Product Description

Throughout history, people have named their children truly terrible things, and this book has the proof. Michael Sherrod and Matthew Rayback combed through U.S. federal census records to find the absolute worst names parents have given their children. The result is this hysterical new take on the baby name book.

Here is a small sample of the hilarious names inside:

Fanny Pack (this is just one of the many Fannys in this book)
Fanny Whiffer (we had to throw in one more Fanny!)
Post Office
Warren Peace
Rubella Graves
Nice Carr
Hell Hellickson

And then there are the names we thought Bart Simpson was making up as he prank called Moe's Tavern-- maybe he was really just looking at the census.
Hugh Jass
Al Caholic
Anita Bath
Amanda Hugginkiss
Maya Buttreeks

This book is also filled with original illustrations and great photos that take a stab at what some of these babies may have looked like. Bad Baby Names is truly a one-of-a-kind book that makes a great gift for a friend, family member, or just yourself. Either way, Bad Baby Names is sure to make you laugh.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #577041 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 122 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781593313142
• Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
• Notes:
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Author
Do you like your name? Loathe it? Wish you could have has some say in the matter, because if you had, you would have chosen something stronger, something sexier, something smarter - something more you?

Well, we're here to tell you, you could have done worse.

I've been a Michael so long, I can't imagine being anything else, but do you really think Emmy Royd or Ima Muskrat felt the same way?

When you work for a company that helps people find names in old documents you get sort of preoccupied with names. This book came from that preoccupation. What started as occasional emails passed around on quiet afternoons turned into us scouring records for names that stood out for...well, their unique stropping power. Trust me, when you come across Wild Looney or Cash Favors it gives you a pause. Others make you laugh out loud, titter, shake your head, gape, or otherwise simply boggle the imagination. You can't help but wonder what the Hineys were thinking when Dad suggested, "Hey honey, I know, let's name him Harry..."

Most of the names in this book have come from the United States Censuses, 1970-1930. Some came from other record sources, such as military or birth, marriage, and death records. All of the names, as near as we can tell, are authentic. AS the very least, they are the names people offered on official documents. And why would you lie about something like Maxim D. Wart/Pure Blow/Valentine Bender/Love Lee Couch/Love Youmans/Willie B. Long?

Good reading, and remember: a name is for life...

From the Back Cover
Real People. Real Names. Real Funny. We have the proof.

Here is just a sample: Warren Peace - Born in 1866. Son of Edward and Betsey Peace of Essex, Essex County, New York. Appears in the 1880 United States Federal Census.

Hades Fryher - Born in 1916. Daughter of Louis and Annabell Fryher of East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York. Appears in the 1920 United States Federal Census.

Mars Nix - Born in 1928. Son of Johnie and Tammie Nix of Franklin County, Alabama. Appears in the 1930 United States Federal Census.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Living Is Easy

Every day, 18 acres of pizza are eaten in America. Every day, 21,600 cans of SPAM are opened. Every day, you generate an average of 3.5 pounds of trash. Every day, you blink about 27,398 times and take around 23,000 breaths, while your blood travels about 168 miles, and your body destroys nearly 13 trillion blood cells.

Every day, Every Day, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1886 and worked in a shirt factory, probably did many of the same things we do every day: he got dressed (I assume), he left some place of residence, and he probably tried to get stuff done. Take a look at some other people who couldn't avoid the rigors of everyday life.

Name Brand

I've never really understood the saying, "He puts his pants on one leg at a time, like everyone else." What a strange equalizer, as though, if someone mastered the ancient and hidden mystery of putting on pants both legs at once, he or she would have the power to lord over the rest of us. Do you put your pants on one leg at a time? These people probably did:

Shirt Duggan
Shoe Miles
Pants Agars (had a brother named Poncho)
Coat Donner
Socks Brockington
Pumps Duke
Crinoline Howl
Cardigan Thomas
Fedora H. Spurlock
Jeans Owens
Dress Green
Chemise Green (as far as I can tell, not related to Dress)

Customer Reviews

A hilarious and astounding piece of history
I've read a number of baby name books, but it never occurred to me that among them would be one dedicated to the WORST names possible.
Some of the names in here defy description. It's amazing to think of people actually being named things like Evil Blessing! And they're all from the U.S. Census!

I had a great time reading this with my kids on a recent roadtrip. Highly recommended to all parents: think of the names you could have saddled your kids with!

This is seriously funny!
I've read books over the years about what to name the baby, but have never seen a book that is factual and reviews some of the worst names in the U.S. Census. I find it difficult to believe that parents could look at their beautiful baby and name them Wrath or Sloth, but it seems they did. Surely the mothers were not awake when these names were bestowed! A great book and one that will make you laugh when you reflect on someone else's misery!

Hilarious - and a great gift for a baby shower!
What a hilarious book! A friend gave it to me, and I was howling not only about the names but over the great pictures in the book, too. And if you think you have a reason to hate your parents, you'll think again after seeing names such as Hunter Fisher, Acne Fountain, Lotta Bull, and Nighten Day.

A perfect baby shower gift!