Why People Give Their Kids "Ghetto Baby Names"
A friend of mine recently allowed me a peek into his high school yearbook. Perusing the pages, I was astounded at some of the names I saw. Many of them required me to spend several seconds sounding out the syllables. And after doing so, I actually felt silly and slightly embarassed. It made me wonder what the parents of these children were thinking when they filled out their offsprings' birth certificates.
Why the Weird Name?
There are some theories floating around as to why particularly African American parents feel the need to ascribe extraordinary first names to their offspring. During the Civil Rights Movement and shortly after, there was a huge surge in what is known as "Black Pride" (Remember James Brown's motto: Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud). People in African American communities across the country were getting in touch with their African roots. Many mothers and fathers during this time felt the need to express pride in their heritage by passing down African names (and derivatives of those names) to their children. As a result, this is why I was given the name I have, Ayanna, which means "beautiful flower" in the Swahili language. My mother actually chose to augment the name with an additional "n" in the middle, as the original name is spelled A-y-a-n-a. Over the years, this name and its alternate spelling have caught on. Where I was once the only Ayanna for miles, there are now tons of them in all walks of life, in seemingly every zip code.
But during the 1980's and 1990's---all the way until today, something happened. Those derivatives of the regal names reached farther and farther away from their origin. Black mothers began adding strange syllables and assigning alternate spellings to the simplest of names, until things got completely out of hand. Suddenly, multi-syllabled versions of names that end in 'ika', 'ante', 'avious', and 'quisha', were popping up on birth certificates everywhere. In an effort to be different, parents were actually making things worse by concocting names that ultimately sounded like diseases.
The "Ghetto Baby Name": Cause and Effect
If you think that there are no repercussions to having a five syllable name with six vowels, think again. In fact, ask the polysyllabic job applicant who has just received her fifth turn-down letter in a week. As unfair as it is, ascribing these kinds of names can make it extremely difficult for children later on down the line. While in school, people may find the name amusing or coquettish. But unfortunately, in the real world, hiring managers and other persons in positions of authority may attach a negative stigma to these names, deciding to pass these applications over in favor of someone who seems a bit more normal (and perhaps less "black"). Even one of the most powerful women in the world, Condoleezza Rice (whose name is actually a derivative of the Italian phrase meaning "with sweetness") has undergone public flack for having amongst all things an unusual and awkward sounding name.
People all over the world choose to assign their children unconventional names for the sake of providing a sense of identity. But when parents (of any ethnicity) go too far, there are usually repercussions. Regrettably, we still live in a society that places much emphasis on the exterior. In the issuing of "ghetto baby names", parents do not realize that they are making it easier for their children to be discriminated against even before being seen. We live in a free country, and there is certainly nothing wrong with choosing to utilize a bit of creativity in the naming of one's child. However, it might help the parents just a bit, if they would consider what it will sound like to call an 85 year old woman, "LaMonicanikita Renee-Nicole Jackson."
Published by Ayanna Guyhto - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment
Transplanted New Yawwwker (Bronx, NY), now living in fabulous Atlanta - plunged into the music industry several years ago; Indie Flick Junkie, lover of all things paranormal--who has a penchant for mindless... View profile
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70 Comments
Post a Commentit's amazing, I don't understand why people will except a weird name like Bobby-Anne or Paris for white people but for black people to name there child something out of the box it's ghetto. I don't think people understand that a name like Tatiana is common outside of the black community as well. I can understand the reason why most people flinch at the sound of a name like Latiqua. If you associate names with mild tones of racism, anybody would, especially the race it's pointed at. Way should i name MY child based on social assistance. You say that if I name my child something like that, I'm setting them up to fail but that's not true. It's the ignorant bigots that do that. To not hire someone based on their name goes against a persons right. It's like saying to someone "You can't be the president cause your name is Barack".
We live in a day and age where no one wants to be normal and black people have it bad.they give thier children tongue twister names to make them stand out,only to have their names have a negative affect.My people live in the now not taking into consideration the future of their children.i'm a black middle class southerner in his mid 40's and i think it is a conspiracy to keep the black children in the ghetto,i don't think i will a black billionare or successfull politician with a name like Q'vontillavious-DeAryl smith.
I think that your name ,Ayanna, is beautiful I think its empowering to give your child an African name. My only issue is when people assume that African names like Keisha are ghetto. There is a difference between having an African name and a ghetto name. Furthermore people need to realize that this is not something that only black people do, white people have some weird names too. I just have a problem when people assume that Blacks are the only ones that give their kids weird names, when these white celebrities give their kids weird names like apple no one says that they won't be able to get a job or that they are ghetto, why is that! Everything should be fair dont call it ghetto when a black person does it but when a white person does it its unique or cool. With that being said, its a shame that people give their kids names like that. But the bigger issue is that everyone assumes, and is therefore compliant with, the idea that if your child has a name that is identified as black
Tom, you are blatantly prejudiced. Your rude comments are completely OVER THE TOP! If you are serious in your choice of words, you are a complete moronic Bigot. I am white and I'm not at all anywhere near you in disliking ANY race. You need an attitude adjustment. By the way, I know who you are. Your comment about being bussed to Wilmington gave you away!
I think it is because monkies deserve monkey names. My question is why can't black people say the word "ask"? Why is it always axe? I don't think it has to do with their big fat monkey lips.
I hate my name and I am mad at my mother for burdening me with it. I have no idea what it means or any significance that it has. I'm sure that she made it up. I've never seen it anywhere else but on my birth certificate. I am 17 years old and on the day of my 18th birthday I intend to change it to something more sensible. I am black but I know that my name has nothing to do with Africa or any other nationality that I know of. My mother admits that it has no personal meaning to her. That is how I know that she made it up. If she gets mad when I change it, I don't care. She obviously wasn't thinking of my future when she stuck me with it. I'm glad that so many people realize the foolishness of this practice.
WOW Alan, you hit the nail on the head with your comments. I agree 100% with you. These people perpetuate all of their bad traits and pass them on generation after generation. And the weird names have a whole lot to do with it. It's a pity, but it is the truth and it is undeniable. Such a waste. PLEASE STOP with these foolish names. It does no good whatsoever to try and make a child stand out by burdening him/her with a name that will hold them back in a normal social society. There is a saying "It is What it Is". Boy, isn't that the truth?
Watch the Maury show at any time and you will see what the people with these ridiculous names look like and act like. You will also see what horrible predicaments that they are in and how shallow and ignorant they seem as well as how terrible their values are. It is a fact that can't be denied. All you have to do is watch and listen. There is a science called nomenclature. It shows how a persons name affects their life in general. After seeing these people with these "ghetto" names and the predicaments they have gotten into, I firmly believe the names have a lot to do with it!
Don't black people know that when they handicap their child with a made-up or really ethnic sounding name that they are basically making them unemployable for life?
I will not name my child any weird ghetto names at all. I want my child to be able to get a job. I know it shouldn't matter, but it does. Some jobs will not even take a good look at a resume if they see a name they can't pronounce. My name is Joanne Torku.