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

What makes a name officially ‘made up’

139 replies

ikeakia · 24/01/2020 06:48

And why can’t you have a ‘made up’ name without Judgement?

Surely all names were made up at some point, even those with a very long history. Someone had to be the first one to use it and why are we so against that now? When does it become a ‘name’ in it’s own right?

Btw, I’m not talking about ‘yoo-nique’ spellings or presentations of established names.

I mean more ones you’ve conjured out of the air yourself or perhaps combination names from one or more other names to create something unheard of.

I’ve noticed there seems to be a real thing on here about declaring that names are or sound made up (even if they aren’t, just very uncommon) which often goes with the poster not liking the name. Just wondered other posters thoughts?

For what it’s worth, I have one child who goes by an unusual animal name, not bear/fox/wolf but a feminine one. And one with a combination name that is mostly easy to say/pronounce and sounds like a proper name anyway.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
ikeakia · 25/01/2020 07:53

I don’t deny his name is made up. Quite honestly I don’t see the problem with ‘made up’ names. There’s some I wouldn’t use but I can still appreciate them as good names. I just don’t get the dislike that surrounds such names just because they’re not centuries old with scores of people who have been called it.

Dracob is a lovely name as far as I’m concerned. I’m not asking anyone to agree, but he’s 10 now and very confident, not held back by his ‘made up’ name at all.

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 25/01/2020 06:21

Personal opinions is what it's all about though, when it comes to names or any other aspect of personal presentation. We all form opinions, and our minds form associations.

The form our preferences take is dictated by our culture. British culture tends to be suspicious of difference - tall poppy syndrome if you will.

I live in the US and would automatically assume a child named Octavia Butterfly was African American, both because of Octavia and also the Butterfly reference (McQueen, the actress).

Dracob I don't know - I can see what you did and appreciate why, but I think you fundamentally altered two names you liked to create the hybrid. Not sure names are really the sum of their parts like that.

HeadLikeAFuckinOrange · 25/01/2020 01:27

Smashing two perfectly good ones together to create a Franken-Name definitely counts as made up!

StCharlotte · 25/01/2020 00:54

There was an actress in Gone with the Wind called Butterfly McQueen which is quite cool.

TatianaLarina · 25/01/2020 00:43

Dracob doesn’t sound E.European- that would be Jakob/ub.

It sounds like some kind of joke, poor child.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 18:54

kittykat7210

Well it is now!

OP posts:
kittykat7210 · 24/01/2020 18:39

Someone I know called their child ‘aargonella’ which I don’t think is a name...

Pieceofpurplesky · 24/01/2020 18:31

OP ignore the comments - children grow in to whatever name they have. I am a teacher and have taught some interesting names and combinations - never yet met one who didn't suit the name he had. I would assume Dracob was an old family name.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 18:04

Kids at school do sometimes call her Butter, I just asked her, she said she doesn’t mind and likes it, but mostly they call her Butterfly or Buttercup.

It’s her birth certificate middle name.

OP posts:
BlueBirdGreenFence · 24/01/2020 17:59

Is Butterfly a nickname or her legal name? Because that's two very different scenarios. All it made me think was you better hope she's confident in her body! Kids always shorten names and they'll probably end up calling her Butter Shock.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 17:56

I don’t mind people judging, and he’s got bigger worries than a name and a lot of confidence. I didn’t ask for opinions on his name or judgement on this thread, but that’s what I accept I get.

My opinion and my children’s is that their names suit them, they like them and anyone’s personal opinions on those particular names isn’t really relevant to this thread.

OP posts:
Aderyn19 · 24/01/2020 17:47

When I opened this thread I immediately thought of Renesmee Grin
In all honesty I think Dracob sounds like you didn't know how to pronounce Jacob. You might think that people shouldn't be judgy or that all names were originally made up at one point, but people will judge and it's your child that will have to put up with it.

Namechange8471 · 24/01/2020 17:26

What makes a name officially ‘made up’

Ok, opinions will vary, but my opinion is names such as your son’s. Two very lovely names made into one that doesn’t really make sense.

Also agree with pp, butterfly is fine as a nickname for a 8 year old, however personally, I’d refer to her by her actual name, as it’s lovely!

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION!!

NotNowPlzz · 24/01/2020 16:20

Why on Earth do people think it's acceptable to make negative comments about your son's name? How bloody rude.

You sound lovely btw.

whatsitt · 24/01/2020 16:00

I have a yoo-nique name!
It's a regular boring old name from the 60's with a random consonant inserted to jazz it up and make it sound unlike the original!
However no one calls me it and I go by the regular nickname of the original name!
Always having to spell it out on the phone though 🤦🏼‍♀️

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 15:50

We’ll all have to agree to disagree.

I know my children right now, and right now their names are right. What they choose to called in the future is totally their choice. I’m as certain as I can be that they like and will keep what they’ll called now in adulthood, regardless of profession.

However, that wasn’t what I started this thread for....

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 24/01/2020 15:38

Do you work op? In a professional environment in a skilled role? I do, my daughter does, both Male dominated, no woman would wish to be known as butterfly in a serous skilled role that I know of. It's little girlie, or hippyish.

What's her identify at eight, will not likely be her identity as an adult if she's in a role where she wishes to be taken seriously. I'm not saying she wouldn't be taken seriously if she introduced herself as butterfly, but likely she would hesitate to. Particularly when she then has to explain her name is actually Octavia.

Namechange8471 · 24/01/2020 15:34

He likes it now, maybe not so much when he gets older?
Also I didn’t say I hate it, if I’m honest it just makes me cringe, as do other names.
This is an Internet forum you will get people’s opinions...

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 14:01

Not joking, I love it, so does he. I probably hate your child’s name, but I’d never be so rude as to say. Manners and all that!

OP posts:
Poppydaisies · 24/01/2020 13:39

I like Dracob and Octavia. Both good memorable names!

Namechange8471 · 24/01/2020 13:37

Dracob ,surely your joking? If not, poor kid

Octavia is beautiful.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 13:34

I have had people ask about the Draco/Harry Potter connection but we all like Harry Potter anyway so that doesn’t matter.

I’ll always love it, he was rather unwell when he was born and it was just the only name I thought was his, no other name was right. Even though it was made up.

I can honestly say that neither child has reported that anyone has ever said anything negative so while it may happen, it hasn’t yet.

OP posts:
Hercwasonaroll · 24/01/2020 13:25

Dracob is unique. Kind of sounds like a toddler who can't say Jacob.

Octavia is beautiful.

firstimemamma · 24/01/2020 13:25

I'd never express my judgement towards a name because that would be rude, but I do secretly think that's it's not fair on the children who have 'made up' names. They might get bullied and teased over their name at school and when they are adults.

My child has a name that isn't very common but is definitely a 'normal name' and doesn't sound like anything else. My child will have no issues whatsoever with his name.

If people want to call their children 'Reyn' that's their choice but it's synonymous with the weather that lots of people don't like and it's the child who will have to deal with that potentially for life (e.g. at school kids could sing 'Reyn Reyn, go away, come again another day')

Marcipex · 24/01/2020 13:21

I would assume Dracob was a typo for Draco tbh.
Octavia is lovely.