Do you have a naming 'style'?

[ElviraCondomine]

I'm fascinated by the different approaches to naming and was wondering, does anyone else consciously have a particular approach or style?


I am firmly in the "nobody else in the school" (let alone class!) naming camp, but I like 'real' names with a history rather than newly coined. I am genuinely delighted not to have met another child in 11 years with the same name as DD2.

I like to consider the meaning of names.

I also believe that sibling names should work together - I find it odd when a family has children called e.g. Orlando, Gabriel, Cressida and Bob. Or Lily, Joshua, and Athene. It doesn't 'feel' right to me.

However I am not keen on matchy matchy names either!

And I really don't like traditional diminutive forms given as full names. I'd name a child Katherine rather than Katie, although I think Katie's lovely as a childhood nickname for example.

I've given my DC more classical/ plain/ commonly found middle names which are also family names as I thought unusual x 3 was a bit of a hippy pretentious overload (so I'm not totally airy fairy) They are all family names. And I was scrupulously fair so that they each have a name from DH's family and from my family.

It's such a very personal thing I've probably offended lots of people already.

Equally, I am sure lots of people hate my children's names - I've seen at least one of them described as bully bait on this very forum! But I am genuinely interested in other people's approaches. Anybody want to share?

[cloggal]

For me, my chosen names reflect mine and DH's heritage, they are not newly coined and not diminutive. We try to get names that work for both our shared backgrounds (different nationalities and languages). Sibling names would definitely be in keeping, to us at least. The meanings are important.

However I'm not mad about whether it's overly popular or not. I wouldn't maybe choose a top 10 name, having one myself from the time I was born, but it wouldn't bother me. I also tend to favour traditional spellings but have acquiesced to some Anglicised versions where it would genuinely make things simpler depending on where we lived (if that even makes sense)

[Mrsgrumble]

I like old classic names and named mine with family in mind so there would be a history to tell them

Also one has a Christmas name as December born and middle name is grandmothers

I wanted an easy to spell name with no variations of it

[thamesk8]

I am exactly the same as OP.

I have a style, for sure, and families with names that don't go make my teeth itch! However, I feel a pat on the back is needed for those with say a Jack and Isla but try something a bit different because they are fed up with popularity for number 3!

However, I'm making a rod for my own back because I'm preg with number 2 and struggling to get the "perfect" match with my DD1.

Interesting....

[o0]

If you weren't a Scottish monarch then you've no chance with me.

Three DC all named after Scottish kings.

[GoldfishSpy]

Yup. Kings. English kings.

[Funkytown]

i don't have a style i just pick a name that i like and use it
one of my children have what has been described as a chav name think jayden, kayden ect
and the other has a totally different name perhaps less chavvy i don't know.
(when i told someone i hadn't seen in a while his name i was told it was poncy

[CaptainAnkles]

I like very normal names, I suppose. They tend to be popular ones but I think they're popular because they're nice names. Both of my DC's names have been in the top charts for the last few years. I wouldn't be brave enough to use anything too unusual in case they got picked on for it.

[BiancaDelRio]

I have a style I think.

My kids have names that are....

1. Family names. DD is named after my Great Aunt, DS after my Grandad.
2. Down to earth and slightly old fashioned/retro.

1. Both are diminutive names. We're not posh enough for the full versions .

1. Really not commonly used at all. DD is the only one of her name in the whole school. Pretty sure DS will be the same.

[NeedaDiscoNap]

I know what you mean about brothers/sisters with the same type of name - I have a real thing about siblings with names that don't 'go' - I especially dislike an older name with a very modern one. My DH and other people I've mentioned this to think I'm mad though!

I love old lady/old man names. Just as well I will only have one DC. It's a minefield!

[Notso]

All my 4 DC first names have been described on MN as being 'of the moment' even though they are quite old fashioned names.
This hasn't been intentional and so far they are the only one in their year with their name.
Two have diminutive names, I have a diminutive name. I don't see the point of having a birth certificate name that will never be used, or the need for options.

They all have traditional middle names, two have middle names of my family members, one has a saints name to reflect my birthplace and one has a family name from DH's side.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

I dont care what the meaning of a name is. I will use a diminutive of a name on the Birth Cert if I love it (but dont love the longer version), and whilst I don't need the names to match per se, I do give consideration to the names.

DDs name is a diminutive, and DSs name isnt, however because DDs name is uncommon, we wanted an uncommon name for DS too.

[Ludways]

I like what I'd probably describe as traditional names, not retro chic but that there definitely would be others in the school, I don't understand the avoid the top 100 malarkey.

DS has a fabulous name, I know others would think it's boring but I love it. A biblical name that's probably been in the top 50 for about 500 years, lol

DD, her name is beautiful IMO but not twee. It wasn't in the top 100 in the year since she was born but within 2 years was in the top 10. I like to think I set the trend

Both names have popular diminutives but both use their full names. Although DS is 13 and most of his mates call him by our surname which is unusual and pretty cool.

