Friday, January 30, 2009

Beware of Boys With Unpopular Names





(Above: Juvenile delinquents.)

According to scientists at the University in Pennsylvania, boys with "unpopular" names are more likely to lead a life of crime. (Apparently, no one bothered studying whether unpopular names had the same impact on girls, 'cause everyone knows girls are never bad. Haha.)

Boys with common names, such as Michael and David are supposedly less likely to break the law than their oddly named counterparts. (If this is true, let's hope you never run into an Igor or Ignatius.)

Okay, this is all very amusing right? I thought so, until I came to the last sentence of this article:

"The findings could help officials identify individuals at high risk of committing or recommitting crime, leading to more effective and targeted intervention programs."

What?!?!? So people with weird names are now "individuals at high risk?" Why don't these scientists just leave kids alone and cure cancer or something?

More here if you're interested!

Thoughts?

44 comments:

dangerous said...

What? A name doesn't determine your insanity!Ok, I'm not normal and I've never met another person with my name, but "high risk" seems a bit much.

Thumb Biter said...

HAHAHAH
It's a good thing they didn't do the same tests on girls, because I prefer to lead a life of crime without any interference from dumb scientists :D

Kitty said...

Oo' no kidding... I guess girls with weird names like mine are safe XD

Anonymous said...

Ha oh gosh I got to tell my boyfriend that His name is Prior its a family name so thats why its so weird but his dad is friends with our govener so I don't think he will be doing any crimes anytime soon -nina

Patsee said...

Nina- You don't live in IL, do you?

Ren (All By MySHELF) said...

I don't think your name really has much to do with whether or not you'll commit a crime. I don't care what science says. :P

Anonymous said...

Well... I don't know... Some boys with strange names are like geniuses...

Then again, I had a kid in my class named Malcom who was a total freak.

Mags said...

I'm not crime filled and my name isn't wierd the scientist might have a piont

Grace said...

If that's true, it's a shame. A boy in my Japanese class is called Mungo, but is pronounced Mango (the "man" part is said like "man" in a Jamaican accent.) And he was so nice too!

Anonymous said...

*The Cat in the Closet*
Um, does anyone hear the word "stereotype"? And anyway, unpopular to who? Names that are unpopular in England, say, could be more popular in China.

Anonymous said...

0.o.... wow... this is.... INSANE!!!! my name is increadibly popular, but I'm way more dangerous than any Malfoy's or Goyle's (couldn't think of any originals) this is just stupid!!

Anonymous said...

Pastee I don't like in IL i live in North Carolina -Nina

Enigma said...

What a pointless study. They should spend time getting the facts as apposed to finding out who might be a possible criminal.

Anonymous said...

Some kids with uncommon names are already unpopular. Now the scientists are just making it worse by labeling them criminals.

Anonymous said...

I think this is maybe kind of racist? Because... what if a name is weird to someone in, say, Illinois, but not to someone in... Malawi? What's "weird?"

Some ethnic groups name their kids different things. So, if people are saying they're going to be looking for people with different names, are they just looking for people in different ethnic groups?

I think there's a name for that.

Anonymous said...

disgusting....... so it is the parents who place upon their children a life of crime? I have a friend/babysitter who almost named their kid Ebeneezer Fitch. Good thing they didint!

spiffy said...

That's just stupid. I have always thought names were cool, and I don't really think it has much influence on life of crime. Maybe they think that if you feel "left out" because of your name you have to punish the world for it.

Anonymous said...

I am one of the coolest kids in my school but I have a REALLY weird irish name. Plus, scientists are waisting their time focusing n stupid stuff like that! Cure a disease or something.

Anonymous said...

bogus. I wanna name my kids unusual and not-so-common names!
Stupid scientists...

I'm still gonna do it...

Anonymous said...

I didnt think scientists would sink that low. I mean, studying diseases is ok, but studying names is called get a life.
-Kelty ( Im the cool one with the weird name):)

Anonymous said...

By the way, why would scientists study this stuff anyway????
kelty

Cassie said...

Wow, don't the scientists have better things to do with their time???

Come on, so what if the majority of boy who commit crimes have odd names.

Now I guess if I want my *future* family to be left alone I'd better name my sons things like Joe and Fred.

