name will be an issue when applying for a job, just put your initials.

 

[Duwop]

didn't barack go by barry most of his younger years?

 

[Golden]

Well in defense, sometimes you gotta know what you're walking into....

a lot of my early resumes Just had my initials and my last name on them

No creep but I know your gov name. That aint the kind that gets chucked on sight unless u dealing with old-boy's network type, casual racist hiring managers. Names like yours act as a filter that's actually in your favor because it filters out bigots.

Names like Precaushus might lose u a sought after internship even when the person looking @ ur resume is black.

Yes it's wrong but it happens a lot.

 

[AP3.0]

On the flip side, if I see the name Hunter, Bryce, Aiden..I assume they cac and they are gonna play lacrosse, are bad af, and are on course to curse out their parents before the age of ten

 

[Goldie]

didn't barack go by barry most of his younger years?

Exactly, make a nickname or use initials, there's ways around it. Don't let society determine the way you live your life.

 

[Duwop]

On the flip side, if I see the name Hunter, Bryce, Aiden..I assume they cac and they are gonna play lacrosse, are bad at, and are on course to curse out their parents before the age of ten

2nd son might be named Aiden and will prolly play lacrosse