[shoobidoo]

I love underused classics. Names that are known but not trendy.

[Marshpillow]

My own name is uncommon and I hate constantly correcting people's pronunciation of it (it makes me feel awkward) so we've gone for a slightly common/popular name for our DD so she shouldn't have to correct people the majority of the time! It's also, in my opinion, and strong and confident name for a girl/woman, which was important. If we have another baby our names are already picked out for either sex, both of which are "strong" and common/popular/easily pronounced!

[Interrobang]

We have one child and one on the way.
Child one has a name that he shared with no more than ten in the year he was born.
Child two will have a marginally more popular name, but certainly outside the top 100. Was outside the top 300 last I looked.

Now whilst my DC have very unusual names, I also wanted names that were adaptable. Child one has various nickname options, mostly mainstream names so if he doesn't like having such an unusual name when he is old enough to understand such things, he can easily go by a more mainstream nn. Same for DC2 though slightly less so than DC1.
I think they will make a perfect sibset.

I like a good meaning. I have ruled out fabulous-sounding names if they don't have a good meaning.

I like word names. Both of mine are Scrabble-acceptable!

I do not like matching initials. We all have unique first name initials. DCs and I do all have the same middle initial though. DC1 was by coincidence, DC2 by design. DH does not have a mn, poor thing.

Their middle names are actually a pair, like Romeo and Juliet. They are both a bit more out there than Romeo and Juliet though.

I do not like family names AT ALL. My children have/will have names that are totally theirs, not a hand-me-down.
No royal names, no religious names.

[realHBh]

My eldest is Scarlett (planned to be India and Indi for short but a close friend named her child India 5 days before mine was born!) ... I love the colour red and I was convinced 2nd baby would be a boy so hadn't put too much thought into a girls name, she is called Sienna .... love the name and the city/colour (tho' didn't want to spell it like the city Siena) I studied art/photography and was a makeup artist, colour is a big thing for me..didn't think about the 2 names beginning with S, wasn't deliberate ! Just the names we liked the best. Scarlett is 12 and Sienna 9... names were a lot less popular when they were born.

[PacificDogwood]

4x one syllable names - good for shouting!

Jack, stop it! NOW!!

[rockinrobintweet]

we called our first daughter Scarlett after not knowing sex and not naming her for a week (we thought we were having a boy and hadn't considered girls names we both liked. i wanted Diana or Ophelia whereas DH liked more "upto date" names like Rosie or Kiera.) it's probably accurate that it took us a while to truly love name Scarlett but she has very traditional middle name (Eleanor) from my g.grandmother and fitted our baby perfectly!

once on the Scarlett band wagon we decided the colour red may be am interesting theme. it took us a while to LOVE another name however and ended up choosing Roselyn for dd2 nn Rose (DH happy!!) and now planning for dc3 and discussing names!

Third girl we're thinking Poppy as think the 3 names sound lovely together and continues our red 'theme'.

A boy we quite like Robin however the R for Roselyn and R for Robin is yet to sit perfectly. DH is Spanish and red in Spainish is Rojo (said Rocco) but don't think it 'fits' with Scarlett and Roselyn. any thoughts whilst this thread continues? or any more red themed names people have tucked away?

my pet hates with names are the first letter theme where parents end up with Chloe, Carley, Craig and Clarissa.

prior to having Scarlett we had never considered a theme though!!!

[rockinrobintweet]

realHBh must have been typing as you posted. have never met another Scarlett mommy!!!

[Twinklestar2]

I like classic names that are easy to spell and pronounce and reflect mine and OH's heritage.

Hate granny/old man names.

Hate cutesy name ending in -ie.

[RueDeWakening]

I like classic names, standard/common spellings, sitting around positions 50-100 in the annual name popularity chart. IE names that people will know, but not so common that you meet one every day.

Not a fan of "new" names, or names with unusual spellings.

Don't mind where they're from - of our three kids, we have two with a Hebrew-origin first name, one with an Old English name, and DH and I with a Gaelic and a Greek origin name repectively, while our surname is from Norman French. Which I like to think of as a traditionally British approach :o

[Interrobang]

rockin, loving your red theme!

Some great red boy ideas here: www.thinkbabynames.com/names/1/red.

[TheScottishPlay]

Scottish King here too.

[marshmallowpies]

I like (for a girl) names ending in A
Must have at least 2 syllables as we have a 1 syllable surname.

Always prefer giving a proper full name but happy for them to be shortened or have nicknames given.
As long as they've got the choice to use the long version or a nn when they're older, I want them to have the option and not have us impose a choice on them.

Girls names I like tend to be very traditional or classical (especially Roman) or from Shakespeare. Boys names, completely by contrast, I love Scottish names, for no particular reason - I'm not Scottish!

[VainVulva]

Not common but not batshit crazy either, two syllables, simple (ie not frilly) was our criteria....we ended up with Eli and Aphra!