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Baby names

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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.

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Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 13:17

I suppose I was just wondering at what point we can safely say a ‘made up’ name is a name? Or will they always be ‘made up’ to a person no matter how many times they hear it?

I mean, I know Neveah is heaven backwards and is ‘made up’ but I would class it as a name now because it’s been used enough times.

Not closed minded at all, it’s the name I chose for her, great if she wants to use it finally. I just know her and I’m 99% certain that she’ll choose to stay Butterfly as an adult. To her it’s her identity. That may change, it’s not my choice, but I can still state my opinion that I don’t think she will change to Octavia without being close minded.

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Cohle · 24/01/2020 13:14

I think it comes across as try-hard and 'yoo-nique'.

There are thousands of perfectly lovely, often quite rare, names out there. Thinking your PFB is just too amazingly special for any of them is just a bit eye-roll inducing.

I also think it's a bit selfish because ultimately it's not you who will have to live with the consequences of your "unusual" choice.

Wasail · 24/01/2020 13:05

People who roll their eyes at unusual sounding or made up names like to think that everyone else does too. There is an element of confirmation bias.
All names start somewhere, I have a very rare name (my dad heard it on the radio and then made up a spelling) it’s a simple enough name with self explanatory spelling. I know of three children who have been given my name as a direct result of their parents hearing it used.

Urkiddingright · 24/01/2020 12:29

Octavia is lovely, she’ll probably use it when she’s older- I can’t see Butterfly being her chosen moniker when she’s an adult anyway.

Dracob sounds Eastern European. I think the worst thing would be constantly having to correct people when they ask.

Made up names are usually a couple of words or sounds mixed together or even an actual word backwards like Nevaeh.

CharitySchmarity · 24/01/2020 12:20

I think a name could be considered made-up if either it has never been used as a name before, or the parents believed it had never been used as a name before when they chose it. In other words I think there has to be the intention to make it up.

Bluntness100 · 24/01/2020 11:01

I'd also add that as much as most professionals would not wish to be called butterfly most eight year old girls would. So saying she would never wish to be known as Octavia is I think quite closed minded.

As said for drakob though I'd assume a real name just with an Eastern eu spelling and not question it at all.

Omashu · 24/01/2020 10:46

@ikeakia I’ll pm you with my daughters name as I think you’ll like it. She was 1 of 4 born with her name in 2018 🙂

Miriel · 24/01/2020 10:44

For me, what makes a made-up name 'bad' is if the pronunciation doesn't match the spelling. I came across it fairly often when I was teaching. For instance, if it's spelt 'Dorrie' but pronounced 'doo-rye' (not a real example, but close to one). I'm not talking about existing names from languages with different letter/sound correspondences to English, just names that people have made up. Especially if they then get annoyed when you don't pronounce it right the first time - because nobody will.

I think Octavia with the nickname Butterfly is lovely. She may choose to be known as Butterfly for her whole life, but if she decides differently when she's older, she has a choice.

Dracob looks like Draco + Jacob to me, and I'd assume it was a fan thing.

SluggishSnail · 24/01/2020 10:42

Drake and Jacob are both lovely IMO, but I would have gone for Jake rather than Dracob as the blend.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 10:41

I didn’t actually call her Butterfly as it happens, her sister did, it stuck and now she refers to herself as Butterfly. I picked Octavia with every intention of calling her it but everyone around us called her Butterfly when her sister did.

I’m definitely not ‘try hard’. I picked names I liked, same as everyone, I just didn’t want anything that there were a lot, if any, of. They’re all easily prounounced, and spelled. With other ‘established’ names to fall back on if they want. No difficulties and lots of compliments.

I don’t doubt there’s been ‘eye rolling’ but who cares about that? Not me or the kids.

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JKScot4 · 24/01/2020 10:34

Made up names are daft because it makes you look very ‘try hard’, I have to be so different and give my kids stupid names for attention either that or you dreamt them up when you were 12. Always remember that they have to be adults, why name her Octavia then call her Butterfly? I can guarantee lots of ppl eye roll at the names.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 10:28

But anyway, I meant this as more of a discussion as to why made up names are considered bad names just because they’re made up.

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Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 10:26

Sometimes, but he has trouble with speech so he usually signs and has someone translate.

I just say ‘He’s Dracob, D R A C O B’ over the phone as that’s the only time it’s ever been misheard.

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JKScot4 · 24/01/2020 10:24

I’m sorry Dracob sounds so daft, I did laugh 🙄🤣

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 10:23

I’ve been asked that before about Dracob, if it was Eastern European.

And believe me, Butterfly is very much the type of person who would keep the name into adulthood and sod the profession. It suits her as she is very hyperactive and flits from place to place. She just doesn’t identify as Octavia, it’s like having a middle name you pretend you don’t.

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Bezalelle · 24/01/2020 10:21

The problems arise when other people mishear. Does Dracob not get "Jacob?" when he tells people his name?

NeilTheBaby · 24/01/2020 10:20

Do you pronounce dracob with a soft a or hard? I'm assuming hard given it's hard in both the names it came from but if I saw it without the backstory written down I'd assume a soft a.

Happityhap · 24/01/2020 10:16

Iirc
Lorna was first used in the book Lorna Doone, and Wendy was first used in Peter Pan.

Bluntness100 · 24/01/2020 10:14

She may chose to be Octavia as an adult, depending on her profession. Very few professionals would wish to be known as butterfly.

Drakob id have assumed was simply an Eastern European spelling of Jacob and his family were Eastern European. It has that sound to it.

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 10:09

She’s eight now, and I really can’t see her choosing to use Octavia ever. It’s just not her name.

Not everyone will like everyone’s choices. I personally would never choose something in the top 100 or 1000 if I could help it, so a lot of names suggested here I wouldn’t like.

Dracob is perfect, it suits him beyond perfection. The two names that made it just weren’t right on their own.

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Bluntness100 · 24/01/2020 10:09

What makes a name made up is when someone actually makes it up.

Clearly.

I think that's fine though, the issue comes in when the overwhelming majority of people think it sounds silly.

BruceAndNosh · 24/01/2020 10:06

Are you sure? 11,000 boys in a single year
I've just realised that it was a US site that I looked on, which explains both the popularity of the name (it's a bit Surnamey) and the % of larger population!

Original poster
ikeakia · 24/01/2020 10:05

Omashu

Thank you! I feel the same as you. I love hearing unusual names as I love the stories behind them. Sometimes they’re for long passed family members, sometimes people found them in old books and brought them to life again, or they’re to honour living people who happen to have a story behind them having the name.

That’s all true for more common names too but there’s so many people with them that, lovely as they are, they just don’t stand out.

I just wondered about other posters views that ‘made up’ often seems to mean bad and why?

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catinb0oots · 24/01/2020 10:03

Octavia is beautiful. Little kids like fun nicknames. At least she has a choice.

Dracob is er, interesting

bridgetreilly · 24/01/2020 10:01

I think if you are deliberately trying to come up with a totally new, unique name (even if it turns out not to be) then it is, and usually sounds, made up. Names that evolve out of language naturally have a different feel to them, even if you've never heard them before. They follow rules that we recognise unconsciously.