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A lawyer named Soo Yu, a gastroenterologist named Daniel Butt, and a sprinter named Aaron Farr—what’s the common thread? These individuals may all serve as prime examples of nominative determinism.
The concept was first introduced by psychiatrist Carl Jung, who believed that people tend to choose careers that align with their names. This idea has intrigued medical professionals and psychiatrists for years. The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggested that names can indeed influence major life decisions. So, without even realizing it, a person’s name might be steering their fate.
Whether people are aware of it or not, there’s a surprising number of amusing examples where individuals end up in professions or hobbies that seem perfectly suited to their names.
10. Tito Beveridge
In 2001, a new vodka brand earned the prestigious double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. From that moment, Tito’s Handmade Vodka took off across the United States and Canada, and by 2022, it had become the top vodka brand in America.
In 2014, the company faced a major challenge when it was sued for false advertising. The claim was that the brand couldn’t be called “handmade” because it was produced in a large industrial facility rather than being manually bottled. Thankfully, the lawsuits were dismissed in 2016, and Tito’s has continued to thrive ever since.
However, there was never any question about the brand’s future. How could it fail, with a founder like Bert “Tito” Beveridge? Here is a man destined to craft a new spirit.
9. Sigmund Freud
This one might puzzle many, but if you speak German, the meaning will soon become clear.
Sigmund Freud, widely regarded as the father of psychoanalysis (a therapeutic method focusing on the unconscious mind and the role of repression in mental disorders), was born in what was once the Austrian Empire. In German, ‘Freude’ translates to ‘pleasure’ or ‘joy.’ Freud’s theories often centered on the belief that human behavior is driven by a constant desire for gratification of our needs, desires, and impulses. This concept, known as the ‘pleasure principle,’ connects back to his surname.
While Freud’s pleasure principle remains one of his most celebrated contributions to psychology, it certainly isn’t his only one. The same man who coined the term ‘Freudian slip’ also theorized that all young boys harbored sexual desires toward their mothers. What you choose to make of that is up to you.
8. Sunny Hostin
Although she began her career as a federal prosecutor, Asunción Cummings Hostin transitioned to television as a political analyst for Court TV. It was during this time that she adopted the nickname ‘Sunny.’
She spent several years moving between networks before landing a permanent role as a co-host on ABC’s morning talk show The View. In addition to winning multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for her contributions, Hostin continues to live up to her name by hosting the true crime series ‘Truth About Murder with Sunny Hostin’ and the podcast ‘Have You Seen This Man?’
It’s unfortunate that the Emmys don’t include a Best Host category—she’d definitely be a frontrunner.
7. Ed Currie
The Carolina Reaper held the title of the world’s hottest chili pepper until 2023, when it was surpassed by Pepper X. Both of these fiery peppers were developed by Ed Currie, the founder and president of PuckerButt Pepper Company.
Currie’s fascination with peppers has spanned his entire life, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that he became serious about growing them, starting with his own backyard. He focused on making them as hot as possible for three reasons: ‘I like a challenge, It can be used medicinally… and if I can get it hotter, the economies of scale are greater.’
Guinness World Records recognized Currie in 2013 and 2023, which helped raise the profile of PuckerButt, though it didn’t change the quirky name. What a missed opportunity, especially with ‘Currie Industries’ right there!
6. Igor Judge
Igor Judge, the former Chief Justice of England and Wales, was born in Malta in 1941, a time when the island was still under British rule. With a keen interest in history, he studied at Cambridge before being called to the bar at just 22 years old. His rapid ascent through the legal ranks eventually led him to become a judge of the High Court.
Although the coincidence of his name was amusing, it didn’t define his entire career. The ambitious Judge had bigger aspirations. After 30 years on the bench and receiving a knighthood, he became the Lord Chief Justice in 2008, a prestigious role representing the judiciary to Parliament.
Judge passed away in 2023, a decade after his retirement. His obituary pointed out that his last name didn’t play a role in his decision to pursue a career in law.
5. Keith Weed
What better name could there be for the president of Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society than Keith Weed?
