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

Most unusual name you’ve ever heard?

513 replies

ikeakia · 23/12/2019 23:14

Just wondering what unusual ‘only met one’ names people had come across in their lives?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
louisethedisease · 24/12/2019 14:06

Conlon
Javon
Baran
Chanquin
Taine

SaharaSunset · 24/12/2019 13:52

@ThighThighOfthigh I wonder if they are relations of the siblings at a school I taught at.. sisters Shimmery, Shola, Shelbie and brother Shanie

Like other teachers I've seen some unusual names on my class lists, most notably Bleu (last name Bell) and Isla Mann

VerbenaGirl · 24/12/2019 13:41

Lumen and Adelia.

Coyoacan · 24/12/2019 13:40

I went to college with someone called Stalin, I kid you not

itbemay1 · 24/12/2019 13:32

Wolf

WTF0ver · 24/12/2019 13:30

Worked with a guy whose kids were called Buddy and Sunshine.

Teacher friend had a boy in her class called Ice.

Mum's best friend's son dated (or was friends with?) a girl called Tinkerbell.

FearOfTheDuck · 24/12/2019 13:25

The strangest was definitely Susej, pronounced soo-jay. I've also met a Jayjay, with that spelling.

ChristmasCroissant · 24/12/2019 13:10

Thor

thegreylady · 24/12/2019 13:09

Zeke which I love...

ChristmasCroissant · 24/12/2019 13:03

Cornelius
Serenity (although I see that has been mentioned by someone else already!)
Maris

Wheresthebiffer2 · 24/12/2019 12:59

Juniper

TeachesOfPeaches · 24/12/2019 12:57

Myleen Klass has a Hero and Apollo

AJTracey · 24/12/2019 12:51

Hero is from Much Ado not very weird or uncommon imho. Met a few Xanthes too

NannyKasey · 24/12/2019 12:48

I work with an Everest (aptly named as he is tall and wide). I know a Jessamy and my cousin is called Corin

My DC went to a toddler group with a Paisley and a Vanya.

My Niece has a very unusual name which I can't divulge with out outing my family (it's that unusual)

Tiredwiff · 24/12/2019 12:47

Tanjarnea

Sharkfinsoup · 24/12/2019 12:37

I’ve met a baby L-a. Didn’t know the myth. Tried to say the name and got a very funny look from the mum. Grin

UtuNorantiPralatongsThirdEye · 24/12/2019 12:22

But that's the point isn't it? Many of these names are NOT unusual within their own culture and are frequently or exclusively used by certain races and nationalities which makes calling them "unusual" seem euphemistic for sneering

My name isn't British and is very unusual, same with DH and DD.
If anyone had mentioned any of our names on here I wouldn't think it racist unless there was a sneer in their post. Simply commenting that a name is unusual to you, because of the culture or country you currently live in is not racist.

VanyaHargreeves · 24/12/2019 12:12

Don't really think anyone is being racist the thread says most unusual name you've only heard once, not the worst/most horrible name.

But that's the point isn't it? Many of these names are NOT unusual within their own culture and are frequently or exclusively used by certain races and nationalities which makes calling them "unusual" seem euphemistic for sneering.

Tanisha is not unusual in the way that

Moxie Crimefighter
Pilot Inspektor
and
Moon Unit

(All celebrity children) are genuinely unusual names

ItsLikeHeardingCats · 24/12/2019 11:41

Also know a Torsten, Antigone and Caius.

On that note, I personally know a Marcus Tullius.

I never quite got that one: surely, "Tullius" was technically the family name of the Roman original, and surely "Cicero" is the really recognisable part, which they left out?

Nomen would appear to be omen, however: Marcus Tullius Cicero - who goes by simply Marcus in his everyday life - is quite the compelling speaker, as it happens.

NameOfYourSexTape · 24/12/2019 11:35

There's a little girl in my sisters class at school called Starssey
Like a mix of star and darcey

Inmyownlittlecorner · 24/12/2019 11:35

L’ren
Trixibelle
Jaime Girl
Arcani
Lashea
Etta
Santiago

ItsLikeHeardingCats · 24/12/2019 11:33

Used to work with a Honey.

I genuinely thought people were being incredibly condescending towards her before we were properly introduced and I learned that it was her actual name.

It's really not a good name for a young woman hoping to make partner at a professional services firm one day. We struggled enough to win respect as female graduate trainees in an almost exclusively male environment as it was. It really can't have helped. (No idea how much it would have held her back, mind: she eventually left to have a baby and never came back.)

userabcname · 24/12/2019 11:27

In the last 3 years I've taught two girls called Ursula which I find surprising, although once I was over the Little Mermaid association I must say it is a very elegant name. Also know a Torsten, Antigone and Caius.

spiderlight · 24/12/2019 11:24

My DH taught a Celestria - never encountered another one of those. Beautiful though.

DS is at school with a Dannyboy. Not a nickname.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 24/12/2019 11:22

I also worked with a bloke last week called Shian (pronounced Shy-Ann). Unusual, but he totally pulls it off.