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Baby names

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

Original poster

Do you think that you can get used to almost any name?

112 replies

Sparring · 17/07/2021 14:51

No matter how strange it may appear at first?

Just thinking of people I've known with unusual names. It didn't take more than a day or two to get used to them.

Examples being a man called Fudge. Another called Elton. (I thought of Elton John for a day or two then it was just his name.) A girl called Sunday. One called London.

Does it take you long to get used to unusual names?

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MaMelon · 22/07/2021 18:49

Yes! The sibling's name is a little fruity

Yes!!!!! We know the same family Grin Grin

CorianderBee · 22/07/2021 18:46

No you just get used to it quickly. I know a Boudicca, a Plum, a Freedom. It morphs into a name quickly.

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 22/07/2021 18:41

[quote MaMelon]@DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy - does your Spike have a sibling?![/quote]
Yes! The sibling's name is a little fruity Grin

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/07/2021 17:44

I meant the shortening, not the name itself.

PleasurePrinciple · 22/07/2021 17:39

@GreyhoundG1rl

Gay is short for Gabriel. It used to be very popular in Ireland but not any more, for obvious reasons.
I can honk of several young Gabriels, though, but they go by Gabe if not the whole thing.
MaMelon · 22/07/2021 17:10

@DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy - does your Spike have a sibling?!

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/07/2021 15:41

Gay is short for Gabriel. It used to be very popular in Ireland but not any more, for obvious reasons.

Soubriquet · 22/07/2021 15:26

Ok…I think calling your child Gay is just cruel

BunnyRuddington · 22/07/2021 15:02

Names are usually culturally specific. I've been in countries where I've met people called Telephone and Mortgage, because those things are associated with being wealthy. I've worked with colleagues called Pretty and Precious. One of my friends has a son called Prosper. They might sound odd at first but then you get used to them

I listened to a show on the radio about the Arab Spring and they mentioned the baby born in Egypt called "Facebook" and the Israeli baby named "Like". They were named at a time of great hope for a lot of people.

BlueLobelia · 22/07/2021 14:53

I know a Bliss and a Pepsi (both girls). Oddly Pepsi I am used to, but Bliss still surprises me after 5 plus years. Might be because I used to have a pony called Pepsi though.

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/07/2021 14:47

@BarberQueue

I have worked with a Darling, a Gay and a Spike. They just become normal very quickly.
I'm not sure Darling would.
BarberQueue · 22/07/2021 14:40

I have worked with a Darling, a Gay and a Spike. They just become normal very quickly.

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 22/07/2021 14:34

@MaMelon

I know a Spike too! Lives in Glasgow, Dad’s surname begins with C?

Although on second thoughts it’s likely there’s more than one Spike in the world.

I think I know the same family Grin
GreyhoundG1rl · 22/07/2021 14:26

@TartanDMs

I work with a Rhubab (pronounced Rhubarb) which took a lot of getting used to. I also once worked with a woman named Freddie Fireman, which sounds like a cartoon character to me.
The registrar really should have refused to countenance that nonsense. Freddie Fireman!
neroforte · 22/07/2021 13:08

i know twins, my age, called electra (girl) and neon (boy)

EmmaGrundyForPM · 22/07/2021 13:05

Please tell me Feral is a mistyping of Pearl!

Names are usually culturally specific. I've been in countries where I've met people called Telephone and Mortgage, because those things are associated with being wealthy. I've worked with colleagues called Pretty and Precious. One of my friends has a son called Prosper. They might sound odd at first but then you get used to them.

As a pp said, it's the old fashioned names that sound strange. I can't imagine a baby Brian, but then 20 years ago I was gobsmacked when a friend said she was calling her daughter Eliza and since then I've come across loads of them.

My name was really popular in the early 70s (think Linda/Debbie/Claire type of name) but last year there were no girls with my name born in the UK. A baby given my name now would probably sound very unusual.

TartanDMs · 22/07/2021 12:52

I work with a Rhubab (pronounced Rhubarb) which took a lot of getting used to. I also once worked with a woman named Freddie Fireman, which sounds like a cartoon character to me.

MaMelon · 22/07/2021 12:46

Yes, it’s certainly a Marmite name that stands out but I guess that’s what the parents hoped for. Some names I think are better suited to nicknames.

Soubriquet · 22/07/2021 12:38

Very true. It just grows on you I guess

I wouldn’t personally name my own child Spike but there we go. It’s his name and that’s it.

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/07/2021 12:37

I'm sure if he was called Charlie you wouldn't look at him and think "God, that child is so mis named, he looks like a Spike" 😂

Soubriquet · 22/07/2021 12:35

I don’t know! He just suits his name Grin

GreyhoundG1rl · 22/07/2021 12:32

@Soubriquet

I know. I was very ConfusedHmm when I heard it but tbh he really does look like a Spike
How?!
Soubriquet · 22/07/2021 12:32

I know. I was very ConfusedHmm when I heard it but tbh he really does look like a Spike

MaMelon · 22/07/2021 12:31

I mean - that the parents could have chosen

MaMelon · 22/07/2021 12:30

No. This is an English Spike

Mind/blown Grin

Out of all the names in the world though…Spike Confused