to think kids don't get bullied for their names these days

40 years ago at my school there were 3 or 4 proper boho familes with unusual kids names. Rural community. People didn't laugh or tease, but it was a sort of talking point - almost separating their kids out from the herds or Sarahs, Marks and Carols.

It's bizarre to me that people think that because they don't know anyone bullied for their name then children must not be bullied for their names at all anywhere. I don't know anyone bullied for being black - does that mean it doesn't happen? If you're being bullied then the bully will pick on anything especially if it's something that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Both my children have been picked on in school for their surname. This is in a diverse school in a city. The positive comment I would make is the school made it clear this was absolutely unacceptable and were very tough on the kids concerned. So I’m sorry but if you think we are fully past that kind of thing I think you are wrong.

I guess it depends on how bad the name is

I can still see Fanny’s and Dick’s having their names laughed at

Actually I laughed at a new colleagues surname the other day but it is particularly amusing. Can't say because it's extremely outing I imagine but never at a kids name.

My dc go to a very diverse city primary and secondary. There's such a wide variation of names from all over the world that I would have never heard at their ages but it's just the norm for them. Add in all the new British 'made up' names, Nevaeh and the likes, which there actually isn't that many of here but they still hear over SM etc, unless it's totally embarrassing like fanny or rhymes with something particularly funny or rude then I doubt names are going to be an issue these days.

I live in london and the boys definitely take the piss out of names and appearance, my kid gets called a nerd for wearing glasses and peter from family guy etc.

and they deliberately say his name wrong to annoy him, theres always a few kids that do it and there always will be.

Plus - what’s wrong with Bruno?

The current Disney cartoon Encanto has a song called 'We don't talk about Bruno' which is very popular like now. I suppose it's the opposite of DD2 being furious with me as a small child when she discovered we considered calling her Elsa but didn't, she was obsessed with Frozen back then.

I don’t see the point of this post.

You are just being happy less kids are bullied for the reasons you were. Kids are still bullied, what kids are bullied for changes all the time. It always has done depending on what’s popular/not in each generation.

I was thinking this when I read a thread on unusual names the other way (Apricot, Ember etc). There is such diversity in naming here in London I think it would be pretty unusual for someone to get teased.
The only kids I can think of in twenty years of parenting who've changed their names have been ones who were named abroad and found their names really didn't work in English.

Probably in large part depends where you are as well? In London or Manchester you would be far less likely to be teased because you have got a funny sounding name.

If you’re somewhere quite rural where immigrants are still a talking point it’s much more likely that you would.

I've had a child send me DMs about being Jewish and a white supremacist (because apparently, I CAN wear both those hats. Yay, me!), stupid, ignorant etc. I'm half Jewish, non-practicing, but still... it cut me to the quick. And really, deeply hurt. A 12-year-old had this 50-year-old in tears. So imagine what our kids feel like? Bullying my DD was not enough for this kid. The tentacles reached me, the parent.
I sort of wish they'd just tease you about your name! It would be so much... well, lighter!

Is teasing now the same as bullying?
Plus - what’s wrong with Bruno?
I’m not in touch with popular culture.

I agree OP. I have a weird foreign name and was teased but did not give
a fuck. Most people think I am a man before they meet me. I fucking love it. I don’t think being laughed at did me any harm at all.

Depends on age. DD in primary has never commented on a child's unusual name. I think at that age they wouldn't even connect names to rude words etc. Same goes for ginger hair, glasses etc so pp is right, hate usually comes via adults.

I have to be honest though, I work in a role with vulnerable children and I see certain names come up again and again as well as very unusual names and unusual spellings. Obviously I try not to judge but I can understand why adults associated certain names with certain behaviour. Although I would never ever say this out loud obviously but I do think it's human nature. Bullying is of course never OK.

Kids do get bullied for their names, I have evidence of that but won't mention the name.

I asked a friend who works in a private primary school this snd she rolled her eyes at me and said yes of course they do! 'Bullying' is a strong word but they certainly get teased.
My own daughter has auburn hair and even she gets called out for it - not always in a negative way (many adults say how beautiful a colour it is) but she hates being singled out as the one 'ginger' or 'one with the hair'.

If the school has a problem with bullying, bullies will bully over absolutely anything. It will be whatever the victim is sensitive about.

My dd has an unusual name and was not bullied for it at all in primary school in the 90s, because the school had a lovely ethos.

I would say that over time, many of the things that bullies pick on change.

To some extent I think it's a little misguided to concentrate too much on the things that bullies focus on. Often, not always but often, bullies choose a person to attack for completely different reasons, and simply will use any plausible excuse to do so. If the victim has any kind of difference that will be picked up on, the important thing is that it is mean and hurts the person being bullied as much as possible.

Names are so varied now that unusual ones aren't so much a focus.