Who is to say that a name - of a person, a place, or a thing - is unusual? Certainly, the call is a subjective one. I don't mean to say that these names are weird or bad, just odd in some way or another. Having given that disclaimer, here they are ...
Faith Popcorn
According to her website, www.faithpopcorn.com, she is the "best-selling author of EVEolution, Clicking, and The Popcorn Report," and "is founder of BrainReserve, the futurist marketing consultancy she established in 1974." Modestly it continues, "Recognized as America’s foremost Trend expert, she has identified such sweeping societal concepts as 'Cocooning,' 'Cashing Out,' 'Anchoring' and 'Pleasure Revenge.'" Be that as it may, O Great One. To me, her name conjures up a name like Joe Pretzel or maybe Bob Nacho. Sounds made-up. Sure enough, it is. Read all about its fascinating origin here.
Actress Mariska Hargitay
Isn't "Mariska" how Popeye pronounces the name "Marisa?" Well, blows me down!
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Two out of the three partners' surnames fit my criteria. Guess which one doesn't.
Well, maybe Christmas isn't such an unusual name after all. After all, actor Mickey Rooney's birth name is Joe Yule Jr.
"Digital Goddess" Kim Komando
I wonder if she knows Private Benjamin and G.I. Jane. Now see here.
Cheesequake, New Jersey
Like if the moon was actually made of green cheese and there was such a thing as a moonquake. I dunno ... but I like the name.
Two sandwich franchises with strange names: Quizno's Subs and Schlotzsky’s Deli. In fact, Schlotzsky’s even goes so far as to admit this in its slogan, "funny name. serious sandwich.™" (And Blimpie's is a bit of a weird name, too.)
Republican politician Dick Posthumus - running in 2002 for governor of Michigan. God forbid, but if he were to die while campaigning, Posthumus could be elected posthumously.
Coco Crisp - his given name is Covelli - in 2004 is in his third season playing center field/left field for the Cleveland Indians. I don't know how he got his monicker, but it sounds like some kind of breakfast cereal. Snap! Crackle! Pop!
Former HealthSouth Corp. CEO Richard Scrushy
A correspondent, Nancy wrote:
"... on your 'Unusual Names' page---really got a kick out of those!---it reminded me of years ago, when I worked in the billing department at a hospital. We had a patient report on a woman named 'Crystal Chandelier.' My co-workers and I suspected it might be a stripper or some such exotic, fabricated name---except the patient was a little girl who was nine years old!"