If you decided on an unusual name did you every regret it?

DD's name is often said on MN to be uber-trendy but in fact we have barely ever met another and she is certainly the only one in her 1000-pupil school.

I think she really likes it. DS1 also has a less common name (again the only one in school tho there is another in yr 3) and he is certainly keen on the fact that he is the only one.

But I should add that neither name is unusual in the sense of made up or unheard of; just not commonly used when they were born (think WW1) - so people don't tend to raise eyebrows, I have never had anyone ask how to spell it, they just say it's their grandad's name .

I agree seeker, there is a place between Callum and Zowie.

A friend of mine called Sarah always gives you her full name when she rings up - clearly out of habit from being one of many Sarahs. I never have to give my full name as I am the only one most people know. I was unreasonably annoyed last year to discover that on my teaching course there was another one and I was suddenly Clary B, grrrr

My name is unusual. As in, I'm the only one on Google :-) It's not a made-up name, it's Welsh but not one of the obvious ones. And yes, I'm Welsh.

I LOVE my name. I don't think I could pull off a Sarah or Louise type name at all and am happy I was given something outside the box.

I desperately wanted (and still do want) Phlox for my daughter's name but it was ridiculed no end by DH's rather boring family. Except his cool sister, who loved it too... Still wish I'd ignored the lot of them.

My son has an unusual name and people have some outrageous reactions that used to make me and but now I realise it is their problem not mine I love my sons name and it suits him perfectly!

I think it also depends on your surname. I have a fairly common name for my generation (though there was only 1 stage in my life, 6th form, when there were enough others around to need additional nicknames to identify). But, I have a damn fine unusual surname. So if you google me, there's only me there. And I like that.

My DD has my DH's surname, which is a moderately well used surname. That was one of the factors in going for a more unusual first name for her.

As seeker says, there's a middle ground between Connor and Zowie. But generally the worry about 'what over people think' diminishes as you get used to being a parent... and realise that whether or not you breastfeed / let your children stand on chairs in restaurants / stay up late / walk on the pavement without holding your hand... are all ongoing 'fair game' for public approval or condemnation. So many things that people will agree with you on, or not. So you learn to thicken your skin a little. Enjoy calling your child a name you love!

Hello Brug

I think it depends on the name and exactly how uncommon it is. I don't like made-up names, or ones which sound like they were picked just to be unusual.

On the other hand, I'd prefer to use a known but less common name rather than give the world another Jack or Harry or Oliver.

I've refused to tell my parents my name choices - if they ask I tell them Wayne for a boy, Waynetta for a girl (apologies to any Waynes or Waynettas out there!)

I have a very common name (Amy) I hate being one of many Amys.

We have 98% decided on our unborn son's name, we are going to call him Elvin, 8 babies were called Elvin in the UK in 2011 and 119 were called Elvin in Sweden (we live in Sweden) when our family and friends look a little supprised we just say "oh its an English/Swedish (delete as appropriate) name" and they don't mention it again.

Hi OP, We really struggled to name our first daughter, and chose an unusual name in the end, there was no one with that name in her primary and there is one other girl in her secondary school with that name.
My son has a Finnish version of a classic name, yes, he has to spell it, but he loves his name. I know only Finnish people with that name (no, we're not Finnish, but foreign ).
My Youngest daughter has a classic name which we abbreviate to something two-syllable, there is no other child in pre-school with that name.
All children have (more main-stream) middle names they can revert to when they are fed up, but I doubt they ever will be.
You choose the name for your child. We would never ever have discussed the names with anyone. We got comments from my MIL, but then she dislikes almost any name and has recently badly affronted her own daughter by rudely commenting on the name of her first child.
You cannot please everyone, as everyone's taste is not yours!
Think ahead, will the child likely to be uncomfortable to be addressed with her/his name in public in 30 years' time? Then think again, otherwise, go with your gut feeling, or you will regret it.

DS2 has an Irish name that no one knows how to spell - there are different versions and we seem to have gone for the most complicated version! I have at times wondered if it was the right decision, but it totally suits him!!

I had an Irish mother, although am totally English myself. Little F (think sharkey) can actually spell his name (and corrected his teacher in first term of Reception!) and is very proud of his Irish origins (has only been there twice!)

We had a few looks initially, but as I say, he has made it his own, and no one has commented for a long time.

very not try

One of my DS's has a try unusual name. He is 13 and we have never met another one, and there are only two people (including him!) on fb with his name. I think a few babies have it now, but it is still well outside the top 100.

I still really love it, and lots of people comment on it and say they love it, but then people don't usually volunteer to tell you that they hate your child's name! It has been mentioned a couple of times (not by me) on MN and has received a very mixed response which is exactly as I would expect to be honest.

You can't please all the people all the time, and I can live with people hating it - the fact that he is the one and only X that any of us know, and no-one ever says 'X who?' when he is mentioned is good enough for me!

There is a middle ground between giving the world another Connor or Callum and calling your child Dayspring or Zowie.

Dh convinced me not to give ds2 the name i really wanted he is now 10 months and i regret it everyday, even dh admits that it was unfair to think about other peoples opinions before mine. There is a difference between a name that could cause your child problems and a name that just isn't very popular, try not to make a choice you will regret whichever way you go.

DS has an unusual name, he's almost 6 now and I don't regret it at all, I still love it and he is always being complemented on it.

I chose a name that isn't unusual but I get looks for the spelling of it. I don't regret the name but feel like punching every person that gives me a cats bum mouth from their ignorance.

I have a properly unusual name and my Mother should be shot for it.

But do remember that you are naming an unconsenting adult.

if you care about what other people think a lot, then CHOOSE a name that other people like a lot.

If you don't care, then you are free to do what you want.

I like the name Bear

Also a word of warning on compromising........

I was originally Helen on my birth cert. as my mum listened to other people's comments on calling me something unsual (which was in fact is her maiden name). Fast forward two months and she has me at home is is only calling me by unusual name and has come to hate Helen (sorry any Helens/people with DDs named Helen) so had to go and plead to be allowed to put it on my birth certificate. They conceeded but only allowed her to put it in front of existing name without changing paperwork, so I now have an unusal first name and EXTRA long name as I now have three middle names .

This is a heart over head issue and perhaps your mum won't love your name choice but she will get used to it.

It's also very handy as when they are being told off or talked about we know its them! Also putting their names in things, they never get mixed up with others! When my eldest started big school her friends tried to shorten her name and she said she preferred to be called by her full name so she must like it, she is shy and quiet too so you'd think having an unusual name would haunt her but it doesn't!

My very best friend at primary school was called Phaedra. We were thick as thieves until sent to different secondary schools. I often wonder what happened to her.

I think the thing that really requires thought is can the name carry to adulthood? It's less of a problem with boys names, but lots of girls names are "cute" for a baby, or girl, but will sound really childish as they age - pixie, tilly, trixie, etc etc. And whilst the child may be happy to constantly challenge expectations, I would raise an eyebrow if I was allocated a defence lawyer called daisy-doo-da (although I have an unusual name, and try to remain concious that it is a reflection of my parents tastes, not mine!)

Given that you are trying to find an unusual name suggests that the name will not be that unusual in the group you socialise with.

Read Freakonomics about naming phenomenons, the filtering down of names from higher to lower socio-economic groups, and the perception of names on acheivement. Interesting.

And search for the boy called Bear on here, if you want a warning about judgy-pants opinions about childrens names. Yes. Bear. That's on his birth certificate.