Bad Names

Sometimes two people get together and start a business, and a name spawns that just asks for trouble.

Example... Hurt and Proffitt. Employees eventually came up with the saying I hurt, they profit.

Then there are places like Dick's Drive-in... If you like hotdogs, you'll love Dick's... that was a real sentence they put on their sign. If I ever start another business, I'm naming it Dick's, because the slogan works for anything. Dick's Detailing... If you like clean cars, you'll love Dick's. See, everything.
 
My Army Reserve unit in St. Louis had a major on staff whose last name was also Major. Major Major, we called him. Well liked fellow, I bet he finally made Lt. Col and was glad of it.
 
When I was in I.T. I worked with a recruiter whose last name was Greathead. I felt bad for her dad.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
I know a realtor called Crystal Ball. Real name!
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I used to work with a Crystal Ball and John Doe at the same time. Crystal had two sisters, Charity and Candie.

I’ve been pronouncing Ron’s name the same as everyone else here.

Went to basic training with a guy named John Zigonia. He pronounced it skuh NEE nuh . When I was stationed in Korea, there was a civilian that worked in the hospital admin section with the same name. I told her I bet I could pronounce her name correctly. When I did she asked how I knew because nobody got it right the first time. When I told her I was in basic with guy named John Zigonia. She told me that was her husband.
 
I never served with Major Major, but I did work with a Sergeant Major. Forget his first name, but he was an E5, not the other kind.
 
I have a colleague named Ghali Ghali. Excellent surgeon. He gave an address at the RNC prior to the 2016 election; some here may have viewed it on television.
 
When I was up in NH, there was a local political type whose given name was Dudley Webster. She married a guy named Tom Dudley.

Yep, Dudley Dudley. One of her campaign slogans was "Dudley Dudley, worth repeating". The opposition had fun with it too: Dudley Dudley, liberal liberal

Can't make this stuff up.

On another note, I can't for the life of me figure out how Anthony MacFarland decided to keep and run with the nickname "Booger".
 
Back in my racing days I also worked a job selling race gas and race fuels.

I was known as ''the gasman''.

I hope they called me that because I sold gas...
 
At Chick-fil-A, when they ask for a name to go with my order, I am Ichabod. I also say that part in a lousy English accent, after I just ordered my number 1 with no pickles in my normal hillbilly accent.
 
The Dean of Men at my college dorm was Dean white. He had two kids, Bob and Snow.
 
Fiveslide said:
At Chick-fil-A, when they ask for a name to go with my order, I am Ichabod. I also say that part in a lousy English accent, after I just ordered my number 1 with no pickles in my normal hillbilly accent.
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My wife gets exasperated when we go to Cracker Barrel and the hostess ask for a name. I'll tell her Donner.

It tickles me when a table comes open and the hostess calls, ''Donner, party of 6''...
 
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Zeldman said:
My wife gets exasperated when ego to Cracker Barrel and the hostess ask for a name. I'll tell her Donner.

It tickles me when a table comes open and the hostess calls, ''Donner, party of 6''...
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A cafeteria at the University of Colorado is named (by student vote) the Alferd Packer Grill ("Have a friend for lunch").
 
I knew a couple, last name Breese, who named their daughter Summer.

David Letterman did a bit years ago where he found and interviewed a real-life Dot Com.
 
wanttaja said:
Should also point out that there's ANOTHER "Ron Wanttaja" in the US. I have plausible deniability!
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Pohjois-Michiganissa ja Wisconsinissa on enemmän Wanttaja-sivustoja.
 
There is a dog food company named Badlands Ranch.

And there is a gay bar downtown by the same name. Great name for a gay bar. Horrible name for a pet food.
 
When it came time to choose a name for my youngest my wife insisted that it started with W to match his brothers, after exhausting every other name either of us could think of I half joking said “the last one I can think of is Wilbur”. (Way outdated, basically unused in decades, and the charlottes web thing…). Well, my son is named Wilbur.. I think it’s going to be making a come back.
 
Flatiowa said:
....wife insisted that it started with W to match his brothers, after exhausting every other name either of us could think of....
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How many brothers does he have? You must have already named them William, Walter, Wesley, Watson, Wiley, Warren, Willard, Winston, Westin, Winthrop, and probably a few others.

I once knew a couple who were naming their kids after locations in Wyoming. IIRC, they had a Cody, a Sheridan, and a Cheyenne, but they abandoned the format when it came time to name a daughter Jackson Hole.
 
Half Fast said:
How many brothers does he have
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Not many, but she came from a huge family with lots of w names and didn’t want to use one of them so…sometimes a man has to know when to hold um and know when to fold um, and I knew I wasn’t going to win. Lol. It’s actually gotten a lot of compliments, I sincerely think it will make a comeback.
 
Know a gent named Bill Dollar. When you look at his DL the last name is first...
 
Many years ago I named a daughter Ona. I never offered any explanation other than I liked it.

Fast forward to 22 years ago when I hooked up with my long lost love Winona.
My daughter realized the source of her name.

