If A Man Has One Of These Names, You Shouldn’t Date Him

Erin Bailey's avatarBy Erin Bailey

Adam

Adam
Credit: Kevin Winter via Getty

Adam is probably the most boring name a man can have. Adam was the first man on Earth, therefore he is called Adam too, and no more thought goes into it. If he’s the youngest sibling, his parents probably ran out of ideas, but if he’s the oldest then there’s no excuse. A man called Adam is probably as boring and uninteresting as his name.

Seth

Seth
Credit: Kevin Winter via Getty

Seth is a name that is typically associated with evil, so if a guy you’re interested in has this name, you should probably steer clear! In Ancient Egypt, the name Seth meant anger, chaos, and destruction. And you know what the Egyptians were like, this name might even be cursed.

Buddy

Buddy
Credit: Michael Loccisano via Getty

Is he your boyfriend, or your dog? It’s hard to believe that there are men out there who are genuinely called Buddy – not just as a nickname, but as their christian, on-the-birth-certificate name. Men named Buddy are probably just as bland and uninspired as their name suggests.

Donald

Donald
Credit: Andreas Rentz via Getty

Oh, were you expecting to see a different Donald here? Whether you lean red or blue, you can’t deny that the name Donald has had some bad publicity as of late. That’s not to say that all men named Donald are awful, but they are probably best left alone when it comes to relationships.

Kyle

Kyle
Credit: Frazer Harrison via Getty

We all knew a kid in school named Kyle, but none of us were friends with him. He smelled of monster energy and cigarettes, and wore the most tacky graphic tees. Alas, teenage Kyles have to grow up into adult Kyles – but that doesn’t mean you should date one!

Chad

Chad
Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer via Getty

Chad and its many variants, including Chud and Chet (the name of Tom Hanks’ son), come across as a bit one note. People named Chad don’t have anything unique going on in their lives. They’re just… Chad – and they’re happy with that. However, if you’re looking for something more, stay away.

Tyler

Tyler
Credit: Monica Schipper via Getty

If you did a survey of teachers around the English speaking world, no matter which country, you would find that the majority of teachers cite the name Tyler as one they associate with naughty and unruly children. Sure, men grow up, but do they ever really grow out of their chaotic nature? It’s unlikely.

Adonis

Adonis
Credit: via Pinterest

The Greek name Adonis isn’t mega popular in the US, so this probably isn’t one you need to watch out for. It is rising in popularity though – next generation, beware! In Greek mythology, Adonis was the name of the most handsome young man. Any man who is aware of his own good looks is likely to be unbearably arrogant.

Chase

Chase
Credit: Christian Petersen via Getty

Chase is another name in the crop of more modern men’s names that is a bit of a red flag. Granted, it’s hard to find the balance between overused classic names and stylish new ones. However, guys called Chase typically have a lot of energy and can be a bit chaotic, as their name suggests. It’s probably best to avoid if you’re looking for a quiet life.

Herbert

Herbert
Credit: via The White House

If he’s called Herbert, then he’s way too old for you! Seriously, nobody born in a year beginning with 19 is actually called Herbert – right? Further, when you introduce him to your friends and family, they will all inevitably make the connection to that one Family Guy character, and that’s really not the impression you want to give.

Brayden

Brayden
Credit: via The Hockey Writers

Brayden, Hayden, Jayden, Cayden – all of these names really do blend into each other. If you’re looking for a relationship with a guy that people will definitely get mixed up with someone else in your social circle, then go right ahead. If you want something a bit more special, we recommend avoiding these guys.

Richard

Richard
Credit: via The New York Times

People named Richard have a really unfortunate nickname – one we can’t really repeat here. It’s not as popular now as it once was, but some will still resort to using it upon meeting one. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life standing hand in hand with a man people call.. that? We didn’t think so.

Sullivan

Sullivan

Originally, the name Sullivan means ‘dark-eyed’ or ‘hawk-eyed’. This gives the name a pretty sinister tone, which isn’t helped by the fact that, like Cecil, it gives off some seriously creepy villain vibes. What’s more is that many people named Sullivan use the nickname Sully, which literally means damage!

