Regretted an unusual name?

Imo having an unusual name makes you an intriguing person!!
More character too!

With our DD, I wanted a really unusual name. DH wanted something really popular. We went with something in the middle. It's unusual for her age group, but is an established name which most people from lots of different countries recognise, can spell and pronounce easily. We have a bit of a mix of cultures in our families and are likely to live abroad at some point, so it was important it worked in other cultures.

Tbh, I was a bit miffed at first that I didn't get my more 'out there' choice, but it was the right compromise for us. I haven't met a baby with the same name yet and, realistically, I think I might have cringed saying the 'out there' name aloud for a little while. It also could have ended up being a pain in the arse to spell out all the time if we moved abroad.

We are now TTC DC2 and I would now go for a similar, not too popular, but well known name over anything really unusual. I certainly wouldn't set out to find an unusual name, as Sod's law says that the minute I did that, it would become hugely popular anyway .

If both you and your DP love a name which happens to be unusual over anything else, then go for it. If you only like it because it's unusual, then I probably wouldn't. You have no idea if your DC will share your enthusiasm for its unusual-ness. Or, they could get to school and there would be several in the class with the same name. That's no problem if you really love the name anyway, but would be annoying if you only love it because it's unusual iyswim.

My friend mentioned the other day that she regretted the name she chose for her DD (Zara). I think it's a fab name and suits DD perfectly, but apparently she and DH chose it on a whim and she's really gone off it. DD is 9 btw and she's regretted it for years apparently

It really depends on what you mean by unusual.

If it is a recognisable name that is rarely used, then no probelm.
If it is a word that is easy to hear/pick up then not too bad, loads of those around.

If it is really out there weird that everyone needs to hear it 10 times before they can remember it, then really not so good, and setting them up for a lifetime of boring repetition.

Having said that, many ordinary names have alternative spellings (Katherine/Catherine) so even then they can spend their life having to say 'Katherine with a K'

I know a couple of people with very unusual names who hated the fact that they said their name and people looked puzzled and asked her to repeat, every single time. I also have a friend with a very boring one syllable first name followed by one syllable surname and she hates how dull and boring her name is.
Can't win really!

We chose an unusual name for DD and will choose unusual names for future DCs. No regrets whatsoever :)

My son has an unusual name, he is now 14 and he loves it and owns it. We have never regretted it however when he was younger he struggled to understand why he could never find anything with his name on. He did have personalised items but we had to get them made. I would do it again if I was ever planning on more children.

My DS has an unusual name - one of 18 in England and Wales in the year or his birth - not once have I regretted it.

The name is unusual as in have never met another but not 'out there' - it's a real name iyswim not made up unusual. I couldn't imagine him with a different name now. He's 4.

I don't regret it now (DD is 18m) but it took me a while to "own" it IYSWIM. When people asked her name at first I always seemed to feel the need to add "... bit weird I know but we like it". I annoyed myself! Still love her name, though I'm sure I would have loved a more popular name just as much if it was my lovely DD's name

DD's name is pretty unusual.
It's really rare but not unusual in the sense that people have never heard of it... But many say that it's the first time they have actually met a (insert her name).

I've never regretted it, no.

Not in the slightest: I would definitely choose an equally unusual name for a second DC if we have one.

We chose an unusual name and didn't regret it, if that's any help! Our DS is now nearly 5.