Name prejudice

[Gymnophoria]

This is probably a strange thing to ask all of you lovely people, but I'm curious.
There's a user I noticed in passing on here with the same first name as someone who caused a lot of problems for me in the past. I saw the name and my automatic thought was "I don't want to talk to them." which is ridiculous since I'm sure they're a really nice person. But it's almost like a name prejudice. Does anyone else experience this?
If someone's abused/hurt you in the past you automatically don't like or trust anyone with the same name at first glance? Or am I just nuts?

[Dez]

I've kinda experienced this, but the other way around. A person refused to call me by my actual name, either Desiree or Dez, because it was the same name as a girl she knows and doesn't like. But I don't think I've ever been badly name prejudice as far as I know. I just met someone named Mary Beth and I had a very bad experience with her, and in October I'm meeting another Mary Beth so I'm kind of scared about meeting this one, though!

[MegaMadness]

Um not really sorry haha

[Revolution]

I've had similar experiences. Names label people, and I bet bad experiences cling onto that name. It sucks.

[Nicole!]

Sometimes I don't like talking to guys with the same name as my ex-boyfriend just because I don't like saying or hearing his name

[Magic.]

I've never had this, but it makes sense. We associate bad time with things, words / smells / tastes etc. And names are associative so they work too

[PutYourHeartsUp]

Yep. It goes for other stuff too. Like I saw a user with the same name as a family member and I automatically didn't want to talk to them in case they magically found out who I am even though I KNEW they weren't my family.

[Unicorn ♥✿]

No. Then I would hate you I don't associate names with my past xx

[Nomatophobia]

I do the same thing, Louise. We aren't the only ones who do that, there's another user on here that isn't fond of another user because of their name when it's clear they're not the same person. It's a psychological reaction, you know? It's something we never completely let go from childhood, associated a name with one single person.

[Le bonheur*]

I don't like talking to anyone with the same name as my ex boyfriend, who abused me. Partly because I don't like hearing his name or remembering anything about him.

[Fairy Poppins]

Yeah every time I come across someone with the same name as my abusive ex, I shudder a little.

Thankfully it's not a common name these days.

[semiunbalanced]

I've definitely done this a couple times. If I was hurt badly enough then the name sticks out to me. I try my hardest not to judge the person though. I have a few friends that have the same name as people who have hurt me in the past but I have very few friends that have the same name as people who have REALLY hurt me in the past. If that makes any sense. haha. You're not alone.

[Verità]

In real life, I've definitely done that. Although I'm sure there are probably a million exceptions to this rule, I've found that people I've met who have had similar name spellings to other people act similarly. But, like I said, there must be a million exceptions to the rule. The important thing is trying to keep an open mind about the person you're talking to.

[Celestial.]

You're definitely not the only one who does it.
I associate certain names with certain experiences, like being bullied or teased. There are some names I've come across and never met a nice person with the name, so I tend to automatically steer clear of them.
Logically it doesn't make much sense, but instinctively it does.

[Ryan1]

Actually I’ve had similar thoughts however it’s weird because mine was a little different. I had a crush on a girl named Stephanie back in highschool and now its like anytime I hear the name I see stars. Weird I know but it’s true to think that past experiences reflect what we think to date.

If I ever have a daughter I’m going to name her Stephanie because I like the name so much.

[Nomatophobia]

I wonder what fanfic writers do to characters whose name they have a bad association with? Did that make any sense? No? Ok, I'll give an example.

I have a bad experience with James, this one person. So in the Harry Potter fandom, I make his son out to be the product of incest or having an affair with his pervy professor, stuff people logically would not do. That makes me convulted, but that's just how much I despise James.

[Heartlines.]

Actually, it's hard for me to hear the name Scott floating around. Because that's my dads name and it just hurts too much.

[Maverick.]

I experience this same problem. My roommate has the same name of a bully that would always torment me during school. Whenever I say his name I think of the bully.

[Cabron]

I'm like this, but moreso with books. Like if there's a character with the same name as someone I dislike then I'll have a hard time actually concentrating on the story itself

[Awakening]

I do this. Certain emotions are tied into certain words for me. Usually I can overcome this pretty quick of they aren't anybody like the person that I think of when I hear the name. Although there has been a few times where I just couldn't get over it.

[Acheron]

Yeah, I get this sometimes. On the more positive side, though, I automatically like anyone called Jess.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

I get this for the names of ex boyfriends and sometimes names of bullies.

I once dated a Tom, it was a disaster, then I dated another Tom and it was another disaster, so anyone is named Tom and I definitely have a few prejudices before I talk to them, but I can usually put those aside quite easily. It's more a feeling of uneasiness because I expect them to be like the other Toms.

[Briana]

my ex friend, ashley, did some crappy stuff to me, so it's hard to hear that name and not think of her. So, yes, I understand.

[Intoxication]

My molester's name was Gary, and my theater director's assistant's name is Gerry. (Said the same way.) I always pause before I say his name, I always wanna go, "Mr. McKinnon," because I don't like the name Gary.

Also, this girl I don't like named Tiffany has forever ruined that name as far as appeal to me

With all due respect, I hope no one takes offense. I lurve you all

[xx little miss clumsy xx]

I can completely relate to what you are saying because this happens to me too, especially with people who were nasty to me in school or in previous jobs that I've had.

I've had bad experiences with Karen's & Ashling's, but I'm sure any TH'ers with those names are lovely!

[-A-]

Originally Posted by Acheron

Yeah, I get this sometimes. On the more positive side, though, I automatically like anyone called Jess.

I'm the complete opposite... Jess is the nick name of a guy I want to beat the living crap out of... So anytime I hear that name, even if its a girl, my hand automaticly goes into a first... Not the best habit

[It's Killing Me]

I have never had that kind of experience. But it makes sense.You are not nuts, I can tell you that.

[bailatyvm]

Hmmm, I have this problem tooo...but I've always found Olivia's and Claire's to be super nice (:
There's this one name that always ends up being a snob, but I can't remember it...

[Troubled_Heart]

I haven't found any names that put me off, however if I find someones username is a bit intimidating to me (which often means not at all), even if loads of people are friends with them I try and stay away because I'm scared by them :S

[ToGoOmniscient]

Yeah. I wouldn't call it name prejudice because if I hear the name of a guy from a band I know, I might think better of him or whatever. Sometimes I think badly, something I think goodly. But yeah I see what you're talking about.

[Audacious]

I go through this. I will never name my child Rebecca or Natasha because of past experiences from high school.

[sassygurlone]

I have this happen a lot. Any time hear the name Steve or Walter who were my step-dad and my grandma's boyfriend (both were abusive) my stomach ties in knots. I hate it when someone says those names it makes me feel so sick.