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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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Snap8TheCat · 25/06/2017 20:51

Popular name.

bridgetreilly · 25/06/2017 20:58

Ignatius.

Enidblyton1 · 25/06/2017 21:01

Probably the common name, but really impossible to say unless you tell us the names.

Lemondrop99 · 25/06/2017 21:02

Flip a coin. You don't have to go with the result but your initial gut reaction to the result (happiness or disappointment) might make you realise you actually have a preference for one of them

Malfoyy · 25/06/2017 21:02

Unpopular name. That's what I've done with my son. It's number 7474 or something!

I like a lot of George type names but like you say, I know a lot of Georges!

Hassled · 25/06/2017 21:03

I really don't know. I have an unusual name - people my age don't know how to spell it or pronounce it (although it seems to be getting more "known") and as a child/teenager I hated it. I'd have loved to have been a Joanna or an Emma or a Sarah when I was at school.
But now, as an adult, I'm glad I have my name. I don't know anyone else with the same name, and I like that. It makes me stand out a bit, and I'm otherwise pretty nondescript.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 25/06/2017 21:04

Unusual.

Sycamorewindmills · 25/06/2017 21:08

Popular safe name

BattyBagshot · 25/06/2017 21:09

We need to know the names...

SeveredPixieBits · 25/06/2017 21:11

Unusual, all the way.

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.

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 21:16

Unusual not weird though.Grin

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.

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.

LemonBreeland · 25/06/2017 21:30

Unusual

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 25/06/2017 21:35

Just a regular name.

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)

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).

IceLollyInThePaddlingPool · 25/06/2017 21:36

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

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.

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.

strawberrypenguin · 25/06/2017 21:55

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

ShinyGirl · 25/06/2017 21:57

Iggy for sure

greendale17 · 25/06/2017 22:04

Ignatius reminds me of an old Spanish man