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When it comes to playing the name game, there are some rules you just shouldn’t break, according to the experts.
Nameberry, a baby naming site, has revealed the controversial monikers that should most be avoided due to tnegative associations, offensive roots or the fact that they’re awkward in practice.
Starting with Adonis, a nod to the lover of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, writer Emma Waterhouse warned new parents to stay away from virtue-associated titles, citing the names Grace, Joy and Divine.
While Adonis is associated with the epitome of masculine beauty, it’s “a gamble,” Waterhouse writes, to bank on a newborn’s future looks, suggesting that “it could be an awkward name to wear for someone who doesn’t fit the dictionary definition.”
Honey is another “cutesy” but downright “awkward” name for the workplace or school.
Sounding more fit for a pet than a human, other “cute” names flagged by Nameberry include Pip, Teddy, Sonny, Kitty, Goldie and Coco.
Meanwhile, Blair — of Waldorf or “Witch Project” fame — is loved for its single-consonant chicness, but others bristle at the snobbish connotations.
Nameberry experts claim that it also carries negative associations due to former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who was called “Tony Bliar” by critics.
Religious monikers should be also be avoided, such as Azriel.
While it might sound cool to some, it could seem “strange” to others due to being a version of the name given to “angel of death” figures in Islam, Christianity and Sikhism.
Bodhi has become popular among A-listers — take Bodhi Soleil, daughter of Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed, or Bodhi Ransom Green, son of Meghan Fox and Brian Austin Green, for example.
But its ties to Buddhism as a term meaning “enlightenment” have sparked debate about its usage by people outside the religion.
Similarly, Cohen, meaning “priest,” is a sacred Jewish surname that refers to members of the kohanim, distinguished religious leaders.
As such, its use as a given name and divorced from its religious implications could be considered inappropriate.
“However, Cohen has risen significantly in recent years, boosted by its appealing sound and cool surname style,” according to Waterhouse. “But its ascent is now starting to slow — perhaps a sign that some parents are thinking twice before choosing such a polarizing baby name.”
Other spiritually-associated monikers, such as Messiah, Saint, Bishop, Torah and Veda, are also frowned upon.
Monikers that have problematic or violent connotations should be avoided as well, according to Nameberry.
Dixie, for one, carries racist roots — hence the name change of the Dixie Chicks to simply The Chicks.
“Dixie” referred to the states comprising the Confederacy during the Civil War.
Gunner — as well as Caliber, Cannon, Colt, Remington and Wesson, to name a few — might trigger controversy due to the ongoing debate over gun control.
Harvey should also be avoided, thanks to disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and Hurricane Harvey.
The baby name experts also argued that geographical names are ill-fated — namely, India, which is more popular overseas due to its “cosmopolitan feel.”
Issues of racism have been raised around geographically-inspired monikers, such as Asia, Kenya or Malaysia, according to Nameberry, or tribal names, such as Dakota, Cree or Cheyenne.
Nameberry also advised against baby names associations with politics, television series and animals, as well as the moniker Karen, due to its viral use as an insult.
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