User-created list
Most Embarrassing Names on Nameberry
Across 4 pages
of 4
About this list
The names
Hyman
Anglicized variation of Chaim
"life"
Hyman was commonly used by first-generation Jewish immigrants to Anglicize Chaim, but similarities to terms like heinie and hymen have taken it out of the realm of modern possibility. The original…
Gaylord
French
"brisk, high-spirited"
Best left on the old southern plantation, sipping his mint julep.
Ham
Hebrew
"hot, warm"
Along with Shem and Japheth, a son of Noah with a name that's almost never used -- for more obvious reasons than those of his brothers.
Dick
Diminutive of Richard
"dominant ruler"
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…
Oddie
Variation of Odie, English or German
"of the valley; wealthy"
We can't get past the odd part of this name.
Wood
English word name
Actor Wood Harris, best known for his role as Avon Barksdale in The Wire , brought this one into the lexicon. Wood is Harris's nickname -- his real name is Sherwin David -- but it's the name he's…
Hortense
Latin
"of the garden"
Hortense is actually the French feminine form of Hortensia, the name of a strong, politically active early Roman woman. Hortense began to be used in the English-speaking world in the nineteenth…
Johnson
English
"son of John"
No competition for Jackson.
Dorcas
Greek
"doe, gazelle"
Classic name used by the Romans, the Puritans, and the Bard, but pretty much taboo today due to the objectionable connotations of both its front and back ends.
Hung
Hung is a masculine name with significant usage in Vietnamese culture, where it's pronounced with a rising tone unlike its English pronunciation. In Vietnamese, Hùng means 'brave' or 'heroic' and…
Latrina
Latrina is a feminine name that emerged in American naming patterns in the mid-20th century. The name may have developed as a variation of names like Katrina (a form of Katherine, meaning 'pure')…
Willy
Diminutive of William
See WILLIE.
Dink
Dink is an uncommon masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may have originated as a nickname for names like Dominic or as a short form of Dinkins. In some contexts, it has been used as a…
Oral
Variation of Aurelius or Oriol, or English word name
"golden; spoken"
Possibly inspired by golden names, Oriol and Aurelius, or by the word oral, meaning "spoken", Oral is not one that would work in a modern English-speaking context. Too medical and too sexual, it did…
Fanny
Diminutive of Frances, English from Latin
"from France; free man"
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.
Gay
French
"joyful"
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…
Brain
Misspelling of Brian
Brain is not a name, it's a misspelling of the long-popular Brian. What's really astonishing is not that it made the Top 1000 at all but that it hung on there for 25 years, from 1965 through 1989,…
Anis
Anis is a delicate feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Arabic, it means "friendly" or "companion," while in Hebrew it can mean "gathering" or "harmony." The name also refers to the star…
Arsen
Arsen is a strong masculine name with ancient roots, predominantly used in Armenian, Russian, and Eastern European cultures. Derived from the Greek name Arsenios, meaning 'virile' or 'strong,' it has…
Asser
Asser is a masculine name with ancient roots. It originates from Hebrew, where it was spelled 'Asher' and meant 'happy' or 'blessed'. The name appears in the Bible as one of Jacob's sons and one of…