So American reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian has named her newborn daughter Penelope Scotland. Rather bizarre, you might think, to name your child after the land of haggis, midges and permanent drizzle.
But when you’ve grown up in sunny Beverly Hills, Scotland apparently seems rather exotic.
The proud parents aren’t alone in naming their children after a location that (for them at least) carries exotic novelty.
Perhaps film stars Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin named their daughter Ireland because they liked watching the film Ryan’s Daughter – though pop stars Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale can’t offer a similar excuse for naming their son Kingston.
It’s thought he was named after the Jamaican capital, home town of reggae legend Bob Marley, rather than the affluent Surrey town.
Singer and professional diva Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon named their son Moroccan. Apparently, Nick proposed in a “Moroccan-style room”.
Boxer Mike Tyson named his daughter Milan, and Madonna’s daughter is called Lourdes after the pilgrimage site in France.
The Beckhams named their eldest son Brooklyn, where he is said to have been conceived, and rock star Bono christened his daughter Memphis – after the city where Elvis Presley lived and died.
But the aforementioned are not the only celebs who opted for out-of-the-ordinary names
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver may be great in the kitchen, but not when it comes to naming his kids.
Oliver has four children with wife Juliette Norton and they’re named Buddy Bear Maurice, Petal Blossom Rainbow, Daisy Boo Pamela and Poppy Honey Rosie.
Oliver blames his wife, saying she’s the one who dreamt them up.
He said in an interview he was glad the last bundle of joy was a boy, as Jools had run out of girl names.
Actor Nicolas Cage named his second son Kal-El – Superman’s birth name before he came crashing to Earth and was named Clark Kent by his adoptive parents. Cage was once considered for the role of Superman.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their daughter Apple. Paltrow told former talk show host Oprah that when she was pregnant, Martin suggested the name and she thought it a good idea because apples are sweet and wholesome. Little Apple is now eight years old.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their girl Blue Ivy. It is believed that blue is Jay-Z’s favourite colour and Beyoncé’s favourite number is four, represented as IV in Roman numerals.
Jason Lee says his then fiancé Beth Riesgraf chose their son’s name, Pilot Inspektor, now eight years old. The couple were listening to the Grandaddy track He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot, when Riesgraf was inspired.
Latter-day celebs have nothing, however, on the older stars who were named during the hippie era.
The Phoenix family – hippies involved in a cult – immediately come to mind. River Jude Phoenix, named after the River of Life and the Beatles song Hey Jude, was the eldest of five. Next came Rain Joan of Arc, Joaquin – who changed his name to Leaf and then back to Joaquin at 15 – Liberty, and then Summer Joy.
By then the family surname had been changed from Bottom to Phoenix after the mystical bird that rises from the ashes, and the strange-name legacy lives on.
Musician Frank Zapper named his children Moon Unit, Diva Thin Muffin, Dweezil and Ahmet, while
U2’s Edge named his daughter Blue Angel.
Sylvester Stallone named his eldest son Sage Moonblood. The young actor-director died amid mysterious circumstances on Friday.
But perhaps the most bizarre name choice was that of B-Grade actress Shannyn Sossamon.
Perhaps she thought naming her child Audio Science would give her career a boost. – Daily Mail