Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 8, 2008 5:11:10 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

A Boy Named Sue Is a Boy Named Sue Is ...

Posted Mar 11, 08 2:40 PM CDT in Science & Health,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Having an unusual name might not ruin your life, science blogger John Marion Tierney writes in the New York Times. Some new studies show that having an embarrassing name has less of an impact on future success than previously thought—and might even be helpful, because dealing with the needling can toughen you up. Tierney calls it the "Boy Named Sue paradigm."

“Names only have a significant influence when that is the only thing you know about the person,” says a psychologist. The authors of a new book called simply Bad Baby Names interview a host of people with truly awful monikers: Candy Stohr, Cash Guy, Mary Christmas, River Jordan, and Rasp Berry. “They were very proud of their names, almost overly proud,” says one of the authors.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Angelina: Woman, Uninterrupted

    Jun 2, 08 11:56 AM CDT
    Angelina: Woman, Uninterrupted The every mood and move of "Brangelina" results in frantic flashbulbs and screaming headlines, but when Rich Cohen sat down with Angelina Jolie for Vanity Fair, he found a complete woman whose life perhaps imitates her art. The "ultimate avatar of fantasies," her onscreen roles have reflected her personal evolution: from wild child to crusader to Brad Pitt's "wife." More »

  • A Rose by Any Other Name: Parents 'Rebrand' Kids

    Jan 2, 08 4:23 PM CST
    A Rose by Any Other Name: Parents 'Rebrand' Kids Naming a baby is a big deal, and some parents can't seem to settle on one. They may have picked "Emma" at birth, but months later decide she looks more like a "Caroline" and navigate the sticky legal system to make the change official. It's a growing phenomenon that CNN calls "namer's remorse"—but its effect on kids remains unclear. More »

  • Italian Govt. Renames Baby

    Dec 18, 07 1:45 PM CST
    Italian Govt. Renames Baby He was born, registered, and baptized Friday Germano, but the Italian government is calling him Gregory. The Germanos happen to like the name Friday, but 5 months after they gave it to their baby, a court in Genoa ruled that it had to be changed. In Italy, it seems, the law forbids giving children “ridiculous or shameful” first names, Reuters reports. More »

In this 1969 file photo, country singer Johnny Cash is photographed at an unknown location. Johnny Cash is an awesome name for a dude; Sue is not. (AP Photo, file)   (Associated Press)
Dweezil Zappa.   (grandmasterflash (YouTube))
Gwyneth Paltrow and daughter Apple, who might grow up to have more character than your average Joe.   (Getty Images)
Leslie Nielsen. Leslie is a girl's name.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

parenting  • name  • Gwyneth Paltrow  • Johnny Cash


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Arts & Living Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »