Names That Will Curse Your Child

Never use these, ever. (Unless you are trying to curse your child, if you are go ahead.)
  1. Adolf
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "noble wolf"
    • Description:

      Adolf may have been a Swedish royal name but the terrible dictatorship of Adolf Hitler has ruled out this name Adolf for any sensible parent. In the US last year, there were more than 100 boys' given the Spanish variation Adolfo and a handful given the old school Adolphus, but none named Adolf or Adolph....thank goodness.
  2. Apple
    • Origin:

      English nature name
    • Meaning:

      "apple"
    • Description:

      When people talk about unique baby names, Apple is often one of the first examples they mention. Apple made international headlines when Gwyneth Paltrow chose this wholesome fruit name for her daughter. Many have called it ridiculous, but we have to admit, we find it appealing enough to list as one of our top cute baby names. Rocker Bob Geldof named one of his daughters Peaches; Banana Yoshimoto is a hipster writer. Another choice in this genre is the luscious Plum, though for different reasons, neither Prune nor Cherry will fly.
  3. Baby
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Usually reserved as a term of endearment, Baby is likely used as a name when parents have yet to choose an official one but need to register their baby. For a girl, it can be considered a nickname for Barbara too.
  4. Banana
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.
  5. Bunny
    • Origin:

      Nickname deriving from a variety of B names
    • Description:

      Bunny may be adorable, but is it really enough of a name for your daughter? Plus if Buffy is fluffy, what would that make Bunny? Still, Bunny as a baby name is in the spotlight since Bryan Adams named his little girl Mirabella Bunny.
  6. Christmas
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Christmas is a day name long and quietly used as a name for babies born at Christmas. Prettier and more modern than Noel or Noelle.
  7. Dick
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Richard
    • Meaning:

      "dominant ruler"
    • Description:

      Dick was a once-common short form of Richard; replaced by Rick or Richie, and finally by the full name itself. Rude meaning -- make that two rude meanings -- pretty much knocks this one out of consideration.
  8. Dickie
    • Dix
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "tenth"
      • Description:

        Once a birth order name, now might work as a cool x-ending nickname. But be warned that it sounds very close to an unfortunate slang term.
    • Donald
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "proud chief"
      • Description:

        Donald has been used for centuries in Scotland, where the Macdonald clan is one of the most ancient and where there have been six early Scottish kings by that name. Donald was a Top 20 name throughout most of the early twentieth century.
    • Earth
      • Origin:

        English word name
      • Meaning:

        "earth"
      • Description:

        An early African-American name, along with variation Eartha.
    • Edit
      • Fanny
        • Origin:

          Diminutive of Frances
        • Meaning:

          "free man"
        • Description:

          As this word is less often used to mean derriere, it becomes more possible to view Fanny as the kind of appealingly quaint nickname name, like Josie and Nellie, that many parents are favoring now.
      • Farmer
        • Origin:

          Occupational name
        • Meaning:

          "farmer"
        • Description:

          Shepherd is soaring in the charts, so why not Farmer? Perhaps because, unlike some of the occupation names that are so popular today, it is still an everyday word. Even so, if you're looking for a name that fits modern trends but no one else is using, Farmer could be the one.
      • Gay
        • Origin:

          French
        • Meaning:

          "joyful"
        • Description:

          The meaning of this word flipped from "cheerful" to "homosexual" during the twentieth century, and it's now almost certainly too loaded to sit comfortably as a baby name. Which is a shame as sound-wise it's very appealing, just a short step away from Faye, May, and Rae.
      • Gaylen
        • Gaylord
          • Origin:

            French
          • Meaning:

            "brisk, high-spirited"
          • Description:

            Best left on the old southern plantation, sipping his mint julep.
        • Generosity
          • Origin:

            Word name
          • Description:

            Full-hearted new virtue choice, though five syllables is a lot to handle.
        • Generous
          • Gertrude
            • Origin:

              German
            • Meaning:

              "strength of a spear"
            • Description:

              Could cute nickname Gertie, remembered as cute five-year-old Drew Barrymore in E.T., revive the long shunned Gertrude?