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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

What do you consider an 'out there' name?

36 replies

allrags · 08/06/2012 16:04

Just wondering, as I don't want something too unusual for DD. It's not always easy to tell what would be regarded as 'out there' from the baby name statistics as some perfectly well known, 'normal' names are only used a few times each year. Examples much appreciated.

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caerlaverock · 08/06/2012 19:51

Ptolemy is a great name!

yellowflowers · 08/06/2012 19:50

All the names that are frequently on there boards that MNetters pretend they love but I bet would never use. Like Ptolemy and Percy and Horace and Hadley and Waterfall and Ariadne.

jaffacakehips · 08/06/2012 19:43

Bibi 'out there' Hmm it's on our list as a nn for Beatrice. Oh well Grin

I guess it's what you are used too hearing.

StepOutOfSpring · 08/06/2012 19:21

Atticus, Ptolemy, Quentin, Horace, Cordelia, Cecily, Ophelia, Persephone. Funnily enough I'd say Star, Tallulah, Red are much nicer and not as "out there"! But then I'm not very posh and a bit of a hippie :o

freerangeeggs · 08/06/2012 18:03

I disagree strongly with aliportico. There are many, many rare 'actual names' that I would consider to be completely unusable and ridiculous and that would potentially make the bearer a laughing stock. Equally,there are lots of made-up names that fit in with current trends.

I think it's all about context really. I'm from Scotland but live in SE England and many of the names that would be considered quite commonplace and attractive down south are utterly ridiculous up north.

Lunarlyte · 08/06/2012 17:58

Quite right, sugar - I think a good measure of a name that is too 'out there' is one that wouldn't suit a child, but is perfect for a pet.

Hence why our dog is called Bibi!

The worst name for weirdness in my honest opinion is Sholto. I think it sounds like a horse.

sugarspiceandallthingsnice324 · 08/06/2012 17:50

I would consider Biba, Bibi, Phoenix, Star, Red, Trixie, Tallulah out there names. I don't dislike the names but they are certainly not super popular and generally children with such names belong to creative parents.

DidYouPackThePassport · 08/06/2012 16:25

Please, please, please, give some thought to how the child might feel about their name when they get older. Don't let your desire for originality make their life a misery! What's In A Name?

aliportico · 08/06/2012 16:22

Anything that has been actually made-up. Or has a stupid kreaytiv spelling. Or is a random noun appropriated as a name. If it's an actual name, then that's fine, no matter how rare.

fallingandlaughing · 08/06/2012 16:20

examples even

fallingandlaughing · 08/06/2012 16:19

I think it has to be a name you feel totally comfortable saying, not one you feel you have to "get away with" IYKWIM.

It is hard to give xamples without seeming bitchy.