The Name Game
Gideon
Meaning: Stump for a hand (Hebrew)
The story: Another Biblical name, Gideon refers to a judge who successfully led the Israelites in a battle against the Midianites.
Why it’s cringe-worthy: “A stump for a hand,” seriously? Need we say more? But despite its less-than-stellar meaning, Gideon has actually been on an upward rise in popularity among parents. To each their own, we say.
Campbell
Meaning: Crooked mouth (Gaelic)
The story: This rough-and-tumble Scottish name historically refers to a Highland clan and its most distinctive feature: a crooked mouth, of course. In Gaelic cam means “crooked” and béul means "mouth."
Why it’s cringe-worthy: This one speaks for itself.
Portia
Meaning: Pig (Latin)
The story: Portia is a Latin name, derived from the word porcus or porcius, which, as you may have figured out, means "pig."
Why it's cringe-worthy: We'd explain why this name's meaning is a bit of a bummer, but surely you don't have to ask.
MORE: Most Popular Baby Names
Kennedy
Meaning: Deformed Head (Gaelic)
The story: Kennedy is a form of the masculine Irish name Cinnéidigh, which divides into two parts: ceann, which means "head," and éidigh, which means ugly.
Why it's cringe-worthy: Babies have perfect heads, and we don't need Kennedys thinking otherwise when they find out the hidden meaning behind their name.
Cameron
Meaning: Crooked Nose (Scottish)
The story: Cameron comes from two words in the Gaelic language: cam, meaning "crooked," "bent" or "hook," and shron, meaning "nose."
Why it's cringe-worthy: Nothing like giving your child a complex about his appearance before he reaches grade school…
Lorelei
Meaning: Lurking Rock (German)
The story: Lorelei can be divided into two parts: the German verb lauern, which means "to lurk," and the Celtic work ley, which means "rock." It's also the name of a rock on the Rhine river in Germany.
Why it's cringe-worthy: According to German legend, Lorelei was a siren who lured men's ships toward a rocky section of the Rhine where they'd crash and die. A little diabolical for our taste.
