Do you like your name?

I do now.
It's Donatella and as a child/ teen hated it. I used to shorten it to Donna to fit it. But now I like having an unusual name. My children also have Italian names but I must admit I chose names that work well in English too and nothing too unusual. I have had letters addressed to Mrs Tella before

I hated the name I was given - it was very easily turned into abusive puns, divisive associations (historical and at the time celebrity), and that the story was basically 'I had expected a boy and after days your grandmother pushed me to finally name you so picked something off of the TV'. Lots of people told me what a lovely classic name it was, but I changed the whole thing as an adult and it was such a relief.

My name now isn't out-there-weird, but it's not a classic, it's more unusual and not everyone gets the pronunciation or the spelling on the first try like the more well-known name on my birth certificate, but it has far more meaning and sounds nicer to me both in full and shortened, and having people say it right or seeing it written down still makes me smile years on.

I don't like mine, it is twee and girly in a generation where it wasn't popular. I'd be fine as a child now surrounded by Lily, Molly, Kitty etc.

I was a tomboy with the girliest name, a bad fit really. I went for a "could be anything," name for my DD.

I don’t hate mine - it’s very 1970s, so it dates me a bit, but it’s got nice friendly shortenings and it’s not too girly. It’s Nicola, but I go by Nic or Nicky.

Funny though, my middle name is Claire, which, unlike the pp above, I really like and would prefer to be called. I like the meaning (light) and the soft sound of it.

I have an Eastern European spelling of a traditional (but not particularly common) British name and I like it. I always hear people on MN discounting names because they’ll have to be spelled out, but I have to spell mine out every single time and it really doesn’t bother me at all (the pronunciation is obvious so I don’t have to correct people on that).

I like that it’s a bit different and that I’ve never met anyone else with the same name.

I really dislike my name when it's spoken. It has harsh consonants and I always think of a magpie cawing when I say it.

I spell it a way that I think looks 'softer', but obviously that doesn't help with how it sounds!

It doesn't mean anything either, in the sense of being a family name or
having been chosen for its meaning or anything. I think it was just around in the ether when I was born (mid-70s). I don't mind that per se, but it does add to my general negativity about it.

My tip is, say the names you're considering out loud and pretend to be angry/annoyed. If you feel that you sound like a magpie, cross the name off the list

I like mine, it's quite rare but you will have definitely heard of it. It's spelt incorrectly a lot of the time but I don't mind. I do wish I had a middle name though.

My name is the Anglicised version of my Italian grandmother's name. I like it now, it's a normal but not too common name, but when I was a child I used to wish my parents had stuck with the original Italian (I thought it would make me sound more exotic!)

Yes. I like the way it sounds. It's classic. It's short (4 letters, 2 syllables). It's international - it's used in other countries and is easy to pronounce (important as I studied French, lived in France for a bit and might go back - I ended up marrying a French man so we have French family and friends).

Only downside is that it's quite popular and there were always other girls with my name at school, etc. I guess you can't have it all!

I dislike my mine - ultra popular in my age cohort - you can date anyone with this name to a 3 year period in the 60s. Spent my entire school career being called 'first name, surname'. Couldn't even use first name and initial as there were 3 of us with the same surname initial. And it is a name that doesn't age well - bit too little girl for me. Definitely not a name for a high court judge or whatever the MN name test is.

Would love to be a Rose. Never got round to doing anything about it. Maybe when I run away to that idyllic island I'll change it .......

I’ve always hated my first, middle and surnames.
I’m always asked to spell my first and surnames.
My middle name was my mum’s maiden name.
How could someone who loved me so much give me these names.
Fortunately I have a nickname that is not connected to my given names.

Yes, I like it. I've never met another one (I'm 49).

I hated mine so I changed it, (Simon is nothing like my real name) I had a very distinctive Pakistani name, so I changed it to a more British name that I preferred, people can actually pronounce my name now.

@Roseredwine12 how funny! Quite different perspectives on the same name.

I do agree that it's a name that ages well, suits cute little babies and a sophisticated name for a grown woman.

Personally I wish I had a less safe name and something a bit more unusual and stronger sounding. I don't feel like it really suits me. But that's always the baby name risk isn't it?

I wouldn't pick my name no. But its grown on me over the years. Unfortunately one of the spice girls had a shortening of it and people used to call me that. I have a completely unrelated nickname that most people I know call me.

Mines Joanne, I hate it! I'm only 29 but feel as though it's a 40 years + name!

I was going to be called Charlene off neighbours though so swings and roundabouts I suppose...

I like my name, however it's the combination of my first and surname that I like. My first name (Charlotte) is fairly pretty but boring. It's good for nicknames, which I get a lot of.

My surname is more of a "wow" name and I tend to introduce myself using my full name as people will then remember the whole name where as just Charlotte feels a little forgettable.

I love my name: charlotte
I've always had compliments. Back in the day it wasn't popular but it's risen in popularity which doesn't both me. It's a classic, strong name and you can get lots of nicknames out of it.
As a grown women it's sophisticated.... Probably not a bit like me

I like mine, i like the fact its traditional in its full length and has many popular shortened versions.

Yes I like the name, no I don't like the unique spelling my mother saddled me with.

I’m a Lucy. It’s boring, cutesy ‘little girl’ and I don’t think it’s grown with me. Feel a bit embarrassed saying it and wished it was something longer and more grown up.

Mine is ok, but very very popular as either a first or middle name when I was born (late 70's). In any sizeable group of women of the same age, there will be at least 2 of us.

I’ve always liked my name, I liked that there were no others in my school, it isn’t long, and it is a name for all ages. (Adele)

I love my name and middle name, i was named after my Dad's sister who died of heart problem's aged 22, i was born 5 year's after she died, i gave my 1st DD my first name as a middle name, my 2nd DD also got my middle name as a middle name, my first name is quite traditional i love it.

mine is ok. It was in the top 5 most popular girls names in the 90s