A father who chose to name his sons after iconic James Bond villains as a form of retaliation against his wife believes that they will not face bullying due to the prevalence of unique names like Tarquin in their upscale neighborhood of Notting Hill, London. William Woodhams and Annabel Simpson’s children, Stanley Beats Scaramanga Woodhams and Basil Groove Blofeld Woodhams, reside in the affluent area. The decision to incorporate the Bond villain names stemmed from a disagreement over Stanley’s middle name, with William expressing his disapproval of Annabel’s choice, inspired by her DJ career and a character from the BBC sitcom People Just Do Nothing. Adding Scaramanga and Blofeld to their sons’ names was a deliberate act by William in response to his wife’s decision.
The couple announced Basil’s arrival in The Times, where William elaborated on his inspiration from the Bond antagonist Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Despite the unconventional names, William remains confident that his sons will not face ridicule at school. Reflecting on the situation, William recalled his own experiences being teased for his middle name, Rodney, during the popularity of the TV show Only Fools and Horses. He emphasized his support for his children, expressing that they will likely exude vibrant and humorous personalities. Addressing potential criticism, William highlighted the societal bias towards traditional names like Henry or George, advocating for more creativity in naming children.
In a separate incident, a new mother discovered that she unintentionally named her baby after a pet food brand, unaware of the association. Following her sister’s revelation, the mother expressed dismay at the resemblance between her chosen name and the pet food. Seeking advice on the matter, she shared her dilemma on Reddit, explaining her attachment to the name Pierina, a family name with personal significance. Despite concerns raised by family members about potential mispronunciations, she sought opinions on the suitability of the name for her child.