Our African- American friends and families can be - shall we say - "creative" when it comes to naming their chilluns.
Here are some real life names of actual people who actually live on Earth right now:
Timnesia. Keleesha. Qwiyya. Naheim. Emani. Omani. Amani. Davoni. Tyasia. Queeta. Shoneeta. Natayah. Demyah. Diavon. Iverllizz. Qymir. Aniyah. And baby girl Cazmere.
Those are all great but my favorites are the more common names that are tweaked to make the baby seem more unique or something. My black friend Uniqua told me that. Take a "boring" name like Jasmine but spell it Jazmeen. Why be Michael when you can be Mychel?
That brings me to your chance to win something in our first ever StronglyWordedLetter.com contest!!
Thursday I went to the movies and the pretty young sista who sold me my ticket should have been named Brianna. But she wasn't. Her parent(s) put an extraordinary amount of thought into how to turn that regular name into something special. Your job: Guess what they came up with. I saw it with my own eyes on her name tag as she took my $8.00 (It was a matinee.)
One guess per person please. First correct answer wins something from the Bean Store, worth ten dollars or less.
Check the comments section below to see what others have guessed before you take a stab at it. I will post there myself once we have a winner or if no one gets it I will reveal the correct spelling here tomorrow. Have fun. Be creative and stay black.
I'm amazed that you found a person of African descent (other than yourself) in the Seattle area. There goes the neighborhood.
My lame guess: Breyana
Posted by: brother john | August 16, 2008 at 05:20 AM
Bryonna- gee i hope i get a pouch made of zippers! no really i do.
I am not even close. I can feel it. Let teh whackyness ensue.
Posted by: Karlee | August 16, 2008 at 06:40 AM
Breeyauna
Posted by: Eric Glenn | August 16, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Brieanna
Posted by: Smivey | August 16, 2008 at 07:06 AM
Breeyana
Posted by: Jerkface | August 16, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Hmm...let me see. Take a perfectly good name, albeit a bit trendy, and ghetto it up.
Bree-ayna
Get bizzy in yo hizzy-
werd.
Posted by: Phil | August 16, 2008 at 07:38 AM
beanana
Posted by: spideygal | August 16, 2008 at 08:03 AM
Bryawna
Posted by: Justice A. Guy | August 16, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Breeanqua
I think the disposition for the elaborate names is a french imposition upon the culture. I have a friend Donevre who comes from the island of Haiti which was founded by the French. I am sure Donevre would be Donald if he had been born to caucasian folk living, say, on an island in Seattle. It wasn't till my trip to New Orleans that I realized the influence of the French in the South and Carribean. In contrast to most African-American surnames the fancy first names provide cultural distinction. I know when looking at a job application where Latifah Johnson comes from.
Posted by: erick v | August 16, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Brieonna
Posted by: Diane | August 16, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Berryanya
Posted by: Mr. Mustachio | August 16, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Brainna
Posted by: Jennifer | August 16, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Dang Bean, this was hard! My guess: Breeneenay. I really can't wait to hear what this girl's name is!
Posted by: Lucy | August 16, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Breyawnah?
Which of course means African Queen
Posted by: Raul | August 16, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Brieaynna
Posted by: kevin | August 16, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Breeonna?
Posted by: dawn | August 16, 2008 at 08:52 AM
I'm going with Bree'awnah.
Posted by: Badafuco | August 16, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Breeyawhnax
Posted by: peff | August 16, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Byreonia
Posted by: Cheesegirl | August 16, 2008 at 09:35 AM
How about Brynaqua.
Posted by: Geo | August 16, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Breeawna
Posted by: Jed Kelley | August 16, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Bree'annuh
Posted by: Jessica Fletcher | August 16, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Brh'onah
Posted by: stk | August 16, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Qyahna
Posted by: Vic Rattler | August 16, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Breeahnah
Posted by: Lori | August 16, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Breeyonna ... ?
Posted by: John E | August 16, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Breeanah
Posted by: Erica | August 16, 2008 at 10:58 AM
It HAS to be BREEYONA.
I will claim my bag of zippers now.
Posted by: the bohemian jester | August 16, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Hmm...there are so many ways to go with this. I'll stick with Breayanna
Posted by: Emily Alexis | August 16, 2008 at 11:13 AM
B'rhyeeawnah
Posted by: Molly | August 16, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Bree Anna
Posted by: IHeartBean | August 16, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Breanyuh
Posted by: Heather | August 16, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Buryanuh
Posted by: Lucky13 | August 16, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Br'anna
Posted by: Nicole | August 16, 2008 at 01:13 PM
brie'awna
Posted by: steve-o | August 16, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Swaheelah
Posted by: kjh | August 16, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Bob
Posted by: Nicole | August 16, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Brieyanna
Posted by: Michael | August 16, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Br' ahnah
Dynomite!
Posted by: Fred G. | August 16, 2008 at 04:11 PM
is this a trick question???
i am gonna guess brianna.
Posted by: cathy g | August 16, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Br'Auyahnah
Posted by: Gail | August 16, 2008 at 04:50 PM
BryYahneh
Posted by: Rose | August 16, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Bry'aunuh Jackson. Please mail my bag of zippers via express mail, Bean.
Posted by: oscar | August 16, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Bhryhnna.
Posted by: ruth | August 16, 2008 at 05:54 PM
I'll go with Brieayna.
Posted by: Sunny Days | August 16, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Breeanu
Posted by: Frances | August 16, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Breyawena
I'll take my Roomba vacuum now...or a random framed picture from your wall!
thank you
Posted by: Liz | August 16, 2008 at 06:20 PM
Breeyahna
Posted by: Christina | August 16, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Oh wait, it has to be Breeyawnah!
Posted by: Christina | August 16, 2008 at 06:22 PM
How about Breeawnna?
Posted by: leigh | August 16, 2008 at 07:08 PM