Meet Donwanna and Doneeda: The Twin Names That Left Everyone Speechless!
Naming your child: a joyous journey or an agonizing ordeal? After all, that name is like a lifelong tattoo—except you don’t get to choose the design (unless, of course, they grow up and decide to change it, thank goodness). But what happens when parents go off-script and unleash names so wild, so unapologetically bonkers, that you wonder if their baby registries came with a warning label? Recently, a NICU nurse ignited a fascinating—and hilarious—TikTok thread showcasing some of the most delightfully unhinged baby names out there. From twins named Abracadabra and Alacazam to a kid reportedly called Rooster (yes, really), these names don’t just break the mold—they obliterate it.
But beyond the chuckles and eyebrow-raises, is there a method to this madness? That’s where Dr. Valerie Fridland, a sharp sociolinguist and author, steps in to unpack the weird, wonderful, and sometimes downright problematic world of unique baby names. Do names “fit” us like a bespoke suit, or are they just random labels tossed into the cosmic hopper? And how much do these quirky monikers shape a kid’s life, identity, and yes—future success?
Ready to dive into a collection that will make you laugh, gasp, and maybe reconsider your own baby name list? Buckle up, because this ride’s got more twists and turns than a soap opera plot.
Choosing a name for your child is not an easy task. After all, it is one that they will have to walk around with for the rest of their lives; unless, of course, they take matters into their own hands and change it.
Well, today, we want to shed light on some of the unique ones. Unhinged, even. Shared by people after a NICU nurse started a discussion about it on TikTok, they comprised quite a colorful collection, which we have put on the list below. So if you’re curious about what unhinged names some people think fit their child or what names some children might want to change later in life, scroll down to find them below and feel free to head straight to the comment section if you, too, know a person with a rather unique name.
On the list below, you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with a sociolinguist, professor in the department of English at the University of Nevada, and author of Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English, Dr. Valerie Fridland, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about unique names.
Image credits: victoriaaa_u
Education here. And so many names but one of my favorites, a little girl named Hella Shady.
According to Dr. Valerie Fridland, a sociolinguist, professor in the department of English at the University of Nevada, and author of Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English, the idea that names need to “fit” an object or person has been around since antiquity.
“In Plato’s discussion of language in the Cratylus, Socrates suggests names are not simply arbitrary labels we give things but emerge from some quality of what is being named. In other words, Socrates argues that names must capture some natural aspect or sense of the person or thing that is being named,” she explained in an interview with Bored Panda.
Dental hygienist 🙋♀️we had a patient named Shadynasty. Pronounced: Sha-dynasty not shady nasty like the dentist said. 🥲
not a nurse but worked on postpartum floor; twins abracadabra & alacazam 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
“Early on, kids don’t like to be different from other kids and, in elementary school, a very unique name can make a kid stand out or become a target for teasing,” she said. “When we are older, though, a distinctive name can be something that sets you apart and makes you memorable to those you meet as they have an element of unexpectedness and surprise that can ramp up attention.”
“However, the research on how people with unique names feel later in life is a bit mixed, with some research suggesting that common names tend to be a safer bet in predicting success later in life.”
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