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On other occasions, it is not the character themselves that causes teasing, but instead, the way that they are marketed to appeal to young kids. Obnoxious jingles, annoying catchphrases, and other factors like these have resulted in many great names being ruined by TV shows over the years.
1 Thomas (Thomas the Tank Engine)
Some might think that having the same name as a talking tank engine with a human-like face slapped on the front of it is pretty cool, and for a time that was perhaps the case. However, that all changed in the mid-to-late nineties with the release of a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed spaghetti from food manufacturer Heinz.
Though certainly delicious, the spaghetti shapes were advertised in the UK with an obnoxious tv commercial featuring a high-pitched voice that repeated the line “Choo Choo, Thomas.” Of course, this phrase was then used by children everywhere to torment people named Thomas and is a big part of why many now prefer to go by just Tom.
2 Sabrina (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
A lot of children dream of having magical powers, yet the idea of being a witch was not a particularly desirable one prior to the popularization of magic by the Harry Potter books and movies around the turn of the century. As a result, those unfortunate enough to be named Sabrina during the nineties had a pretty hard time growing up.
Melissa Joan Hart was one of the biggest names on Nickelodeon back in the early nineties, starring in two of the network’s most popular shows. The first was Clarissa Explains it All, but it was the second, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which caused all of the problems. Due to its immense popularity, the name Sabrina became synonymous with witches; a fact that people were always quick to point out to those who shared it.
3 Homer (The Simpsons)
Given how quickly pop culture trends can move on, most names that are ruined by television shows eventually get a reprieve after a while. Sadly, however, for those who are unfortunate enough to be named Homer, the enduring popularity of The Simpsons has led to decades of torment, with no real end in sight.
Thanks to the patron of the Simpson family, the name Homer is now synonymous with a big, balding oaf. This infamy spans multiple generations, with even those who’ve never really watched The Simpsons familiar with the character. Though Homer certainly has plenty of good qualities and the name itself is a pretty great one, the popularity of the name has plummeted since the show’s creation.
4 Bart (The Simpsons)
In stark contrast to his father, Bart is actually a pretty cool guy, and, on paper, at least, one with whom young people should be happy enough to share their name. However, the fact that the character used to have multiple catchphrases made this name a bit of a nightmare back in the nineties.
From “Don’t have a cow, man” to “Eat my shorts,” those named Bart were often forced to endure endless impersonations back when The Simpsons was at the height of its fame. Also, as highlighted in the twelfth episode of season 3 due to Homer only having four fingers, Bart rhymes with the word fart, which may also have contributed to some of the ridicule.
5 Paris (The Simple Life)
Reality television shows can provide an interesting glimpse into the lives of people with whom everyday folk don’t often get a chance to rub shoulders. Sadly, they can also provide a platform for entitled rich people to corrupt the youth of the nation with their nonsense and filth, as viewers learned back in the early two thousands.
Prior to the debut of The Simple Life, most of the world remained blissfully ignorant of who Paris Hilton was, with the name instead reminding folks of the romantic capital city of France. Now though, for many, the name Paris merely evokes thoughts of sex tapes, privilege, and intolerably asinine behavior. Thankfully for those named Nicole, nobody really remembers her co-star.
6 Elmo (Sesame Street)
Few shows are quite as wholesome as Sesame Street, nor are there many that have been on the airwaves for quite as long. Most of the characters in the show have nonsense names like Cookie Monster and Big Bird, but there are a handful of puppets who have real names.
Bert and Ernie are two of the more prominent examples, but Elmo is probably the most well-known. Being compared to the little red fluffball and getting endlessly tickled may not have been too bad at first. Over time, however, the popularity of the name has all but died out, making Elmo yet another great name that has been ruined by television.
7 Nick (Nickelodeon)
Short for Nicholas, the name Nick was once incredibly popular. To a certain extent, it still is, yet there was a period of time when those who went by Nick had their names ruined by television. In this case, though, it wasn’t just a single show responsible, but instead an entire television network.
As was the style during the nineties, Nickelodeon used a jingle to market itself during commercials. Unfortunately, however, this jingle was both obnoxious and catchy, leading to many people named Nick having to listen to renditions of “Nick! Nick! Nick!” on playgrounds the world over. It did stop eventually, though the song likely still evokes bitter feelings in the hearts and minds of many Nicks.
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