Soccer Player, Inspired by Twitter, Names Son ‘Trendy’

  • Share
  • Read Later
Ben Hoskins / Getty Images

Dad Gabriel Zakuani celebrates scoring a goal for Peterborough United on Oct. 22, 2011.

Twitter isn’t just revolutionizing the way we connect with one another. It’s now influencing the way we name our children⎯and stirring up popular protests of a different kind.

The latest addition to the growing list of ridiculous baby names emerging from today’s social media-crazed world? Trendy.

(LIST: Top 10 Wacky Celebrity Baby Names)

British tabloid The Sun reports that soccer player Gabriel Zakuani, 25, has destined his newly born son to a near certain childhood of jokes and jibes thanks to his love for the microblogging site.

“People have asked if his name is because of ‘trending topics’ on Twitter. Maybe it was in the back of my mind,” he admitted.

Zakuani, who plays for second tier English team Peterborough United, said the name is also a nod to the baby’s mom Shanice Petrie’s job in fashion. But the player is bizarrely proud to take credit for the misnomer⎯thought to be the first time it’s been used in the history of offbeat names.

“The official reason was she wanted something to reflect that. But it was me who came up with Trendy,” he added.

It’s obviously a slippery slope when it comes to names in the Zakuani family. Trendy’s sisters are reportedly named Destiny and Heaven. But then the beauty of social media is that you can send the Twitter-obsessed dad your thoughts directly: His Twitter handle is Gabs50Zakuani.

MORE: Twilight Zone: Why Do Babies Have the Same Names?