Hard Pass

They’re just too iconic… in a bad way.

01Damien

The Omen is a cult classic horror movie that has been remade and expanded upon time and again. And, alas, since the little boy Damien turns out to be the literal Antichrist, it’s hard to get past that kind of name association.

02Clarice

Naming your child Clarice basically dooms them to people using their creepiest Hannibal Lecter impression on them for life, which just sounds like an awful way to live. It’s kind of a bummer because it’s such a pretty moniker, meaning “bright” or “clear.”

03Inigo

Inigo is a gorgeous Spanish name traditionally given to boys that means “ardent” or “fiery.” But, considering you probably couldn’t read the name without reciting Inigo Montoya’s famous line from The Princess Bride, you understand why you don’t meet more little Inigos running around.

04Bella

Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Bella Swan has been the butt of many, many jokes, as has Twilight in general. (I mean… I get it.) So, many parents are probably avoiding names like Bella, Edward, Jasper, and Emmett for a bit (though Alice and Jacob are so classic, they remain untainted).

05Regan

If you’ve seen The Omen, you’ve probably also seen The Exorcist, and that may have been enough to put you off of the name Regan for life. Demonic possession — plus some of those visuals from the movie — is just not the best baby name inspo in the world. No thank you.

06Elsa

Let it go — your dreams of naming your baby Elsa, anyway. Thanks to Frozen, this name immediately evokes thoughts of snow and ice, and will cause many a kid they meet to start belting out “Let It Go.”

07Carrie

Well, there’s Stephen King’s Carrie, which is horrific in so many ways. And then, of course, there’s Carrie Bradshaw, who is basically insufferable 90% of the time (which is a lot of time over seven seasons and two movies in the Sex and the City franchise, and two of And Just Like That).

08Ursula

Iconic sea witch: yes. Baby name: not so much. Because the villain of The Little Mermaid made this name so well known, she’s likely the first thing any of us think of when we hear it. And, as a result, think about just how many Ursulas you know who were born after the movie debuted in 1989.

09Ramsay

If you watched Game of Thrones, that name has an immediate affiliation in your brain — one you’d definitely never want to dump on your kid. Ramsay Bolton is arguably the cruelest character in the whole series, whose actions are so vile that we need not repeat them here. Joffrey sucks too, but I doubt the name was on many parents’ radars before GOT anyway.

10Hermione

The name Hermione existed long before it was given to a Harry Potter character, having originated sometime in the 1800s. Of Greek origins, it means “messenger” and is a quirky-yet-lovely feminine name. But now, you can’t use it for your daughter unless you’re willing to accept that everyone will associate your kid with the wizarding world.

11Fiona

Fiona is a beautiful name and very popular in Scotland, but in the United States, you might be setting your kid up for ogre jokes. With this name, though, that might fade out as your kid grows up and gets away from pesky schoolmates.

12Zelda

This one would only ever appeal to vintage name lovers anyway. Between The Legends of Zelda video game franchise and that one scene in Pet Sematary (shiver), this one is a hard no for most parents. That said, if you’re into gaming and need a name for a pet, it’s cute on a dog or cat (ask me how I know).

13Angelica

Oh, Angelica Pickles — did you know she’s only supposed to be 3 in Rugrats? In any case, she was not most kids’ favorite on their first viewing and comes to mind right away when you hear the name now.

14Ross

Listen, Ross Geller is either your favorite or your least favorite character from Friends, but either way, he comes to mind when you hear his name. You might be the first to yell “PIVOT” at your kid, but you won’t be the last.

15Dexter

Yes, like Dexter, the show about the killer Miami Police Department blood splatter analyst who murders people (but only bad people!). Even if you sidestepped watching that show, you might also remember Dexter’s Laboratory from back in the day. If this name makes you yell “Dee Dee!” in your head, just know you’re not alone.

16Oscar

Parents will never stop using this name, nor should they — it’s such a timeless, winning name for boys. That said, we all know an Oscar known for being a complete grouch and living in a trash can. This name isn’t totally ruined, but it’s something parents who choose it will have to consider.

17Jamie

Jamie Dutton from Yellowstone is just not the best guy around (understatement of the year). None of the Duttons are role model-y enough to go naming your kid after, but Jamie seems to be the most universally hated of the whole family.

18Marley

Yeah, Marley & Me should come with a trigger warning. Obviously singer Bob Marley also comes to mind when you hear this name, but for some, the heartache from that movie pops up, too.