Name Fails

At the moment I’m sure we all need something to laugh about so I thought I’d repost a blog from December 2017 which looks at the funny names people have given their children over the years in the hope that they can give a little light relief to you.

I’ll start by saying some of these name fails may not have been funny at the time and it is only as life has progressed that the funny side can be seen, I can attest to this. Pre Harry Potter, most people just thought I had a strange surname, but now…. Most just laugh or make a comment about my clothes. For those who don’t know my surname is Dobby, and Dobby is the house elf in the Harry Potter series. 

I think some parents knew what they were doing when they chose their child’s name.

Dobby the House Elf, NOT me!

So onto the funny side of names in genealogy. I decided to spend an amusing day typing what I thought were funny names into Ancestry to see what I came up with. I’ll admit many I found amusing I have decided not to include as they could be considered rude. Really funny though. So here is my top 40 funny names in no particular order.

Horticultural Names

Rose Bush – There have been loads of these unfortunate ladies

Holly Tree - There have been loads of these unfortunate ladies

Hazel Nutt, born 1915 in Chesterfield

Timothy Burr, baptised 1726 in Essex (Tim Burr)

Daisy Weeds, born 1889 in Norfolk (my first cousin 3 times removed)

Cristafer Weeds married in Norfolk in 1561. (C.Weeds)

Grass Green who departed the UK in 1947

Teresa Green, born 1852 in Ware

Festive Names

Lilian Ruth Christmas Tree, baptised 1903

In 1886 in London Mary Magdalen married Abraham Bateau

Florence Angel Gabriel was buried in London in 1884

Merry Christmas was born in Sussex in 1874

Character Names

Thomas Snow White was born in 1882

Cinderella Lord was born in Burnley in 1901

Donald Duck was found on the 1881 census

Michael Mouse was on the 1841 census (Mickey Mouse)

Minnie Mouse was born in Pendleton, USA in 1880

Robert Builder married Susanna Sproll in 1778 (Bob Builder)

Sam Fireman was living in London on the 1911 census (Fireman Sam)

Animal Names

Kitty Williem Catt was born in 1880

James Little Lyons was born in the USA in 1822

Jack Daws was born in Nottingham in 1902

General

Stanley Still has been the unfortunate name of many men (Stan Still)

Jo King was baptised in Watford in 1589

Annette Curtain (whose dates I’ve not given to spare blushes)

William Board has been the unfortunate name of many men (Bill Board)

Isla White was found on the 1851 census

Peter Perfect was born in Dartford in 1889

Bad Cook was born in Alabama, USA, around 1882

Good Cook was baptised in London in 1723

Olive Cart was born in Warwickshire in 1919

Sunny Day (whose dates I’ve not given to spare blushes)

Sidney Bridge was born in Essex in 1872 (not quiet there but close although my Uncle had a friend call Sidney Arborbridge but I can’t find his records)

River Jordan was born in Birmingham in 1854

Beau Bunting (whose dates I’ve not given to spare blushes)

Richard Taylor Coal Miner was buried in Kirkheaton in 1874

Norman Knight was a soldier during WW1, as was

Harold Norman Knight (who died during the conflict)

Austin Healey who was an England Rugby Player

Morris Van de Car was on the 1881 census (he couldn’t decide if he was a car or a van)

Method to use when choosing a babies name

So when you find out your expecting the pitter patter of tiny feet, think through the name you choose carefully so you little one doesn’t have to endure a name fail! And future genealogist won’t sit typing into their genealogy websites to find the funny names like I do.

So I hope I have brought some amusement to you and given you a little light relief in this difficult times.