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parents naming their kids after videogame characters

Eh, honestly, it's not that silly when you think about the fact that most names that people consider "normal" are from The Bible or some other source. John is a popular name because there was a famous John, but the first John was named that because it means "Jehovah has favored".
 
I think you can have some leeway with a middle name, but really, go big or go home.


Kevin The Sword Saint Thunder God Count Cidolfus Orlandeau of the Order of the Southern Sky Johnson

Also, anyone who names their actual human child "Sephiroth" should be investigated by child services.
 
Loli and Lolita are actually legit nicknames for Dolores...



As someone named Luke, I'll sympathize in advance for your son hearing the same tired "use the force" or "I am your father" joke for the 200 millionth time.
I also, non-coincidentally, don't like Star Wars

So I guess the plan to call my future kids Lucas -Kai and Leila Skye would probably get them teased.
i can live with that
 
Loli and Lolita are actually legit nicknames for Dolores...



As someone named Luke, I'll sympathize in advance for your son hearing the same tired "use the force" or "I am your father" joke for the 200 millionth time.
I also, non-coincidentally, don't like Star Wars

Here in the southern US, Star Wars would be a distant 3rd as reasons to name your kid Luke (behind the Bible and Dukes of Hazzard).

And no I'm not making that up.
 
I know a few with "unique" names and almost all of them suffered for it, one even changed his name as soon as he turned 18. Giving a child a "special" name doesn't make it special, it makes the parents look like egoistic fools and invites nasty bullying.
 
My son is called Joel and was born a few months before The Last of Us was released, but that was a coincidence.

But what if their first name is Seth, middle name E and surname Roth?

I won't actually be surprised if someone's done that.

Seth Edward Roth would actually be a cool name and a subtle hint to the game without being cringeworthy. Although I think 'Seth Roth' is a bit brief and lacks a certain something. Unless Seth can be an abbreviation for a longer name?
 
A few folks have mentioned it, but Filipinos have very different naming conventions than other cultures. Most folks have multiple first names. Me and all my brothers have two, so "Nathan Drake" really isn't that crazy for a Filipino. On top of that, Filipinos *love* nicknames: I've got an Uncle Dong Dong, an Aunt Ping Ping, and a cousin Jan Jan (pronounced "Jon Jon").

The history behind it all is pretty interesting, but I think the main takeaway is that Filipinos kinda just have fun with names. That's kinda what happens when Spanish colonists forced their subjects to adopt their naming systems and literally pick whatever name they wanted so they could be taxed easier.

It's quite normal with two first names in Norway too, for example Linda Marie or Tor Erik and so on. It's funny how two first names seems to upset so many!
 
Nathan and Drake are both fine names, because they already existed previously. See also: Max (Max Payne, Sam & Max) or Zelda (I think you know the source)

However, if you name your child fuckin' Mancomb Seepgood or something, the government should intervene and take your child away from you, because you're a fucking monster. "Greetings, amoral 6 year olds! Our child is DIFFERENT! Please stand by while we hand out cutting knives!"
 
It's quite normal with two first names in Norway too, for example Linda Marie or Tor Erik and so on. It's funny how two first names seems to upset so many!

In France having two first names is also possible but they are hyphenated to avoid ambiguities. For example Jean-Marie, Marie-Jeanne, etc.
 
Was thinking of naming my kid Bloodborne.

Well, Blood IS a name that exists. And you could spell the other name Bourne.

However, that's not even the name of a video game character, so it's a bit egregious in that sense.

You should try Protagonist From Bloodborne instead. Or maybe Protagonist Von Bloodborne, if you don't want to make it completely overt.

Similarly, I've been thinking about naming my firstborn The Car From Bump 'N Jump.
 
I've always considered naming a daughter Zelda. I think it goes well with my surname.

That's as far as it'd go though, plus my SO would have to agree.

Zelda is fine, the games popularized it, not created it. That's actually a case with a lot of these names to be honest.

With that said, one of my sons is called Jago, but it's because of it's origins that I chose it (Cornish and Spanish - it's also a VERY old name, 13th century)

I don't tell people that I first discovered it via a game, and people love it.
 
My best friend's kid is named Zack.

Yeah the black haired guy from Final Fantasy.

Joke post? You know that Zack is a nickname for Zachary, a biblical name?

As far as gaming names go, I always liked the Tales series names. They're not terribly common but at the same time pretty 'normal' (with some exceptions, naming a kid Genis is just asking to get him beaten up). Rita, Colette, Lloyd, Raine, Anise, Jude, etc.
 
I talked my son into naming my granddaughter Mara Jade. Does that count.

