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Baby names

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

Original poster

Would you rather...

85 replies

Gremlinothefirst · 25/06/2017 20:48

... have a really unusual name (ie not in the top 1000 names in the U.K. but is not a made up name) that might (or might not) put you at risk of teasing at school, or have a common, traditional name that is having a surge in popularity right now such that you'd probably know lots of others your age?

This is the choice we are trying to make for our son, born last week, no name! I don't want to say what the names are but it would be the equivalent of Ignatius versus George.

Lack of sleep is making it very hard to think straight. Help!

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Original poster
Gremlinothefirst · 25/06/2017 22:24

Thanks for your responses so far... oh dear seems like a split opinion! I don't want to say the names because the unusual one is so identifying. The unusual one is not a horrible or embarrassing name, I don't think. Some people won't like it tho just cos no one likes everything and unusual names tend to be more decisive by their nature (otherwise they'd be popular!)

Yes we will probably give both, one as middle name so there will be a choice when he is older either way - to be more or less unusual depending. Literally cannot go back to the drawing board, it took us long enough to get to these names! DH is probably more keen on the unusual one. I am more risk averse. So stressed and don't want to make the wrong decision.

OP posts:
HolyGhost · 25/06/2017 22:20

My son's name didn't even appear on the stats for his year of birth, which will tell you where I stand on it. He's never been teased, either, despite being in a class with three Alices, two Imogens, two Georges, two Louis, a Jack, a Harrison and a Harry. I don't see why he would, any more than the Sikh boys are for their long hair, mini-turbans, and Sikh names.

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 25/06/2017 22:19

Popular name.

reuset · 25/06/2017 22:19

they were* also sensible

reuset · 25/06/2017 22:18

It depends on the names, and how unusual the unusual name really is. I received a few PMs off the back of a recent thread of genuinely unusual, but they also sensible, 'proper' names. Something along those lines would be fine.

Hotpinkangel19 · 25/06/2017 22:14

Common

ScarletSienna · 25/06/2017 22:14

If you can already guess there's a risk of teasing because of the unusual name then definitely the popular name.

squoosh · 25/06/2017 22:10

DH has a classic but old fashioned name that isn't that popular (Norbert) and he hates it.

Poor bloke! It doesn't get much worse than Norbert really. What were his parents thinking I wonder.

WithCheesePlease · 25/06/2017 22:07

Difficult to say as there's unusual names that sound really nice, even if you've never heard them before, and there's some which sound awful. Equally there's popular names that are nice and not nice.... Give us a hint 😏

RaingodsWithZippos · 25/06/2017 22:06

Common name. DH has a classic but old fashioned name that isn't that popular (Norbert) and he hates it. He goes by his middle name because he was teased at school. His siblings all have much more normal names.

greendale17 · 25/06/2017 22:04

Ignatius reminds me of an old Spanish man

ShinyGirl · 25/06/2017 21:57

Iggy for sure

strawberrypenguin · 25/06/2017 21:55

Which one suits him best? Go with that one with the other as his middle name

Jooni · 25/06/2017 21:54

Yes we need to know the names! Wink

But if you think there's even the remotest risk of teasing then I'd go with "George", maybe with "Ignatius" as the middle name.

BuffyFan · 25/06/2017 21:37

Is both a possibility? Ie traditional first name and unusual middle name?

To be honest if you're that undecided I'd be tempted to go back to the drawing board, you're clearly not that happy by either name.

IceLollyInThePaddlingPool · 25/06/2017 21:36

I know two ignatiuses and only one George so it depends if you live somewhere ridiculous like me.

squoosh · 25/06/2017 21:36

All depends on the names in question. I'd rather not have a massively common name but having said that I would far rather be called the über popular Kate (for example) than the very rare Blodwyn (for example).

krakentoast · 25/06/2017 21:35

Go for unusual!

I have an extremely common name - was one of six in my class at school and tons more on my course at university. It's still consistently in the top 20, still considered a "classic" traditional choice and is recommended all the time on here as being timeless etc, but I always hated being one of so many and always having to be known as Sarah C by everyone. My name isn't actually Sarah but there were five of those in my class too, and it's the same kind of thing!

I don't mind it quite so much now I'm an adult and everyone can spell and pronounce it etc. But I still know tons of others. Put it this way - I'm pregnant now and am definitely going to give my baby an unusual name. My mum has a very unusual name and she loves being different (apparently she let my dad choose my name Hmm)

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 25/06/2017 21:35

Just a regular name.

LemonBreeland · 25/06/2017 21:30

Unusual

GraceGrape · 25/06/2017 21:28

Popular. It is a pain to have to correct pronunciation/spelling of your name throughout your life and some children will not want the attention an unusual name brings.

SuperBeagle · 25/06/2017 21:25

I'd rather have a popular but classic name like George.

My name is Elizabeth, so that's a sort of equivalent. I've never had to worry about people spelling or pronouncing it correctly, but I've also never had to be worried about my anonymity or lack thereof.

friedegs · 25/06/2017 21:16

Unusual not weird though.Grin

DramaAlpaca · 25/06/2017 21:16

The traditional name, definitely. I would never knowingly put my child at risk of teasing.

friedegs · 25/06/2017 21:15

I had the same dilemma OP. I have a very unusual name as do many of my friends. I love it that we don't have to explain who is who. Consequently I went for unusual over popular for DC. Don't regret it and kids are happy.