Unusual names

Lots of names historically were for one sex and are now for both or more commonly the other.

If there's a girl called Rory, it's a girls name.

Sorry but no , Rory is a male name, the original Gaelic name is certainly male. It happens to be my sons name , the fact that someone has decided to give the name to a female does not male it unisex. It is an example of using names in a silly way. Would you call a boy Suzanne for example? I know I sound annoyed and I am precisely for that reason. As it means red king` to me that says it all.

If its tiana I like it, that's a totally acceptable name unless I'm missing something?

We called DD an unusual (but known) first name and she goes by another unusual (but again known but not by everyone) nickname. My mum out right hated the nickname to start with and tried to call her by the full name. Always told her friends her grandchild was named the full name.

Had a few friends who don’t like the full name.

But I chose and told everyone the name before she was born, and I love it and she suits it and I am very glad I went with a name I enjoyed and didn’t listen to those who thought we should go ‘safe/boring/same as everyone else’.

Appreciate other people have a different approach and if that suits them great. Stick to what you want.

Rory is unisex. Roger taylor has a daughter named Rory.

But Rory is a boys name

I have a unusual name myself and never minded. Dd3 is introverted (fits classic description) and also doesnt mind her unusual name

I hope it's Esmeralda, I LOVE that name.

Aurora was also on my list (especially as I love the nickname Rory) but unfortunately decided it was too 'normal' for our tastes.

Cinderella?

My guess is Esmeralda!

In all seriousness unusual is fine as long as it didn't go out of favour due to some terrible association (e.g. Judas!).

If it's a disney princess name that's unlikely.

But make sure it's a name that can sound serious in a business setting.

It's Merida, isn't it?

I have an unusual name, I've never met or heard of anyone else with it as a first name, only a few with it as a surname.
Honestly, I hate it and unless you're an extroverted person it's horrible to have. DM said she loves it because it's a "film star name". Well I have no interest in being famous, nor do I want to spell my name out to anyone who has to write it down.
Anyone I contact via email thinks I'm male, even if I sign it off "Miss my name".

Both of my DC have uncommon (in my area at least) but definitely used names.

I think I'm just projecting you can name your child whatever you like regardless of your friends/family think, names are often cute for small children but consider how your little one might feel as a teenager and adult.

One of my dc's names is a very popular name in a foreign country but it is so rare in this country that there hasn't been a SINGLE child with this name in the years between my dc's birth until 2017. I bloody love the name! I was absolutely adamant that DC would be called this. I'm sure, behind my back, some people have thought it is awful, although plenty of people have said they love it. My MIL absolutely cannot stand the name and told me so unequivocally . She hates it so much that she has tried to make up other names for DC until we told her to stop!

Ds2 uncommon but not unusual name. He loves it and has grown into it. He loves the fact no other child in his large secondary shares his name.

Both my dds have unusual names, less than 3 in the year they were born, one is a definite name, the other a hybrid and ungoogleable...always had compliments, never anything negative, and no one ever forgets their names!

I meant to add that her middle name is even less common than her first and completely unpronounceable by my side of the family! lol I LOVE it so much and it's just so totally her.

We gave DD1 a very unusual name - a historical and classical one - but very unusual! We didn't tell a soul during pregnancy as no one I know likes the same name styles we do and I didn't want any criticism. I told one or two people who I knew loved the same sort of things we did!

We then had a bit of a disaster during the pregnancy and during that awful time I decided to tell my family our chosen name (incase we lost the baby - happily we didn't). I was a bit calculating as I knew full well they couldn't say anything awful about her name when we were under such a risk of losing her!

I have absolutely NO regrets about my name choice and I love it to bits. I would use it all over again if I could! I've not been met with any overtly negative comments at all since she was born- which in a way I find a little disappointing I'm always up for defending it!

However, my father dearest did say to me that at the time he felt that her name was going to be more of a difficulty than the disability that she has! That hurt like hell. I reminded him of what he said last week, and he was utterly mortified and apologetic!

In my experience, people don't question your choices so much once the baby is there. That name simply becomes their identity, no matter how unusual. However, I will certainly NOT be telling anyone our name plans for baby number two (unless - heaven forbid - we have a similar awful experience!) and I cannot wait to announce it in 8 months time

My advice is stick to you gut and don't tell anyone about it - they'll only put you off and so many people can be a little put off or frightened by unusual names!

(They're going to be bullied... my ass!)

Aurora or Belle is a lot better than Pocahontas or Tiana.

Named after a Disney character? Hope it's not Ariel! There are worse things than having someone else with the same first name.

Two rules for baby naming

1: you choose
2: never discuss it with family or friends in advance!

Totally depends - is it unusual or made up/'yoounniiiique'? Is it a less unusual name but spelt differently? Does it mean something offensive (there was a thread on here not long ago about someone wanting to call their little boy 'Aryan' - as in the race which Hitler believed to be superior!).

If it is just unusual then don't worry about it. If it is ridiculous or offensive then think of the impact it will have on your child as they grow up.

This ^

Through work, I come across so many ridiculous names - you just have to feel sorry for the dc growing up, having someone comment on it every time they meet someone.

3 of my 4 have unusual names dd3 has had a rise lately as Irish and they are popular.. ds and dd2 are Conrad and Eloisa very few named this each year (Eloisa I have never met any of and only 1 other Conrad)

they are all teenagers and I still LOVE their names.. They also like them so that's a bonus