Josh

Josh
Credit: Bryan Bedder via Getty

When it comes to men’s names, Josh might be the most boring one of all. If there was ever a name that could be compared to plain sliced white bread from the grocery store, it’s this one. Even Joshua would be better, with a little bit more personality, but unfortunately most of them go for the shorter version.

Zac

Zac
Credit: Emma McIntyre via Getty

Zac is an absolute classic in the genre of names given predominantly to frat boys. One thing about frat boys you need to watch out for, among many, many things, is that they never really grow up. If you’re ready to settle down and think about kids instead of weekly beer pong tournaments, he’s not the one for you.

Randy

Randy

You know what people think when they hear the name Randy? Not of stand-up, all around good guys, that’s for sure. If keeping up appearances in a relationship is something that matters a lot to you, it’s probably a good idea to avoid dating guys whose names have double meanings.

Calvin

Calvin
Credit: Marcus Ingram via Getty

Men named Calvin are unfortunate victims of the meaning of their name and the impact it can have throughout your life. This time, it’s not so much about their personality, but about a physical attribute – their hair. The name Calvin means ‘bald’. Unlucky, Calvins of the world. However, some women find this incredibly attractive – if you’re one of them, then don’t avoid them!

Noah

Noah
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There are so many cool names in the Bible, but like Adam, Noah simply isn’t one of them. Men called Noah have a literal warning sign in their names, so if you’re trying to get with one, open your eyes – No! There’s someone much more exciting out there waiting for you.

Damien

Damien

Damian is a name that a lot of people, rightly or wrongly, associate with the devil and demons. So, watch out – there might be something really dark about the guy you’re interested in if that’s his name. Why even take the risk when there are so many great guys out there?

Gunner

Gunner
Credit: via Buffalo Bills

When it comes to finding the perfect man, it’s probably not a great idea to chase after the ones with violent sounding names. This includes Gunner, but also pertains to names like Archer, Trigger, Hunter, and the rest. You don’t want the relationship to turn sour, and these names just have bad vibes.

Bill

Bill
Credit: Noam Galai via Getty

Bill is a name that has some… interesting political connotations. Whatever you think went down in the oval office in the mid to late 90s, you can’t deny that Bill is a name that has been tainted somewhat by the idea of cheating and infidelity. Is that really what you want from a relationship?

Brock

Brock
Credit: Cindy Ord via Getty

Brock is a name that pretty much only exists in the states, which begs the question, why do no other English speaking countries use it? One reason could be that you come uncomfortably close to making a chicken noise whenever you say it. Just imagine calling him for dinner…

Jax

Jax

This one depends on if he chose to style himself as Jax, or whether it’s the actual name his parents gave him. If it’s the former, stay away from him. If it’s the latter, stay away from his whole family! Guys called Jax think they’re all that, cooler than anyone else and edgy to boot. In reality, they’re just a bit too intense.

Nate

Nate
Credit: Mike Coppola via Getty

Nate exists in a similar situation to the name Josh. When you’re grown, it’s a good idea to ditch the childish nicknames and shortenings and return to the distinguished, classic form of a name. If a man is still going by Nate instead of Nathan once he gets into his 30s and beyond, it’s a sign he might be trying too hard to hold onto his youth.

Tristan

Tristan
Credit: Dave Mangels via Getty

If you’re looking for a happy relationship full of joy and fun times, then you shouldn’t date any man who is named Tristan. The meaning of our names can impact our personalities a lot, and unfortunately for them, the name Tristan means ‘sad’ and ‘sorrowful’.

Michael

Michael
Credit: Olaf Selchow via Getty

Do you know what the most popular boy’s name was in 1965? Or 1975? How about 1985? If you guessed Michael for all 3, then you’re correct. In fact, Michael was the most common name given to boys born every year between 1965 to 1998. That’s a lot of Michaels! You can definitely find someone a bit more unique and individual out there for you.

