Creative Focus

BAD BABY NAMES

Exercise: Names are like brands on human beings. They can determine how people are treated and who they become as adults. For this exercise, come up with the worst baby name you can in each of the given categories. Maybe it's just the sound of the word that's unappealing, or perhaps it's the weird or troubling connotations it implies. For consistency, imagine the baby's last name is "Smith." And feel free to change the spelling of your names to make them extra obnoxious ("k" for "c," etc.).  Then share how they might turn out as adults based on the name. 

Why: Nominative determinism is the hypothesis that people gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. In a study of 1990 census data, researchers found that Dentists' top male and female names were Dennis and Denise respectively. Shaping perceptions through naming demands several creative and analytical skills. First you empathize with expectations, then you need to use your creative and cultural awareness to disrupt them. Then you employ your linguistic chops to find the words that sound and feel just right (or, in this case… wrong!). 

Enhances Creative Focus which includes combining creativity with logic.

Example:

BAD BABY NAME

Appetizer: Kalamari Smith 

Job, Quirks, Personality: Highly extroverted manager of a seafood restaurant, excellent swimmer, loves socializing and meeting new people. Has a special connection with animals and illegible handwriting. 

BAD BABY NAMES

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BAD BABY NAMES

Three new “Smith” babies have just been delivered and you’re in a rush to name them all. Give them the worst names you can think of in each of the following categories. Share some insights into how this might affect who they become as an adult...