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Baby names

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

What would you do if...

210 replies

andpropersteel · 26/05/2016 10:03

Both you and DP had settled on a name that you both love, but it was quite an uncommon name at present...

Not a 'yoonique' name.
Not a 'made up' name.

Just a name that, because it hasn't been in the top 500 since the 1950s, isn't on everyone's immediate radar?

We both really like it, and can't see anything wrong with it. It carries well from tot to adult. But there seems to be some people (on the internet, not daft/brave enough to share potential baby names in real life) who vehemently hate it looking at you mumsnet , and others (usually those who've actually met someone with this name) who love it.

Our thinking is that people are way more judgey of names when they're just arbitrary, and should we use it, it'll just become our little boy's name once people get used to it and that'll be that = new positive association. Names that are really popular now, like Henry or Gabriel for example, would have been considered ''cruel'' 10 years ago, and are totally nice names now.

We have a couple of ''back up'' names but DP in particular is really saddened to have to use those and it feels a bit weird to do so since using his ''in-utero'' name.

WWYD?

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andpropersteel · 26/05/2016 10:19

Because the point is, I don't want an opinion on the name as such, I want an opinion on the situation. If I posted the name right away it'd just be another ''what is your personal opinion of this random un-personified name'' thread.

OP posts:
HeteronormativeHaybales · 26/05/2016 10:17

Though tbh if you both love it AND it's an actual name with history, and not one of these proliferating surnames (without tradition as first names)-as-first-names, use it.

andpropersteel · 26/05/2016 10:15

Oliversmumsarmy must have been unclear, what I meant is that if you trawl through baby name threads on the internet from 10+ years ago then that's the sort of thing you see being said. Not that I think it's ''cruel'' (whatever cruel means).

OP posts:
HeteronormativeHaybales · 26/05/2016 10:14

You need to share the name!
Don't get the point of these posts when posters are not prepared to give the crucial info.

Only1scoop · 26/05/2016 10:12

What's the name

Chances are I'll love it

Oliversmumsarmy · 26/05/2016 10:10

Henry or Gabriel for example, would have been considered ''cruel'' 10 years ago, and are totally nice names now

Think some of my friends must have been really "cruel" because I know more than one Henry and Gabriel. One Gabriel is 11 years old and I know a Henry who is 13. Didn't think those names have ever been unfashionable.

What name is it?

I have a German friend who never told us her middle name. On her wedding day when it was read out their was a roar of laughter. It really was that dreadful.

PurpleDaisies · 26/05/2016 10:10

I forgot to say that in my post-if you both love it use it and don't tell a soul (in real life-tell me now!) until he's born.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 26/05/2016 10:09

I think the important going here is you and dp loving the name.

Refusenick · 26/05/2016 10:08

Use it. Why on earth wouldn't you? My son's name is so rare in this country it doesn't actually appear on the stats for the year of his birth (which means something like fewer than five little Xs were born that year, I believe?). It's a very ordinary name in other countries, having said that.

I honestly don't get the conformist 'all babies must be called George and Sophie, otherwise their parents are tryhard/chavs/wacky flaky wayout hippes/inbred poshos' approach that raises its head quite often on here. Or the 'top ten names are top ten names for a reason - they're so lovely that everyone wants to use them!' one.

PurpleDaisies · 26/05/2016 10:04

What's the name?