Thoughts on having a really rare name?

FWIW DD has a very unusual name
but its a family name
and is less rare in certain other countries
and she now uses a shortening of it
and it was and always be the right name for her
(she is 21 )

I never comment on these threads (because it’s none of my business) but I love the name Ariadne. Just beautiful!

Really, really don't think Ariadne is that unusual, I wouldn't bat an eyelid! I've never heard Olan but it's pretty inoffensive and straightforward. Do it!

DH has a very very unusual name, it's a family name that goes back five generations but it's so bad we stopped the tradition with DS1 immediately. I don't know anyone else except FIL with this name. DH hates it and calls himself by his middle name in embarrassment. Unless it's actually a nice name, don't do it.

My name is uncommon but not rare, 30 odd years ago I used to get fed up of spelling it out for people and 90% of people would always get the first letter wrong which I thought was weird. Sometimes I used to feel embarrassed saying it although I didn't say that to my parents.
These days I don't have to spell it out for people and although it's not in the top 100 names I don't think it's not so uncommon as it once was.

I taught an Ariadne a few years ago, she was from a Greek family I think it’s much more popular over there. I don’t of it as a very unusual name just not a very common name. Definitely makes me think of spiders though!
Whereas as Olan I have never heard of and sounds much more unusual. I don’t really like it tbh I prefer Otis.

There have been 2 or 3 recent episodes of a podcast called The Allusionist which are about names. Lots of people's experiences of growing up with an unusual name etc. Give it a listen, it's a great podcast and it might help you to decide.

Ariadne
My mum was Welsh married to Greek cypriot. A colleague nicknamed her Ariadne. Her actual name was more French.

Love Ariadne and Olan. Eldest kids name is now in the top 50, others are one of only 20-50 kids, given that name in their birth year. One has a nickname that is getting less rare. Hated my common first name. People either chose a nickname for you or as you had an unusual surname, they used that, especially teachers etc. My other half had the same problem.

I have a very common name. Probably the most popular name ever. I hated it growing up. Interestingly now as an adult I like the anonymity that comes with it. I appreciate the fact that you can’t just google me.

I suspect the MC parental frenzy to be yoo-neek is on the wane, as it happens. In Nappy Valley where I live, we're seeing Tom and Jane a lot at christenings.

And local children are changing their own names to something less of a life challenge when they are about 9. The kids are really pleased when they've got shot of the burden.

Wow, it's lovely to hear of so many others with rare names! Mostly very positive experiences.

I have a really rare name, so much do that I'm 36 and I've never met or known anybody else in my lifetime with it. School is hard with a rare name, I would dread a supply teacher as they often pronounced my name wrong and everyone laughed.

My name was uncommon but now isn't, didn't meet another till high school and everyone used to presume I'd be a boy going by it. Now I know quite a few. My sister had a common name and I loved having a different name. My DD's have uncommon names but they aren't unusual. They are old fashion but lovely. The oldest there were only 7 born that year and the youngest was the only one born in her year, although I have heard of others. I like that they don't have to have their surname attached to the first name for someone to know who they are

We gave DD a very unusual name. But it's easy to spell and people tend to call her by the shortened version anyway. Most people absolutely love it and are curious about its origins (Scottish). I have the most boring name on Earth so I think I was compensating!

Hmm, as the mother of a child with an uncommon name, I can say it does have its frustrations. No one has ever heard of it and people always spell it incorrectly. However, my DD is a real character who I think will enjoy having such an individual name.

Now you’ve posted the names, it won’t stay rare as others will now use it.

I had Ariadne, Artemis, Athena and Hebe on my list. Agree about Ariadne Oliver though - she was a little eccentric.

I go to Starbucks with a Bob and he always says his name is Cyril so it works both ways.

I have a really unusual name as does my Daughter. I've never been bullied about it and neither has she! I've never really loved mine but I think it's because it was my Nanna's name and so I associate it with old people! Mine seems to be a mumsnet favourite-Meriel.

There’s a great podcast called The Allusionist and one of the recent episodes was interviews with people with unusual names (one was Peregrine) and how it’s affected them so could be worth a listen.

Love Olan. And I'm really fussy with boys names. I think this baby is a girl though!

I'm 42, have a rare first name and I love it. Yes it can be a pain to spell it out but I've never known anything different so...

At school (and now) people shorten it. I don't mind.

I've never met another (although I've heard they exist) and I'm sure if I ever do shake hands with another it will be like crossing the streams in ghostbusters 😂. I've now married and also have an unusual surname. Should be easy, but people just can't get it right!!

Ariadne is gorgeous! I liked Evadne too for DD.

As it happens OH approved her extremely rare name (out of use for 600 years...) And she has had a lot of approval. School friends unimpressed, it's just her name.

I have a name that was very unusual but shortened to now extremely common girls name. I didn't know anyone else with my name growing up, and my full name still very unusual, but it does feel annoying having my nickname yelled across every playground...