This seems like a classic example of nominative determinism, the idea that people are drawn to careers that reflect their names—or their personalities. Weed fully embraced his name, adding another quirky coincidence: his mother’s maiden name was Hedges! “If a Weed marries a Hedges, they’re likely to produce the president of the RHS,” Weed jokes.
Weed’s rising fame prompted the RHS to investigate other instances of nominative determinism within its own ranks. They uncovered quite a few interesting examples. In a 2018 study, it was found that one in eight RHS staff members had a name linked to nature. Among the staff, there were a Moss, Heather, Berry, Shears, several Roses, and a Gardiner.
4. Daniel Snowman
In 2015, Daniel Snowman, a Rhode Island College professor of physical sciences, went viral after an interview with USA Today. In it, Snowman discussed the best type of snow to use for making a solid snowman, the ideal snow-to-water ratio, and other physics tips for crafting the most lifelike snowman possible. While the interview was insightful, the USA Today reporter had a different angle—the professor’s last name was Snowman.
Daniel Snowman’s interview with Smithsonian Magazine sparked a wave of articles from various American news outlets, all highlighting the amusing coincidence of his name. Snowman is also an accomplished author, having written several books, including one on polar exploration.
3. Doctor Willard Bliss
This takes parental expectations to an entirely new level. Dr. Doctor Willard Bliss was born in 1825. No, that’s not a typo—his given name was actually Doctor. An 1881 newspaper article explains that the physician who named him, Dr. Willard, chose to give his son his own name in the hope that it would inspire him to achieve great success. While Dr. Bliss did become a physician, his legacy is far from spotless.
If you’re familiar with U.S. President James Garfield, it’s probably because of his assassination. Garfield was shot in July 1881 but didn’t pass away until two and a half months later.
Why such a long delay? Dr. Willard Bliss might be partially to blame. Bliss spent his early years practicing medicine in Washington, D.C., seemingly oblivious to the medical advances of the time. His reputation was tarnished due to his endorsement of homeopathic treatments. When the antiseptic revolution—advocating for hand-washing and sterilizing medical instruments—took hold, Bliss stubbornly rejected it in an attempt to salvage his credibility.
While operating on President Garfield, Dr. Bliss inserted unsterilized fingers and tools into the wound, a decision most historians agree exacerbated the president’s condition. His attempt to remove the bullet was also unsuccessful, as he only managed to push it further into Garfield’s body, causing great discomfort. After Garfield’s death, Bliss was widely accused of malpractice. Even the assassin, during his trial, claimed, 'The doctors killed Garfield; I just shot him.'
2. Usain Bolt
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt took the crown as the world’s fastest man. What are the odds of that happening?
The odds are so low that some have questioned if it was purely coincidental. In 2021, Essentially Sports published an article suggesting that Bolt might have slightly altered his name to embrace the coincidence. Although his full name is Usain St. Leo Bolt, 'Bolt' is indeed his official surname, adding a layer of irony to his record-breaking feats.
Bolt was a passionate sports enthusiast as a child, particularly fond of cricket and football. Despite his continued interest in these sports throughout his high school years, it was his cricket coach who noticed his exceptional speed and encouraged him to try track and field. Thanks to that advice, Bolt became one of the most celebrated athletes, making him one of the best-known examples of an 'aptronym' in history.
1. Thomas Crapper
This guy would definitely not fit in at a modern middle school.
Thomas Crapper is most famous for founding Crapper & Co., a plumbing business. Contrary to popular belief, he did not invent the modern toilet. In fact, flush toilets have existed since the 16th century, so Crapper had no part in that. However, he played a key role in popularizing flush toilets in 19th-century England by educating the public on the importance of sanitation.
So, does the slang term 'crap' for excrement originate from Crapper? Surprisingly, no. The term 'crap' was already being used to mean human waste as far back as 1846, which suggests that Crapper's colleagues might have found his unfortunate name amusing.
While 'crap' isn't linked to the sanitary engineer, the phrase 'going to the crapper' likely is. Legend has it that during World War I, U.S. soldiers in England saw toilets with 'T Crapper' stamped on the cisterns. When they returned home, they began using 'crapper' as slang for the bathroom, and the term stuck.
