Baby name article

[Definitely]

One thing I don't understand is why African-American boys have to have "Le" in front of their first names, like LeMichael, LeSean, LeKevin, and my personal favorite, LeGarrette. Being of French descent Le is usually found in last names, like Lemieux, Lemaire, Lejeune, ect. The one I found really strange is the NFL Player Union rep DeMaurice Smith. Gee, what's wrong with Maurice Smith, like Maurice Richard?

Le and De, DeShawn, D'Brickashaw Ferguson is my personal favourite. (plays for the NY Jets)

 

[dblebassgirl27]

There is actually a girl in my high school named "Felonee" pronounced as you may guess as Felony...

 

[bass12]

I don't know the answer to this (I've wondered myself) but I'm imagining that perhaps it was common for slaves in the south to be given either "masters'" last names or simply whatever "local" names (first or last) were heard around. I'm not a historian though so I could be completely wrong...

Edit: this post was in response to Stratovani (in case that got missed).

 

[Rune Bivrin]

My name has always been unique (well, since my folks changed the last name from "Andersson"), but not strange. Rune is an old Norse name, and I'm pretty proud of it. I've never been taunted for it or given nick names. Bivrin, on the other hand, is made up and too simple to get right. I'm constantly sent letters with the last name augmented with random W:s, H:s and additional syllables. Even in cases where there is no reason what so ever there should have been any manual transcription of the name. Go figure... It's a constant source of family amusement.

However, for some reason my parents decided to name me and two of my older brothers with our "middle" names first, so I'm really "Per Rune Bivrin". Has a nice flow to the initials when writing a signature, but when I'm addressed in places like waiting rooms it's always as "Per ... Bivrin?". The ellipsis is the time span during which the poor nurse tries to unscramble the anagram that is my last name, and with the question mark quite audible.
After which there is an additional pause before I realise it's me they're asking for.

I'm considering legally dropping the "Per", as it has no particular significance or function for me.