Woody

Woody

Woody the woodpecker, Woody the sheriff, Woody Boyd from Cheers – are these really the kind of vibes you’re looking for in your relationship with a guy? Actually, scratch that, Woody Boyd wouldn’t be too bad. We can’t even say that the longer forms are better in this case – would you really want to date a guy called Elwood or Woodrow?

Cain

Cain
Credit: via Getty

Cain is a name that has had bad connotations since the beginning – literally the beginning, since it was the name of one of Adam and Eve’s sons. If you were paying attention in Sunday school, then you’ll know that Cain committed the first ever act of murder, killing his brother. You just can’t move away from the bad vibes of this name.

Tiger

Tiger
Credit: Ethan Miller via Getty

Tiger is the kind of name where one famous guy ruined it for everyone else. Sure, Tiger Woods may have been the greatest golfer in the world once upon a time, but his life since has been rocked by scandal. Even if your guy is perfect, the people around you won’t be able to stop themselves making the connection.

Cecil

Cecil
Credit: via Ethica Diamonds

If you want to date a guy who sounds like a classic, charmingly evil villain from a book, who is probably British, then a man named Cecil might be the one for you. However, this begs the question: Why would you ever actually want that?

Christian

Christian
Credit: Jesse Grant via Getty

Another one to add to the list of boring names is Christian. Boring names mean boring parents, and boring parents raise boring children, who turn into boring men. Christian is so unimaginative – it’s a label, not a name. And if he isn’t actually a Christian, well, that’s a whole other red flag.

Wolf

Wolf
Credit: Art Wolfe via Getty

Parents who name their sons Wolf, Wolfie, or any other variation, think that they’re edgy and cool when really they’re just trying a bit too hard. Guys who rename themselves Wolf are typically similar, but with an added superiority complex. They might even see themselves as a lone wolf, hence the name, meaning pursuing a relationship is a bad idea.

Vince

Vince

If the guy you’re dating is a 1930s Mafia boss from New Jersey, then it would be understandable for him to have the name Vince. However, we bet that he isn’t. Vincent is much more sophisticated and charming, so why wouldn’t you date one of those instead?

Draco

Draco

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, then Draco will strike you as a particularly chilling and dark name. There’s a reason for that! In Greek and Latin, it means Dragon, and is also the name of a constellation. It might sound cool, but it’s a hint that he might have had a kooky upbringing which will have an impact on your relationship.

Adolf

Adolf
Credit: via Adidas Group

Are you really surprised to see this name here? It would hardly be a list of names you should avoid without it, and we hope that we don’t need to explain why. However, you probably won’t ever need to worry about coming across one – the name has sharply dropped in popularity, even in its native Germany.

OJ

OJ
Credit: via The Los Angeles Times

OJ, PJ, TJ… These aren’t names, they’re library organizing labels. If you’re dating a guy called OJ, the best he can hope for is that people think of orange juice when they hear his name, and not the most famous (and most controversial) OJ. You might become guilty by association.

Cooper

Cooper
Credit: via Business Insider

Cooper is another men’s name that falls into the category of ‘names for dogs that have inexplicably been given to a person’. Saying that, the kids these days all seem to be on the search for what they call a ‘golden retriever boyfriend’, so maybe guys named Cooper make good boyfriends after all?

Buford

Buford

Yes, Buford really is a name! Did you know that it is a version of the perhaps even worse name, Bluford? There’s not many of them out there, but the ones who do exist, you probably should stay away from dating. Can you imagine having to say it several times a day for the rest of your life?

Vladimir

Vladimir

There are three things that come to mind when people hear the name Vladimir: A terrifying, bloodsucking vampire; a horrifying historical ruler known for impaling his enemies on spikes; and a brutal modern-day dictator and warmonger. Take your pick! It’s probably a name best left well alone.

Millard

Millard
Credit: via The White House

The Simpsons named Millard Fillmore as one of the mediocre, often forgotten Presidents of the United States, and we find it hard to disagree. Guys named Millard are just as boring and nondescript as their name suggests. If you date one, there won’t be much spice or excitement in your relationship.

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