"Destiny"

[imthelonely-one.livejournal.com]

My best friend is pregnant, and I really want to support her, but she is seriously considering naming her daughter this and I just... It seems awfully trashy to me. Her family and aquaintences like it, but that doesn't surprise me seeing as how she lives in a super white trash housing complex. I really want to convince her that naming her kid something like "Destiny" "Kaighlee" or "Mercedes" etc. will NOT be doing the poor girl any favours. But at the same time, I really don't want to seem pretentious? 

It's not that, I just know that name descrimination is real, and I don't want my best friend's little girl to be held back in life because she thinks it "sounds cute". Should I just butt out? I keep suggesting alternatives but I don't know. Maybe I should just leave it alone.

Oh, and sorry if anyone here happens to love that name, or named their daughter that!

Comments

[schexyschteve.livejournal.com]

Also this. So much classism in the post.

[the-pyre.livejournal.com]

Devil's Advocate:

Classism exists, it's real.

I think the OP has good intentions, and yeah, a name like Destiny can be indicative of someone's class- whether it's real or perceived.

[imthelonely-one.livejournal.com]

This is what I'm trying to say. I don't think my friend is white trash, although she does live in a white trash neighbourhood. I don't know what else you would call a bunch of people living on welfare with 5 kids they all had under the age of 25 in a run down, cockroach infested building, while spending all their government money on cigarettes and booze and going out to "party" every night leaving their kids to fend for themselves. I'm not going to lie and say those people are classy, because they're not. If it offends someone, so be it. I'm not going to act like I approve of that sort of lifestyle.

[the-pyre.livejournal.com]

Yeaaah you lost me here.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

I totally knew people were going to be offended by the "white trash" comment but seriously - being white trash is a reflection more of behavior and choices (as opposed to something someone was naturally born with - you're not calling them white trash JUST BECAUSE they're in a lower economic class), and I personally make no apologies for judging people based on behavior. That's earned judgement. Just my two cents, but you have my support here.

[deer-lanterns.livejournal.com]

I like you. I'm tired of people being so PC that they can't point out something truthful.

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

YES! I completely agree with you. There's a difference between unnecessarily offending people or just pointing out a fact. Political correctness goes a little too far sometimes.

[imthelonely-one.livejournal.com]

thank you! just like you said, i fully believe rich people can be trashy too. just look at lindsay lohan :)

[nimnod.livejournal.com]

I read a research paper somewhere saying that because classism does exist, there is evidence to suggest that people with names associated with "lower classes" are discriminated against by teachers and in the job market. If those findings are accurate, I guess there is reason to want a kid to have a name that gives them the greatest chances in life.

My neice's friend got pregnant at 16 and liked the name Summer, but wanted it to be quirky, and called her "Summa". I can't tell you how many people hear her name and go "Haha, was your mum a teenage mother by any chance?". It's a bit unpleasant for Summa.

[summer-mommy.livejournal.com]

Bahaha!

[satunian.livejournal.com]

Perfect example. White trash extraordinaire.

[blosmbee.livejournal.com]

Just because it exists doesn't mean we should shrug our shoulders when we encounter it. I don't think the OP intended to come off in the way she did, but I hope next time she will take a step back and realize a person's worth is not tied to their economic status when making comments about names, neighborhoods, etc.