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 most controversial monikers that should be avoided due to their negative 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, while others bristle at its snobbish sound.
Nameberry experts claim that it also carries negative connotations due to the UK’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was called “Tony Bliar” by critics.
Religious monikers should be also be avoided, such as Azriel.
While it may sound undeniably cool, it could seem “strange” to others due to its ties to the angel of death in some religions, similar to that of Damian, Hades, Leviathan, Loki, Ares and Lucifer.
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 due to its usage by people outside of the religion.
Similarly, Cohen, meaning “priest,” is a sacred Jewish surname to signify members of the kohanim, distinguished religious leaders and descendants of Aaron.
Its use outside of its spiritual significance could be considered inappropriate due to its connotations within Judaism.
“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 religiously-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. At the time, Mason-Dixie Line marked the border between free states and geography where people were still enslaved.
Gunner — as well as Caliber, Cannon, Colt, Remington and Wesson, to name a few — could also be controversial due to the ongoing debate over gun control.
Harvey should also be avoided due to its associations to disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein or 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 colonization and racism surround the use of geographical monikers, such as Asia, Kenya or Malaysia, according to Nameberry, and indigenous-associated names, such as Dakota, Cree or Cheyenne.
Nameberry also advised against baby names with associations to politics, television series and animals, as well as the moniker Karen, due to its viral use as an insult.