An Ann Landers column from 1995 featured a letter from one Mrs. Dixon, whose husband wanted to name their child Mason — “Mason Dixon” (as in, the Mason-Dixon line).
“I’m afraid our son would be made fun of throughout his life,” Mrs. Dixon said.
Ann agreed: “I’m on your side. To saddle a child with the name Mason Dixon would surely make him a lifelong butt of jokes.”
The reader responses printed a few months later, though, tended to be more supportive.
- From Rose Rose: “I attribute my sense of humor to the fact that I had such an unusual name.”
- From Mason Dickson: “Go for it. I’ve had a lot of fun with this name, and people always remember me.”
- From Janice Mason Jarr, formerly Janice Mason Dixon: “No great improvement.”
Where do you stand on the name Mason Dixon — thumbs up or thumbs down?
Source: “Unusual name is just fine.” Portsmouth Daily Times 19 Jun. 1995: B4.