What’s In A Name?

I found this story about people changing their names through Basil’s Blog. It was one of those headline lists that he does over there.

Name change should stop the snickers

I completely understand why most of them made the changes. I mean, if your name were Fuk King Kwok, Monica Pinas, Mary Jo Porn or April Showers wouldn’t you want to change your name?
Actually, if my parents named me April Showers, I might be an orphan when the change occurred. In the case of Ms. Pinas and Ms. Porn, they’re dealing with surnames that are, therefore, hereditary—or in the case of Ms. Porn—arrived at through marriage. Mr. Kwok merely came to America from a different culture where they 1) knew how to pronounce his name correctly and 2) didn’t attach any particular meaning to the incorrect pronunciation—if you know what I mean.

The one that really gets me though leads off the third part of the article: Michael Heard became Godlordkingchrist Heard. I mean, God Lord, what was he thinking? (But at least he did it to himself. Poor April.)