I grew up with three names - first, middle, and last - like most of the population. It wasn't bad enough that my actual first name sounded like someone's grandmother but my parents somehow decided that they'd call me "Bunny" instead. Now, there's no connection at all - it appears to have been one of those arbitrary decisions that I had to learn to live with.

Today the BBC News ran an article stating that Italy's top court has banned a couple from naming their son Vernerdi (which means Friday) saying that such a "ridiculous" name could expose the boy to mockery. The court even went so far as to declare the boy's name to be Gregorio, after the saint's day on which he was born.

I wish I had a dime for every time kids made fun of my true first name.



Hollywood is filled with wacky names:

AUDIO SCIENCE
Parent: Actress Shannyn Sossamon
Birth date: May 29, 2003

BANJO
Parents: Actress Rachel Griffiths & husband Andrew Taylor
Birth date: November 22, 2003

DENIM
Parents: Singer Toni Braxton & husband Keri Lewis
Birth date: December 2, 2001
Wacky named sibling: Diezel

DIXIE DOT
Parents: UK TV personality Anna Ryder Richardson & husband Colin MacDougall
Birth Date: April 7, 2003
Wacky named sibling: Bibi Belle

FIFI TRIXIBELL
Parents: Live Aid founder Bob Geldof & UK TV personality Paula Yates
Birth date: March 31, 1983
Wacky named siblings: Pixie & Peaches Honeyblossom

GOD'ISS LOVE STONE
Parents: Rapper Lil' Mo & husband Al Stone
Birth Date: February 24, 2005
Wacky named sibling: Heaven

JERMAJESTY
Parents: Singer Jermaine Jackson & now ex-wife Alejandra
Birth date: 2000

PHINNEUS & HAZEL
Parents: Actress Julia Roberts & Camera man husband Danny Moder
Birth Date: November 28, 2004

PILOT INSPEKTOR
Parents: Actor Jason Lee & girlfriend Beth Riesgraf
Birth date: September 28, 2003

PIRATE
Parents: Korn frontman Jonathan Davis & porn star wife Deven Davis
Birth date: March 18, 2005

POPPY HONEY
Parents: TV Chef Jamie Oliver and wife Julie Oliver
Birth date: March 18, 2002
Wacky named sibling: Daisy Boo

PUMA
Parent: Singer Erykah Badu
Birth date: July 5, 2004
Wacky named sibling: Seven

REBEL
Parents: Director Robert Rodriguez & wife Elizabeth Avellan
Wacky named siblings: Racer, Rocket, & Rogue

REIGN BEAU
Parents: Actor Ving Rhames & wife Deborah Reed
Birth date: September 21, 2000
Wacky named sibling: Freedom
via

Funny thing is, my first name is now considered "cool." Maybe little Fifi Trixibelle will eventually find her name to be cool, too. Nah!