Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Anyone else on here not keen on classic names?

38 replies

Lalaland8 · 23/08/2019 11:29

Hello Mumsnet,

Anyone else on here not keen on classic names?
Please tell me it's ok to choose a modern, non-traditional name?
Reading the threads on here it seems there is a bias towards traditional names and it's making me worried about my choices and taste :( x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Shadow1234 · 23/08/2019 17:36

I am not keen on classic names, and do prefer the more unusual ones. I think there are so many children now with more unusual names, that it won't seem such a big deal to not have a classic or traditional name as they grow up.

Labassecour · 23/08/2019 17:30

I don't dislike them as such (with the exception of the weirdly-popular George, which I think is hideous), I just think their main quality is inoffensiveness. They're the magnolia paint of names for me -- the kind of 'nothing to see here, pass along' personalityless décor you might slap up in a house you were planning to rent out.

This was the reason my parents chose my name, and there were five of us, two with the same initial, all through primary school.

NameChange84 · 23/08/2019 16:39

I suppose it depends on what you mean by a classic name?

If it’s Elizabeth vs Darcie-Mae
or William vs Ryder.

Then yes, I’d definitely prefer the Classic names.

If it’s Mildred or Joan vs Ellie or Tia then I prefer the modern alternatives.

Ditto with Wilfred vs Noah and Albert vs Lucas.

There’s a habit on MN of preferring very old fashioned outdated names that seem ridiculous for a baby over more modern names. If a poster says they are looking for an unusual name they’ll be told “How about Nigel or Keith or Deborah or Maude?” rather than “Troy” or “Lyra”.

There is a huge snobbery towards “Yoonique” names and I dare say unusual but not dated names.

BurningGubbins · 23/08/2019 16:39

We spend so much time telling kids to be themselves, not worry what anyone else thinks etc., but then somehow feel their entire lives will be hampered by having a name that isn’t traditional or shared by 6 others in their class. I don’t understand it. But then I have a very unusual name (which I love).

TequilaMockingbird0 · 23/08/2019 16:32

I'm with you. I just really dislike names like Sarah, Thomas, George, Olivia. I think they're dull and I like my children having names that there are fewer of. Partly it comes from personally having a 'classic' 80s name that at least one other girl in every class had, and I resented my parents for being lazy and just picking an overused and boring name.

Alarae · 23/08/2019 16:31

My experience of MN is that everyone wants something unique or quirky!

I get surprised when people mention classic names.

Militantmartha · 23/08/2019 16:26

Go with a name that you love it doesn't matter whether it's modern or classic.

It's funny someone has used Sarah and David as an example of the classics as they sound quite dated to me.

emmyblake · 23/08/2019 16:23

Yes!

katesalwayslate · 23/08/2019 15:15

Of course people complain about names like Sarah and David. A lot of people consider them intolerably dull, unimaginative, and just not very nice. I have a classic name and I'm one of SO many. I absolutely can't stand it.

Original poster
Lalaland8 · 23/08/2019 13:56

I think there is such snobbery. As if modern names will cause embarrassment Hmm

OP posts:
CupCupGoose · 23/08/2019 12:01

I'm not keen on traditional names. Both of my kids have names like jake (ie not Jacob)

Fifteenthnamechange · 23/08/2019 11:58

Traditional names-not for me!

Rachelover40 · 23/08/2019 11:38

I like classic names because I think a child will not be embarrassed in later life by a name like Sarah, David, etc. Nobody ever complains about names like that.

However of course it's OK to choose a modern, non traditional name if you want to, it's entirely up to the parent.

Swipe left for the next trending thread