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Baby names

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Original poster

Would you choose a baby name you know most people dislike?

162 replies

BisB · 08/05/2026 18:39

We're considering giving our daughter a name that we already know is going to be almost universally disliked. It's a very uncommon name (don't think there have been any registered in the UK). We both think it's pretty, and it has (religious) meaning for us. Our other children have more common names that are generally liked by the majority of people. We have saved this name prior to this baby because I haven't been brave enough to use it. DH really wants to just go for it. He couldn't care less about what other people think, but I am more concerned that they're going to be cruel and judgemental and think that we were trying too hard to be "unique" (which isn't our intention). I would like to avoid saying the name on this thread because I am looking for opinions on the situation rather than opinions on the name itself. What would you do?

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SleepingDogsLie · 13/05/2026 18:29

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 08/05/2026 19:15

We chose a name that seems to be pretty universally disliked in RL (it has mostly positive feedback on MN). When we announced the name, we were met with a few seconds of silence while people worked out something polite to say… “Oh, how unusual”, or “that’s a very old name.”

DH and I like the name, and more importantly, DD who has to live with it, likes it too. And everyone who disliked it has got used to it.

I am happy to share the name, btw. It’s Esther.

That’s so funny, I know a few Esthers and I never thought that much about it. I wouldn’t have thought it was a Marmite name!

I think it’s lovely to have a name that everyone is familiar with but that still isn’t that common IYSWIM.

StressyMcStressFace · 13/05/2026 18:26

I knew a Nazareth about 40 years ago when I was a young teenager! I thought it was beautiful then and beautiful now!

ManufacturedConcerns · 13/05/2026 18:11

I quite like but agree with PPs that it sounds masculine.

Sidebeforeself · 13/05/2026 17:38

The more I say it it loud the more I like it but its a boys name to me.

Lins77 · 13/05/2026 17:34

I definitely wouldn't choose a name which I believed "most people disliked". Why inflict that on your child?

Pumpkindoodles · 13/05/2026 17:28

It wouldnt be my first choice, but I wouldnt judge anyone who did, or even think much of it tbh. I did think it was odd that you only mentioned people judging or being cruel to you though, perhaps you might want to think about how she might feel.

Charlotte120221 · 13/05/2026 16:01

not a name. don't do it.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 13/05/2026 10:46

BisB · 08/05/2026 19:32

I'm nervous about revealing it, but it's Nazareth.

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I personally would be a bit squeamish about any name that starts with the letters „Naz“… you just need to add an i to end up with an entirely unsuitable and unpleasant nickname.

Nazareth is unusual and I personally don’t like this as a name. But it wouldn’t be unconscionable imo!

You might also like Eden and Galilee/Galilaea.

LlynTegid · 11/05/2026 19:17

What I would never do is use an unconventional spelling, as to inflict a child a lifetime of having to correct people about how their name is spelt is unkind.

Lins77 · 11/05/2026 19:14

My first thought was the band!

I think it sounds quite pretty. I think there are too many downsides to actually pick it, though. Especially as your other children have more "normal" names. I can imagine wee Naz growing up quite resentful about that.

deeahgwitch · 11/05/2026 19:11

AImportantMermaid · 08/05/2026 18:50

Would you like your little girl to have a name that nobody will like?

Or when she gets a wee bit older will it make her sad to have this name ?

Spidey66 · 11/05/2026 19:07

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 11/05/2026 09:30

Do they have any connection with the Jesuits? Their founder was called Ignatius.

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RC.

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 11/05/2026 14:17

Pieceofpurplesky · 11/05/2026 10:34

Could also go by Zara if she disliked her name later on

Or Eth - although people would assume her full name is Ethel, which, for some reason, is one of the few grandma names that resolutely haven't come back into fashion just yet!

Pieceofpurplesky · 11/05/2026 10:34

Could also go by Zara if she disliked her name later on

Westfacing · 11/05/2026 10:05

I don't dislike the name as such but it sounds masculine for obvious reasons

Your daughter will almost certainly be called Naz or Nazzy by her schoolfriends and likely introduce herself as such just to make her life easier!

FungibleAssets · 11/05/2026 09:44

Spidey66 · 09/05/2026 13:05

My cousin named his son Ignatius nn Iggy. I did have a WTF reaction but actually now I like it (though not enough to name my imaginary son it).

Iggy’s not that unusual. I know several, ranging from their 70s to toddlers.

SirChenjins · 11/05/2026 09:42

Oh - well, it's certainly unusual! To me, it says 'religious fanatics' or 'fans of the hard rock band'. Naz as a nn is up there with Baz, Daz or Gaz (Barry, Darren or Gary) so doesn't have that going for it either imo.

If it's the name you love, then why not.

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 11/05/2026 09:30

Spidey66 · 09/05/2026 13:05

My cousin named his son Ignatius nn Iggy. I did have a WTF reaction but actually now I like it (though not enough to name my imaginary son it).

Do they have any connection with the Jesuits? Their founder was called Ignatius.

7in1Pond · 09/05/2026 18:19

bugalugs45 · 08/05/2026 18:48

None registered in the uk ? Ok, so I’ll be the first to ask what’s the name …
is it MYRA, vaguely remember a post that since Myra hindley none have been registered

114 Myras in the UK in 2024. The same number as there were Rachels, believe it or not.

JoannaVictoria · 09/05/2026 18:11

BisB · 08/05/2026 19:32

I'm nervous about revealing it, but it's Nazareth.

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Like it 👍

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/05/2026 17:27

FungibleAssets · 09/05/2026 09:27

Honestly, l think people would think less about Jesus than about the politics of Nazareth, an Arab Muslim majority city in Israel with a fairly contentious past, land expropriation issues, under martial law for decades etc, and which has often been a centre for Palestinian nationalism.

I’d hope they would. They absolutely wouldn’t.

Spidey66 · 09/05/2026 13:05

My cousin named his son Ignatius nn Iggy. I did have a WTF reaction but actually now I like it (though not enough to name my imaginary son it).

Dozer · 09/05/2026 11:24

Unfair on the DC as it has strong political connotations and is overtly religious (DC may become an atheist or prefer another religion). DC will get asked questions about it.

Your beliefs and desires: her who would have to deal with it.

Also unfair because DC’s siblings have more conventional names. The reasons you didn’t give them the name still apply.

llikeyourbum · 09/05/2026 11:16

How about Wigan?

FungibleAssets · 09/05/2026 09:27

Honestly, l think people would think less about Jesus than about the politics of Nazareth, an Arab Muslim majority city in Israel with a fairly contentious past, land expropriation issues, under martial law for decades etc, and which has often been a centre for Palestinian nationalism.