Name-related facts, weird names, celebrities' real names

In some tribal societies, children aren't considered born until they are named.

Most people in the Western Hemisphere have names from the Bible. Women outnumber men, even though there are 3037 male names in the Bible and just 181 female names in the Bible.
The New Testament is a more popular source of names than the Old Testament.

The practice of the Pope choosing a new name upon election began in 844 AD when a priest by the name of Boca de Porco (Pig's Mouth) was elected. He changed his name to Sergious II.

Many people name their kids after saints... like Tamjesdegerd, Borhedbesheba, and Jafkeranaegzia.

Praise-God Barebones had a brother called If-Christ-Had-Not-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Wouldst-Have-Been-Damned Barebones, called Damned Barebones for short.

Terry William Clark is listed in the phone book under his new name - God.

Tonsilitis Jackson has brothers and sisters called Meningitis, Appendicitis, and Peritonitis.

Harry S Truman's middle name is just an S. His parents decided upon this to be so because they wanted to please both grandfathers, Shippe and Solomon.

Babies called Pepsi and Cola were born in 1979.

Mr. Homer Frost named his children Winter Night, Jack White, Snow, Dew, Hail, and Cold.

Mr. Wind named his children North, South, East, and West.

On July 30, 1980, Good Morning America announced that Richard Nixon had arrested Jimmy Carter in Detroit.

Mr. and Mrs. Bra, from South Dakota, named their two daughters Iona ("I own a") and Anita ("I need a").

Zachary Zzzzra was the last person in the phonebook until Vladimir Zzzzzzzabakov took his place. He changed his name to Zzzzzzzzzzra.


Professions vs. Names

Dr. Zoltan Ovary: gynecologist
John Hotvet: Veterinarian
Mr. A. Moron: Commissioner of Education
Reverend Christian Church and Revered God
Cardinal Sin: archbishop
Mr. Groaner Digger: undertaker
Mr. I. C. Shivers: iceman
Ms. Justine Tune: Chorister
Major Minor: US Army
Mrs. Screech: Singing teacher
Mr. Vroom: Motorcycle dealer
Dr. McNutt: Head of a mental hospital
Dr. Paul Looney: Psychiatrist
Mr. Vice: Arrested 820 times, convicted 412 times
Dr. Slaughter: Surgeon
Dr. Needles: Pediatrician
Dr. Bonebreak: Chiropractor


Celebrities' names before and after

Gerald Ford: Leslie Lynch King, Jr.
Muhammad Ali: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
Yogi Berra: Lawrence Peter Berra
Lewis Carroll: Charles Lutwidge Dodgeson
Agatha Christie: Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller
Mark Twain: Samuel Clemens
Woody Allen: Allen Konigsberg
Jon Bon Jovi: Jon Bongiovi
David Bowie: David Jones
Nicholas Cage: Nicholas Coppola
Chevy Chase: Cornelius Crane Chase
Cher: Cherilyn Sarkisian
Alice Cooper: Vincent Damon Furnier
Kirk Douglas: Issur Danielovich Demsky
Bob Dylan: Robert Zimmerman
Whoopi Goldberg: Caryn Johnson
Billie Holiday: Eleanora Fagan
Harry Houdini: Ehrich Weiss
Tom Jones: Thomas Jones Woodward
Marilyn Monroe: Norma Jean Anderson Mitchell
Demi Moore: Demi Gynes
Ringo Starr: Richard Starkey
Sting: Gordon Matthew Sumner
Tina Turner: Annie Mae Bullock
Rudolph Valentino: Rudolpho Alphonzo Raffaelo Pierre Filibut Guglielmo di Valentina D'Antonguolla


Just plain strange names

Cigar Stubbs
Ladorise Quick
Mad Laughinhouse
Twila Szwrk
Lester Chester Hester
Effie Bong
Benjamin E. Dymshits
Santa Beans
Bozy Ball
Che Che Creech
Wong Bong Fong
Peter Rabbitt
Birdie Fawncella Feltis
Fairy Blessing
Dillon C. Quattlebaum
Sweetie Belle Rufus
Peculiar Smith
W. Wesley Muckenfuss
Troy Mumpower

Source: The Very Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide World by Bruce Lansky