Morals make a person, not their name!!!

Anonymous said...

Curing cancer or something is way better. But did anyone notice, Kaspar and Oona are both uncommon names and they both have criminal records. Not that that means anything . . .

Hidden said...

HAHAHAHA! funny... your name doesnt make you crazy! well maybe if you are overly sensitive about it, which you really shouldnt be haha. in my opinion, names should be unique anyway! high risk. psh.

falcon said...

the delinquent boys at my school are named Nick and Matt. Unless you count there last names, they arenen't that unusual.

PGW said...

I found a site with a list of names that teachers associate with trouble-makers, girls and boys. Same kinda thing, it works as well - at least for the worst kids at my school.
It works alright in Britain at least, because it's the chavs who choose the weirdest names for their kids, and it's the chavs kids who make the trouble.

Poison Pen said...

Ummm, is Macy an "okay" name, or am I doomed? :P Oh, wait. I'm a girl. Girls don't get in trouble. Silly me...XD

Irregular Kiki said...

Yeah, girls are always good! You can NEVER suspect us!

Girl: "It wasn't me! It was him!"
Adult: "Alright boy, why did you do it?"
Boy: "What?! It was her!"
Adult: "Yeah right, we all know it was you boy!"
Girl: "Hahaha sucker!!"

falcon said...

Irregular Kiki: that is so true! When somebody set off a stink bomb at our school, they made everyone sit down exactly where they were. Then they let the girls leave. hahaahahahah

UU said...

Way steriotypical! I mean, come on! Plus, what's "weird"?

UU said...

Ananka is a weird name - and she isn't really a criminal, she does illegal things, but it is for the good of NYC. So it's illegal, but not criminal. (There is a difference)

UU said...

Oh yeah, Falcon/Mae, I remember that! So, some person set off a stink bomb in out cafateria, and they made all the guys get down on their knees so they could "question" them, and all the girls in the line got to go away. Too funny. They never found out who did it, mabey they shoulda made the girls stay too! Ha ha, we NEVER get in trouble!

UU said...

OH yeah, and once I found out a coombanation for a guys locker, and I tried it out, and I got caught. (I really shouldn't of done that, what did I gain?) But the vice principal thought I did it because I had a crush on the guy and wanted to leave him a note! LOL.

eternal espionage said...

so did they ever go into detail on how they got these said, "results?"

I dont believe it... My best friend's name is river, and he is the nicest guy I know... He even opens the door for girls! (Odd thing, chivalry...)

Jenna said...

"Why don't these scientists just leave kids alone and cure cancer or something?" Ha! So you’re saying if a line of suspects consist of a Michael, Jordan, Henry, John, and Ferdinand, that poor Ferdinand would instantly be the prime suspect? That’s a shame.

cupcakedoll said...

Well not all scientists are the kind who study diseases, some of them study why people do things to make society safer and whatnot. I guess they have to check every factor that affects people including their names... boggles my mind though! 9_6 Half the time I can't even figure out why -I- do things!

Ashlee said...

Hey, does anyone remember Luz's boyfriend, Atilla? Or something like that. That's a weird name and she said "i'm dating a criminal genius!" Did Kirsten already know this??...

Air is Where said...

it's kinda true. the nice guys have normal names but the ones who are mean are named Kenan or Kenyan or their last name is really bad. But not always, because the nicest guy i've ever met is named Madison.

Anonymous said...

Y'know, I've always wondered what happened to Atilla. Any ideas?

Anonymous said...

Kirsten would know. He probably is secretly going to the shadow city because he works for the fu-tsang and is a spy for Sidonia

........or he is just weird.

all will be revealed in Kiki Number Three!!!!

Anonymous said...

i havent ever seen another kid with my name. i guess i am going insane!? poor me :(

liltomboyblue said...

I'm named after after a goddess of death, power, destruction, passion, the moon, and love. I have good grades and I don't get it trouble. Now.... hmmm....

Nina: I live in NC too! Awesome!

I love crazy names.

Anonymous said...

scientists. for people so smart they say things so dumb

42 said...

Look , my name is VERY unusual and Im considered a total geek at my school, theres someone I know named Chris whos gone to juvie 4 times!! and he's still in middle school!!!