Well, there's always a chance people will think she's just named after the penis creature from Shin Megami Tensei, rather than something hugely embarrassing, like the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
 
Well, there's always a chance people will think she's just named after the penis creature from Shin Megami Tensei, rather than something hugely embarrassing, like the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Well, in my defense they were already going to name her Mara, but they had another awful middle name in mind. I jokingly suggested Mara Jade would be an improvement and I liked the way it sounded. Next thing I know I know I'm being introduced to my granddaughter Mara Jade.
 
Well, in my defense they were already going to name her Mara, but they had another awful middle name in mind. I jokingly suggested Mara Jade would be an improvement and I liked the way it sounded. Next thing I know I know I'm being introduced to my granddaughter Mara Jade.

It's a fine name, if I'm honest. I just reflexively become openly hostile to anyone who makes me remember the Star Wars Expanded Universe and all its fucking Death Stars and clones and junkies and misery and fucking Boba "Jesus" Fett. Looking back on it now, the one good thing about the Star Wars EU was all the Moffs going around in their Moffship and holding Mofferences.
 
Well, Blood IS a name that exists. And you could spell the other name Bourne.

However, that's not even the name of a video game character, so it's a bit egregious in that sense.

You should try Protagonist From Bloodborne instead. Or maybe Protagonist Von Bloodborne, if you don't want to make it completely overt.

Similarly, I've been thinking about naming my firstborn The Car From Bump 'N Jump.

Dickface McGee?
 
The company I work for (for the next week anyway, I'm starting a new job on the 1st) run swimming lessons for children, and one of our current swimmers is a girl called Aerith

I did wonder if she was named after the FFVII character
 
The company I work for (for the next week anyway, I'm starting a new job on the 1st) run swimming lessons for children, and one of our current swimmers is a girl called Aerith

I did wonder if she was named after the FFVII character

You should be extra cautious with this one

latest
 
A few folks have mentioned it, but Filipinos have very different naming conventions than other cultures. Most folks have multiple first names. Me and all my brothers have two, so "Nathan Drake" really isn't that crazy for a Filipino. On top of that, Filipinos *love* nicknames: I've got an Uncle Dong Dong, an Aunt Ping Ping, and a cousin Jan Jan (pronounced "Jon Jon").

The history behind it all is pretty interesting, but I think the main takeaway is that Filipinos kinda just have fun with names. That's kinda what happens when Spanish colonists forced their subjects to adopt their naming systems and literally pick whatever name they wanted so they could be taxed easier.

This. I'm from the Philippines and I have 2 first names. My middle name came from my mother's maiden surname my last name came from my father. Never really found it weird when I was growing up since a lot of my friends have 2-3 first names.

To contribute to the thread, a friend who loves DotA too much named his child Illidan Cray. My other friends and I am still shaking my head over that decision.

Funfact: Filipinos really do have fun with naming their children with one kid having 40 words in his name:

"Incredible as it may seem, Ratziel, 15, was born Ratziel Timshel Ismail Zerubbabel Zabud Zimry Pike Blavatsky Philo Judaeus Polidorus Isurenus Morya Nylghara Rakoczy Kuthumi Krishnamurti Ashram Jerram Akasha Aum Ultimus Rufinorum Jancsi Janko Diamond Hu Ziv Zane Zeke Wakeman Wye Muo Teletai Chohkmah Nesethrah Mercavah Nigel Seven Morningstar A. San Juan CCCII."

Another kid's name here is Sincerely Yours '98.
 
My wife and I came up with baby names before we were even engaged, but I still don't blame people for naming their kids after video game characters if the name sounds normal. But giving your kid two first names? I don't cotton to that kind of behavior.

I talked my son into naming my granddaughter Mara Jade. Does that count.
That's just awesome, is what that is.
 
On the side note, I was named after a fictional character. Samantha from Bewitched. Obviously, not a video game character, but I figured I'd share that little fun fact. :p
 
The company I work for (for the next week anyway, I'm starting a new job on the 1st) run swimming lessons for children, and one of our current swimmers is a girl called Aerith

I did wonder if she was named after the FFVII character

She is. A girl I used to know from school named her baby Aeris (with an S). People do it. They are out there, and it's terrifying.
 
She is. A girl I used to know from school named her baby Aeris (with an S). People do it. They are out there, and it's terrifying.

Most people will think that its just a feminine form for Ares. Unless she goes around telling everybody that its from a video game character lol.
 
I had a friend named Mario when I was growing up. Ugh, his parents are disgusting and should feel terrible. How tacky can you be?
 
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