If you named your baby an unusual name

My child’s name both is and is not an unusual name is it is a hyphenated double barrel name. But both names on their own are quite ordinary on their own. They were originally going to be first and middle name but they rolled off the tongue so well we decided to stick them together. We get some mixed reactions sometimes. More often than not we get some really big compliments too. But I don’t mind if it is shortened or anything like that. The name is more symbolic than anything. We follow a very uncommon niche spirituality so it is a reference to that. I won’t say the name because I try to minimize my child’s online presence but it means new star put together. There was one lady that was particularly nasty about it. But I’m very confident that she was overreacting. I really went out of my way to make sure it was unusual enough to stand out a little bit but not so strange that she would be picked on for it.

I've got dd with the same name as a cartoon, not made up, old-fashioned. All gps hated it, one claimed to not have heard of it! Now they all like it, as it's sweet and friendly like her. However, I was prepared for some 'cartoon' comments from younger people, but it is literally everyone that hears it for the first time, old and young. It's getting a bit boring and I'm hoping when she's older people won't be so hot on saying it.

I actually had some friends fall out with each other over the name Olivia. They both became pregnant around the same time and really fell in love with the name. One of them was convinced the other was a copycat but I think they actually both just liked the name and it was merely a coincidence. Lol. I was supposed to be an Olivia but my great aunt named her daughter that. My mother was not happy but decided to name me something else in order to avoid drama. It seems Olivia is the name that just sticks around destroying relationships like the blue shell in mario kart or something. 😂

Both our DSs have Welsh names. Where we live it's probably more unusual to have a "usual" name and there is an amazing variety of vibrant names from all kinds of cultures that the kids just accept and would regard as no different to any other name. We live in London so perhaps that makes a difference?

I meant to add that the spelling issue is less of an issue now as people communicate more over the internet than by phone.

My son has a name that’s ranked outside the top 200 but it’s a well known name, so not sure it counts as unusual in perhaps the way meant. I think for some people it’s maybe seen as old fashioned but hopefully he will like it. He’s a toddler so has no opinion on it.

Also people talk about the issue with spellings with unusual names but there are still issues with known names like Ann, Claire, Caitlin, Alastair etc etc

I’m very interested in this thread as we called our DD Violet which only 12 girls were named last year (Ireland). I’m worried she will hate it when she grows up and that we’ve made a mistake. Also find the Irish accent can’t pronounce it that well - a lot of the time it sounds like ‘vile it’. I’m very paranoid about it. DH maintains if someone wanted to bully her they could come up with something else if it wasn’t the name.

What’s wrong with being the 20th Amanda or Michael in class. Who doesn’t like being addressed by the initial of your surname???

Going by the huge numbers of Olivers and Olivias being born, many parents haven't learned that lesson, it seems.

But I agree and love my unusual name.

Those darn millennials! Why couldn’t they just keep repeating old biblical names like Ruth, Paul or John??? We got Rachel, Michael and Adam too!

If you’re feeling really rebellious though we will accept (but quietly judge you) if you name them Amanda, Olivia or Thomas.

We’ve never gotten sick of ‘em so why would anyone else? What’s wrong with being the 20th Amanda or Michael in class. Who doesn’t like being addressed by the initial of your surname???

I don't think having an unusual name is unusual anymore, iyswim. The name itself may be unusual but they won't be the other one with an unusual name.

My DD has an unusual name (around 20 with the same name born that year) although I see it suggested frequently on Mumsnet.

There was another child with the same name in DD's class at school, we haven't met any others though.

@Watchingthecloudsflyby I didn’t even know they were a thing until last year 🤣 me and dp thought we were kinda making it up, playing around with our names. Dp was on a trip while i was pregnant and got talking to an older woman and after she asked him if we had a name picked, he told her and turned out her that was her grandson's name as well lol

Not me, I watch the Go Jetters!

Not Wulph then lol

I have the same name as less than 400 people world-wide. I'm 66 and I hate it, always have done. Only UK passport holder with it, only person in France with it. I'd love to be anonymous.

@Rcnotro same for my son. Say it how you see it. Kyan. but everyone insists on calling him Kian 😠 he likes it and defo suits him to a T

My name is Genevieve. It's beginning to trend but until now has been very unusual and I never met another growing up.

I always really enjoyed having a long, posh and rare name. People praised me for it often. If I introduce myself Genevieve some people would literally like and treat me better, assuming nice things about me I suppose. I usually went by Genny though (Jenny being really commonplace) so it's not like I generally had to announce my rare/posh name or get a reaction if I didn't want to. Definitely there's some times to use Genevieve and some times to use Genny.

Never really minded not getting junk with my name stamped on it, I don't like that stuff (maybe that's subconscious sour grapes though!)

I think often people do grow to like whatever type of name they have. My parents were quite smug they thought of Genevieve and lots of grown ups liked it so I always understood it to be an asset. Perhaps if I had a bad experience with it early on, or my parents were ambivalent I too would feel differently?

DS1 has a very unusual name (numbers per year given his name in England are in the single digits). He's in his 20s now and I don't think he minds either way (he's never been the type to try to fit in). In hindsight I wish I'd picked something that would blend in a bit more and give him more anonymity, as a pp mentioned it would be easy to find him on social media (especially as it's paired with a foreign surname) - luckily he is completely uninterested in using any social media.
DD1 has an old-fashioned name which is uncommon but a bit more recognised (about 60 named per year) and with DD2 I went even more mainstream and picked a name which has about 400 named per year.

My DD is called Taliah and I'd say about 98% of people who hear her name for the first time say something along the lines of "oh never heard that before". I usually always get compliments for it as well, but she is a very headstrong, independent, and fearless little girl just how the name sounds. She loves her name.

I grew up with a very unusual name, rarely heard it, couldn't buy personalised fridge magnets etc. i hated it!
my name then became very popular a few years ago which is strange for me. I gave my daughter a very unusual name which I feel bad about knowing how much I hated having a rare name 🤣
My point is the name may be rare now but may be the top name in 10 years time!

Haha. We can't win. I gave DC normal names having loved some outlandish ones. Just today at dinner they were lamenting that I hadn;t been braver and they both wish I had given them the really far-out options on my list that DH vetoed immediately.

@clpsmum I never share it on here as it's very outing if any family/friends were on here happy to pm though

Are you willing to share it? I'm intrigued as to what it could be!!

DD2 has a very unusual name. I very occasionally see it on here but not often. It's however also a very normal name in as far as it is not one people won't be able to get their head around or gives odd associations.

She is 23 and I just asked her " do you like your name?" she replied " yes, sometimes people think it's Eloise and that I spelt it wrong but then I just correct them" she is Eloisa.

DS is Conrad that's very marmite I know he likes his name but it often gets a big no here. We have met 1 other Conrad in his lifetime.

I used the name Hunter.
Other people have commented how lovely it is.