For years, Corona Newton has been made fun of because of her name, and let's just say that 2020 didn't make things any better for her. The 49 year-old has grown accustomed to the typical beer-related jokes, like people calling her "Guinness" or "Budweiser," but things have escalated quickly. Newton says:
"I could always laugh it off. But this is more frustrating, especially when it gets aggressive...People have said to me 'as if I'm going to listen to somebody named after a virus.'"
Corona lives in Oldham, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita in England. She said no one takes her seriously and she is now unable to book a table or open an account in her own name.
Corona was given her name after her parents couldn't decide between Sarah and Catherine. Instead, they changed course and named her after the missionary midwife who delivered her. The name comes from the Latin word for crown and also means the aura around stars or the moon.
According to the Office for National Statistics, fewer than three girls were named Corona in 2019 (luckily).
Prior to the pandemic, Corona said that it was much easier to have a sense of humor about her name. Though it's been in rough, Corona is trying to maintain a positive outlook:
"In these tough times, if I've brightened someone's day by having a funny name, so be it," she said. "At least no one will ever forget me."
What do we think here? Is being named Corona worse than being named Karen? Would you embrace it, or start the name change process immediately?