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Baby names

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

Original poster

Wildan

57 replies

Rose1Thornton · 14/12/2015 16:17

Okay so after lots and lot's and lot's of No's Wildan is the name we have settled on for DS, I don't care how many people think it's more of a dog's name (which seems to be everyone's answer to a name they don't like on here) I'm sticking with it unless it's universally hated.

I just want to know what you honestly think of it and what's the first think you'd think if you heard this in the playground/park/street

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Kittymum03 · 02/01/2016 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

interrobang · 18/12/2015 22:30

Well done, Wildan's mum! :) I really love different. Congratulations on your baby boy.
I also like Wilder.

beeKkay · 17/12/2015 18:55

i don't hate it but it does sound made up, like you are trying to combine William and Daniel.

LaPharisienne · 15/12/2015 17:00

I really like it. Unusual, so he'll get lots of "what?" or "William?" and maybe a few embarrassing first-day-at-school register calling things, but a small price to pay for an interesting name IMHO

Good on you! Why be boring!

timelytess · 15/12/2015 16:52

I really do think the name is horrible.

StoptheRavelry · 15/12/2015 16:52

x posts...sorry but I do actually think it's, um, horrible. Just because people don't like saying that to a stranger who appears to have decided on a name, doesn't mean they aren't thinking it?

It's a bit much to say, right, no one was searingly rude, so that means you can all live with it! Great!

momb · 15/12/2015 16:52

In the Yorkshire accent of my grandparents 'Eee, that lad's a Wild 'un and no mistake.

StoptheRavelry · 15/12/2015 16:50

Oh I can add many more adjectives if you like OP! I was just being polite...Grin

RiverTam · 15/12/2015 16:48

That's not what the OP has said. She wanted to know if anyone found the name out-and-out horrible. Which, in the main, they haven't.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 15/12/2015 15:10

With the greatest respect if you don't care what we think, and are determined to use the name, regardless of advice then why ask.
If seen it written down I'd automatically think it was prounced Wild-dan. Not Wild-dun which could also sound like Well-done.

Original poster
Rose1Thornton · 15/12/2015 13:12

@Teawater you're right, I did want people's thoughts and I'm thankful that everyone took the time to let me know what they think, it helps to now all the possible reactions will get in the future.

@buddy79 I've learnt my lesson, but if foreign / strange / dull / made up is the worst thing people can say about the name on this site then I'm pretty happy.

And to everyone saying DS will forever have to correct people and spell out his name, that's really not that big of a deal.

OP posts:
Teawaster · 15/12/2015 11:31

Whether I live in a diverse area or not is irrelevant. There are many children at my kids schools who are from diverse backgrounds and have unusual lovely names, in fact both my Ds's best friends have unusual names which originate from their parents countries. I just think it strange to give a name to a child which will cause people to question it and ask for the reasons why he was called it for the rest of his days. However each to their own. The OP wanted people's thoughts and that what she got

BendydickCuminsnatch · 15/12/2015 10:45

My first thought was is it Will-den, Wild-an, Will-dun etc... I'm glad it's Will-den. I like it. Thank god you didn't go for Archie/Harry/Oscar etc.

People on MN really make a big deal of having to correct people's pronunciation/spelling of names and it's really nothing to get in a froth over. Most non-idiotic people will need to be reminded only once or a couple of times, if that. Besides, I have a very ordinary name but am forever having to spell my last name out as it starts with an H and people can't hear Hs over the phone. Either that or people hear it as Hudson, which it isn't. Also my first name is ordinary but people still spell it wrong. So what!

FunkyPeacock · 15/12/2015 10:31

I would assume it was pronounced 'wild-un' which is slightly unfortunate, especially if your DS is a bit wayward you can imagine the comments. ..."he's a bit of a wild un"

if you live darn sarf this might be less of an issue I suppose

buddy79 · 15/12/2015 10:25

Honestly? When I saw your thread title I thought it was awful - but after a few minutes getting used to it and with the short "i" pronunciation (which I would have assumed was a long "i" from the spelling) I kind of like it now. Terrible idea to ask on here though really!!

MrsCaecilius · 15/12/2015 10:14

If you or your DH have Arabic connections then fair enough. If not, then I'm not a fan as it does sound made up.

And you won't get to choose his nn, his peers will so if Willy is a real no no, you might have to rethink.

SoWhite · 15/12/2015 07:07

It's just clicked what this name reminds me of. Walden from Two and a Half Men.

twohalfmen.wikia.com/wiki/Walden_Schmidt

mathanxiety · 15/12/2015 05:41

I don't know why but if spelled Wilden it looks better or more of a name, imo.

Like Walden (Pond)...

Sprink · 15/12/2015 01:44

Finally, that there internet thingy led me to this wonderful article.

Enjoy. Wink

Sprink · 15/12/2015 01:40

As for the idea that people can't use a "foreign" name without a connection to it, I'd suggest there would be no Daniels (Hebrew) or Sophies (Greek) in this country but we might be overrun with plenty of Aarts (male) and Synnes (female).

Thank feck for naming outside the box.

TeenageWildlife · 15/12/2015 01:32

*Wilderness

TeenageWildlife · 15/12/2015 01:32

Widerness

Sprink · 15/12/2015 01:27

I've never heard it before. I think it's a lovely name. It has a nice rhythm to it, the vowels and consonants flow nicely, and it's similar enough to the well-established "William" to make it slot right in to jolly old Blighty.

Some of the objections seem based purely on discomfort with the new or unusual.

Original poster
Rose1Thornton · 15/12/2015 01:16

I like the name and so does DH so we're sticking with it, don't really care if people don't like it and if DS doesn't like it he can always shorten it to a nn, just wanted to make sure that it wasn't too strange and the fact that a few of you even like it is a big win.

@RiverTam agreed with everything you said, thanks for saying it, so I wouldn't have to.

OP posts:
lunar1 · 14/12/2015 23:24

It sounds like when they mash up celebrity couple names to make one name.