And YES she gets along with my wife Winona.:D
 
Half Fast said:
How many brothers does he have? You must have already named them William, Walter, Wesley, Watson, Wiley, Warren, Willard, Winston, Westin, Winthrop, and probably a few others.

I once knew a couple who were naming their kids after locations in Wyoming. IIRC, they had a Cody, a Sheridan, and a Cheyenne, but they abandoned the format when it came time to name a daughter Jackson Hole.
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They gave up too soon. (but Gemini AI agrees on JH)
____________________________________________
Wyoming is a goldmine for names that feel rugged yet refined. Since the state is defined by its wide-open spaces and dramatic peaks, many of its locations translate beautifully into names that sound both timeless and adventurous.

Here are some recommendations for girl’s names inspired by the Cowboy State:

### The "Wildly Popular" Choices

These are locations that have already transitioned seamlessly into the world of baby names.

* **Cheyenne:** Perhaps the most classic Wyoming name. It’s the state capital and carries a sense of strength and heritage.
* **Sheridan:** A sophisticated, gender-neutral choice. The town of Sheridan sits at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains and feels academic yet outdoorsy.
* **Sundance:** After the famous mountain town and site of the Sundance Film Festival. It’s bright, unique, and has a lovely rhythmic quality.
* **Casper:** While traditionally masculine, it’s seeing a rise as a quirky, vintage-cool girl’s name (similar to the trend of naming girls "Charlie" or "Parker").

### Nature & Landmark Inspired

If you want something that feels more connected to the landscape itself, these are excellent options:

* **Sierra:** Inspired by the **Sierra Madre** range in southern Wyoming. It’s soft, melodic, and evokes the high-altitude beauty of the state.
* **Gros Ventre (Gwen):** The Gros Ventre Range is stunning. While the full name is a mouthful, using **Gwen** as a nod to it is a clever "if you know, you know" tribute.
* **Alta:** A tiny community near the Idaho border. In Latin, *Alta* means "high" or "elevated," making it a perfect short, punchy name.
* **Laramie:** A quintessential Wyoming name. It has a Western, melodic feel that works beautifully for a girl.

### Hidden Gems

These are for those who want something a bit more distinct and less common on the playground.

| Name | Origin/Location | Vibe |

| **Afton** | A town in Star Valley | Sweet, lyrical, and classic. |
| **Tenley** | Inspired by **Ten Sleep** | Modern, energetic, and easy to spell. |
| **Saratoga** | A town known for hot springs | Bold, rhythmic, and sophisticated. |
| **Lucerne** | A small area in Hot Springs County | Elegant and feels slightly European. |

---

**A Note on "Jackson":** While Jackson Hole is iconic, the name **Jackson** is currently very high on the charts for boys. If you love the area but want something more feminine, consider **Jackie** or even **Hole**... just kidding. **Jacqueline** or **Jax** are much better bets!

Would you like me to look into the specific meanings or histories behind any of these towns to help you narrow down the choice?
 
Piperonca said:
My dentist is Dr. Pullen. He's the third generation of Pullen dentists, and his son is the fourth.
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A popular orthodontist in my hometown was Dr. Bracey.

donjohnston said:
Back in the day when I lived in Tampa, there was a gynecologist named Richard N Long. High school kids would cover up the first three letters of his first name of the sign on the street in front of his office.
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Former Green Bay Packers star tight end Mark Chmura used to live in a neighborhood around a golf course called Bristlecone Pines. When he was accused of some, ahem, "wrongdoing" some kids rearranged the vowels...

Their sign is now carved in stone.

Fiveslide said:
Then there are places like Dick's Drive-in... If you like hotdogs, you'll love Dick's... that was a real sentence they put on their sign. If I ever start another business, I'm naming it Dick's, because the slogan works for anything. Dick's Detailing... If you like clean cars, you'll love Dick's. See, everything.
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There was a small supermarket chain in Wisconsin and Iowa called Dick's Supermarket. They had a savings club card they called "Dick's Insider."

DeltaCharlie172 said:
Know a gent named Bill Dollar. When you look at his DL the last name is first...
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There was a personnel listing near an elevator at my university that did the same, letting you know which room you could find "Fried Bunny" in. :o
 
Fiveslide said:
Then there are places like Dick's Drive-in... If you like hotdogs, you'll love Dick's... that was a real sentence they put on their sign. If I ever start another business, I'm naming it Dick's, because the slogan works for anything. Dick's Detailing... If you like clean cars, you'll love Dick's. See, everything.
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A few years ago, when Dick's Sporting Goods stopped selling guns, a local gun shop put up a sign: "Get your AR15 here. We're not Dicks!"
 
I didn't read the entire thread, but famously in the 2000's there was a urologist in Austin, TX, that specialized in vasectomy. Dr. Richard Chopp. Dick Chopp.
 
I taught at a large High School with many hard working immigrant students, but names were very different:
- Boy named “Unique”. Only one of those.
-Boy named “Anas”. Pronounced it like the butt hole.
- Both a boy and a Girl named “Mylove”
- two students - “Devan Khang” and “Kevin Dang” in the same class.
- twin boys- Rickensly and Richensly
Many others, but it has been a while.
 
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