Thoughts on having a really rare name?

Mine isn't particuarly rare but people ALWAYS get it wrong its an enormous pain in the hole i wouldn't saddle anyone with a rare name as result.

My name is unusual but known if that makes sense. I have known of a few others in my life, but never anyone is School or a friend or at a hobby. It is a timeless name and doesn’t date and I love it.
All through school I wasntes to be called smanatha or Melanie and I am now so grateful that I wasn’t (not that they are not nice names, just very overused).

We have given DD1 an unusual but known name and a nick name that is unusual too. However I now know at least 2 others of Knick name and one other of full name a year or 2 younger.

DD2 has an even more unusual name that most people have never heard of. (16 babies named it in the US last year and none in the UK). However the male version of it is becoming more popular.

So basically you just don’t know what will become popular. Personally I love being an individual and didn’t want DD to be know. Ellie S or Milly B or little Grace in school even though I love those names.

My sister has a similar name to mine in popularity terms and feels the same as me if that helps.

It really depends on the name but personally I'd rather I and my children had names that weren't overly common, for example there's something ridiculous like ten 'Oliver's in my daughter's year group. I know some people are really keen on top ten names, but I think it's really boring.

I have an uncommon but not rare name, not met many others so it always feels like my name alone and I get a bit possessive over it when I come across others I enjoyed not being one of many at school or having to use an initial and I still like it now.

Two of my three children have unusual names but they're not silly or made up just different and rare. So far they've had no problems and enjoy being a bit different. The other one, I thought was not that common at the time but has actually become quite popular now!

My sister and I both have extremely unusual names. I love it! We have both never met anybody with our names before, everybody has always commented that we have beautiful names..I have named both my boys unusual names (but that are still easy to say and spell) and people always comment how beautiful their names are too 😊

Anything but Abcd

😂😂😂😂😂😂

My step nieces and nephews had very unusual names. They all changed them before going to secondary school. They were never bullied or teased- they just got bored with having to explain their names every time they told anyone. It got very tedious. All adults now. All still happy with the decision they made.

I can’t post on trip adviser,do online reviews or respond to community consultations without considering the impact of my posts.

Doesn't everyone choose a username that is unrelated to your real name anyway?

I would never post these things under my real name.

There were 7 girls with the same name in my class, I would not want to have a name that common. But on the other hand, there's rare and there's rare. I have one of those names that nobody knows how to spell and pronounce and unless you're Scandinavian, you couldn't even tell my gender from it. Pain in the backside. No, didn't want this for my kids. So mine have classical names people will know, but that are not anywhere near top 10.

I'm sure those with common but long names don't give their full name to Starbucks every time!

Me. I’ve never met another with the same name as me. I absolutely LOATHED it as a child. Teachers couldn’t pronounce it (unsure why not it’s literally two syllables 🙄). As I got older though i learnt to love it. I was always remembered we’re ever I went and in job interviews ect. Whilst I adore traditional names we chose Athena for our daughter...which isn’t common but it’s quite well used atm

I have an unusual name and usually go by a pseudonym in Starbucks 😬😬

Honestly I didn't like it much growing up but now I'm an adult I'm happy with it, I didn't meet another of me until I was mid-20s and that's the only one I've come into contact with.

Do kids really get teased about names!? Yes. Teenagers will use anything. As a child, blending in was all I wanted. Impossible with such a 'unique' name.

It all depends if its a 'word' or not.

Come on op, tell us the names and brace yourself!

I have a rare name. I loved being the only one as a child, I was always the only person of my name in the whole school.

However, you are right, it does remove online anonymity.

I can’t post on trip adviser,do online reviews or respond to community consultations without considering the impact of my posts.

If you google my name you can very quickly find my address, photograph names of DH, my children, my work, my hobbies etc.

Perhaps it’s a good thing as I’m very very careful what gets put out there.

I have a rare name. Not so much now but I only meet people much younger with my name.

I love it now. I don't have the whole thing of preconceived ideas about my name.

I hated it as a kid. I wanted things with my name on. Pencils bedroom door signs key rings stickers etc. But not a problem now as you can order this stuff online. Honestly that's what bugged me the most was never having my name on a pencil case.

Ha ha . Ok I admit I've not seen Darth Vader.

I know a baby Persephone. Second name is Murphy. Seems like a mismatch. And loaads of people pronounce it presser-phone.

@Winterwonderland12 if I had a pound from everyone that has ever done the heavy breathing when I’m near them I’d probably be a millionaire

Thing is names change. My name was very rare growing up, but traditional. Could never find a mug etc with my name on. Now it's exceptionally popular. It irritates me more turning me head every time I hear my name called to be honest!

Agreed Nesssie. Like you're just going to change your name one day, middle name or not!

Do kids really get teased about names!?

The only child I've heard of being teased was a little William with Willy .

But if a name is a normal name most kids are pretty accepting imo.

Those that think they can just change to middle name - doesn't help when you are a 13 year old kid.

I think Vada is beautiful and interesting! Can't see anything tease worthy about though

We're also planning to use a rare name for our daughter - I hadn't realised it was so rare (knew one at school, which according to my husband means nothing as 'Stroud is very hippy') until I researched it! It's a real name, not hard to pronounce but I too am worried about the 'looks' initially.

However, we have a really REALLY common surname, and are planning to give her a super classic and oft-used middle name so if she really hated it she could go by her middle name.

I just love the name and - obviously this might change when we meet her - but it just feels right for her, and even my husband who tbf isnt in love with the name won't entertain the idea of her being called something else as he agrees it is just her (or our idea of her, certainly).