Kyle...

I will never understand why folk post on Baby Names.

You asked for opinions (from a bunch of strangers) - you got 'em.

bit like Burberry, I suppose. Hijacked.

I'm really sorry that you were upset by this, Theonly...I can only echo Showy's sentiments.

What occurs to me is that certain beautiful, strong and traditional names that have stood the test of time, over centuries perhaps, have sometimes been hijacked by less 'nice' people for other reasons - that they are easy to spell and shout say, being the obvious one.

Or that they sound aspirational, etc etc

and then they become trendy and a certain type of person will want to follow trends in the fear that they might not be quite normal enough otherwise. And want to fit in.

Thus you get a great name being totally ruined. It's also partly wanting to be different, the K thing, I think - among those with little or no imagination - so going from another one syllable 'common' name such as Carl, to spelling that with a K and then Kyle was a bit different, and still really easy to spell and so on and it just appealed to that sort of person.

It doesn't mean it's a crap name. It just means it's been taken over by horrible - or maybe just not very educated - people. And that certainly doesn't mean that intelligent people don't have sons called Kyle as well, or that the children of those who used it from a fashion perspective are not also lovely children.

It's merely associations that people are commenting on.
I hope that helps a bit but it probably doesn't - my efforts at analysis aren't often very successful!

we have lots of Kyles round here it is very popular.

We are not in Scotland, and I am sure that in Scotland it has a different feel, as it is a strong Scottish name.

Unfortunately around here it is very much as Santaslittelmonkeybutler said. The families who have kids called Kyle would mostly be the sort that Jeremy Kyle has on his show.

And I agree with onesleep, they are closely related to Jayden, Kayden, Hayden. Their sisters are Keira and Kayley.

On the other hand, I always think that in the end the child makes the name their own.

Just to add, two out of three of my DCs have names that are routinely berated on MN! I just don't get all precious about it!

My husband's lovely nephew is a Kyle, but despite his fabulousness, I've never much liked it as a name, somehow. I think it's very dated for me, to around the time of his birth, when I think it was very popular. It just seemed that around then ('my' Kyle is 27), there were a lot of Kyles and Adams, and they always had sisters called Chloe...

well said showy. i do think theres a line though, between expressing a strong opinion, and being a bit rude. im sure iv probably crossed it myself and whilst its undoubtedly easier to be honest here than in real life we should all try not to make comments that might be hurtful (im not saying anyone has here btw). lots of pregnant emotional types on baby names......

it wouldnt be one id choose myself but its a strong name and i like it. it makes me think of a dashing american with british heritage (the chap in desperate housewives and twin peaks!) and a shame there are so many negative comments.

i always find it funny when people (esp teachers) say "all the boys called kyle are naughty"; or perhaps just all little boys are naughty!

as for chavvy i disagree. and even if in some areas it does have that connotation presumably you would have to exhibit other chavvy behaviours to earn that title?!

Theonlyone, chin up. This thread is not about your wonderful boy. I think the important thing to remember about baby names is that when you ask for an opinion, you are asking for an opinion about the name alone. You have to stop yourself from hearing it as an opinion on your child, particularly when you're not the one who asked the question in the first place. Names do not make a child, we all know this. Every child transcends their name. But, people ask for opinions because they want to know how a name might be received. Some people are bolder in their opinions than others and I know when I've asked about names on here in the past, I've wanted complete honesty because you don't get it in real life. I've heard all sorts of things said about my dc's names on here and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I like their names and I am happy with my choices.

We tend to form opinions and make assumptions and comparisons based on previous experiences. This is a useful skill to have. It's not a skill you can switch off and in the same way that we see faces in burnt toast and elephants in cloud formations, we see patterns in name trends where we live. I might reasonably make assumptions what a sibset named Elfijn, Peace and Honeysuckle is like, I might feel I can make an educated guess about certain aspects of their lives might be like. I may be similarly inclined to think of a sibset comprised of Ptolemy, Assumpta and Cressida as coming from a certain socioeconomic background. In much the same way, I think people would group together Chantal, Chardonnay and Braedon for example, through experience of them commonly occurring together and moreover, most often in groups sharing similar traits.

I think it's normal to have a gut reaction to names It's a foolish person who decides something about a child based on their name and treats them any differently because of it. But the gut reaction to a name, you can't help.

Now I'm just a middle England, boring MNer with children with boring names and lives but fwiw, I don't have any visceral reaction to the name Kyle and think it's perfectly fine. Not my kind of name but that's just a matter of preference. I think at a push, in England it suffers from its association with K names which aren't particularly well received by some people. I think I'd expect a Kyle to perhaps be Scottish. Beyond that, I have no basis for reference.

Oh and it certainly doesn't upset me when people say stuff about his name either, he is who he is, name or not.

Ahem. My Kyle is 26 and just gorgeous. He was bullied at school and has borne his illness with bravery and dignity, he is handsome and loyal and adores his little sisters.
Not always a bad name.

TheonlyoneIknow I ended up getting so narked on a thread where people were -bitching about-- discussing one of my dc's names that I ended up hiding it. It's not worth the aggro. Don't get upset.

Have you bothered to read Theonlyones posts?

All the Kyles I've come across are naughty boys!

The Kyle in DD' s class (aged 8) told the year group about Chucky....enough said

Don't let the idiots get you down.

Don't be upset - there are loads of lovely Kyles around - but yes get some festive cheer and have a lovely Christmas with your - no doubt - lovely son

See, I am actually crying now. It really hurts to hear comments like that about your child's name. Yes of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but I just don't see the need to be so nasty about it.

I often post on this board and yes, if I didn't like a name I would say so but I wouldn't be mean about it.

His middle name is a surname (which is also 'chavvy' according to MN) but it is after a very close family member who passed away.

Thanks those of you that said you liked his name and stuck up for me!

Think I will go back to the Christmas threads for some festive cheer.

It's not the sodding male version of sodding kylie

It's from a Scottish surname which was derived from Gaelic caol meaning "narrows, channel, strait

OP you could try Caol ?

It's the fact that it's the female version of Kylie that puts me off it I think…and I like Kylie (Minogue, that is).

The OP has asked for opinions and I have given mine.

Kyle is a lovely Scottish name

You're not too soft, theonlyoneiknow, or if you are then so am I - I was hurt on your behalf by some of those comments and if someone said stuff like that about my kids' names I would surely cry. But go on, tell us his middle name!

usualsuspect, Alex/Edward/James/John/Matthew/Stephen/Mark etc etc.

Theonlyone, Baby names is the pits of MN.

It's full of middle England posters with their boring childrens names and lives.

Kyle is a fine name.