Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/05/2026 09:07

ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 09/05/2026 01:20

I can’t imagine why you think it’s pretty. It sounds masculine to me.

It does . I can imagine the Dingles (Emmerdale) "Come up to the cottage and ask our Nazareth" and some strapping 6 footer with hair rippling to his shoulderblades walks into the yard .

paintedpanda · 09/05/2026 04:10

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/05/2026 20:13

Or Florence, Paris, Chelsea or any one of a number of others.

This!
That comment was so disingenuous. Anyone with eyes can see that calling a child Nazareth is different to calling her Slough. It’s like saying would you call a girl Carina or Lunula, Appendix or Spleen! Obviously one is better than the other.

I don’t think Nazareth is that bad to be honest. I think Naz is a cute nickname. Would agree with a more traditional middle name so she can choose to use that if she doesn’t like it when she’s older.
We have a teenager with a more unusual first name (although it’s massively increased in popularity recently, even on here where 15 years ago I suggested it and everyone mocked it!) and she has a plain middle name that she’s never felt the need to use because she rocks her name.

DefiantRabbit9 · 09/05/2026 03:54

BisB · 08/05/2026 19:32

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

She can play with my daughter, I'm having a Lilith.

ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 09/05/2026 01:20

I can’t imagine why you think it’s pretty. It sounds masculine to me.

MiaKulper · 08/05/2026 23:48

Auntiebenita · 08/05/2026 22:54

Just no. You may be religious people and hope that your daughter will be a devout Christian too, but she will have her own opinions and might not be religious at all.

I really don’t like it as a name anyway, and more importantly I just don’t understand why you would want to give your child a name you know most people will dislike, and which will cause her to stand out - not for good reasons - and have it commented on for her whole life. Tbh I think it would be selfish of you.

If you’re really so keen on it, use it as her middle name.

Just call her Freya Rose or Ava Grace and be done with it. You wouldn't want her to stand out.

MiaKulper · 08/05/2026 23:45

Bethany and Eden seem popular on MN.

Strokethefurrywall · 08/05/2026 23:43

I really like it, it’s really pretty! But I also know a girl called Bethlehem.

stickygotstuck · 08/05/2026 23:39

FWIW OP I think it's a perfectly nice name

BreatheAndFocus · 08/05/2026 23:05

It doesn’t have a nice sound - kind of rough and scratchy IMO. Plus, it reminds me of the dandruff shampoo, Nizoral.

If I read it, I’d assume it was a boy’s name. It would be marginally better for a boy but still not great.

AgentPidge · 08/05/2026 23:01

It's not an awful name, but I tend to agree with the pp. She will stand out. She may be shy, but she'll be the only kid in the school/town/her workplace when she's older with that name. No anonymity for her!

DefiantRabbit9 · 08/05/2026 22:59

Yep, my husband and I decided what our little girl's name will be. It's not liked by most people but they'll get over it.

Auntiebenita · 08/05/2026 22:54

Just no. You may be religious people and hope that your daughter will be a devout Christian too, but she will have her own opinions and might not be religious at all.

I really don’t like it as a name anyway, and more importantly I just don’t understand why you would want to give your child a name you know most people will dislike, and which will cause her to stand out - not for good reasons - and have it commented on for her whole life. Tbh I think it would be selfish of you.

If you’re really so keen on it, use it as her middle name.

MiaKulper · 08/05/2026 22:51

Llwenbaukler · 08/05/2026 22:44

Is Myra religious?

It could be an anglicisation of Meira (Welsh)

Llwenbaukler · 08/05/2026 22:44

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

Is Myra religious?

Besafeeatcake · 08/05/2026 22:37

bugalugs45 · 08/05/2026 19:40

Well I’m not keen , and never actually heard it apart from a place name , but don’t understand the negative attachments ? Is there a famous Nazareth that I’m missing ? But ultimately you do you

Jesus of Nazareth

Dee51121 · 08/05/2026 22:31

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

On the most recent post I saw on MN about the name Myra it was pointed out by myself and others that it was the 377th most popular girls name in England and Wales in 2024. 114 of them were named, so there was plenty of people who either were not deterred by the association or simply weren't aware of it. I felt the uproar on that thread was ridiculous.

@BisB I would say go with it if you both like it, although seeing it written down I would assume it belonged to a male. That may not bother you though.
There were 17 babies named Naz in 2024 in England and Wales. Also 13 called Nazifa and 10 called Nazli.

Brainstorm23 · 08/05/2026 22:24

You know Nazareth is not actually a name? May as well call them Bethlehem.

Aiming4Optimistic · 08/05/2026 22:13

I wouldn't - it feels wrong to make a choice where they have to deal with the consequences. Parents are supposed to make their children's lives easier.

UnexpectedCurveBall · 08/05/2026 22:13

And Nazi being a nick name with the hard Tz sound wouldn’t even enter my head. If you shorten the name to Naz and add a ee on the end, it would be Nazzy with a soft Z sound. Just teach/always use that spelling.

That being said, I do agree with a previous poster that future online presence should be a consideration. I’ve read in quite a few places that the best thing you can do for your kids privacy these days is to give them a common, generic name.

ObsessiveGoogler · 08/05/2026 22:07

i know several men named Nazarius (Ugandan) which could be an option? They’re known as Naz.

UnexpectedCurveBall · 08/05/2026 22:05

I meant to add, I wouldn’t have any negative thoughts should I see the name Nazareth on a class list.

MiaKulper · 08/05/2026 22:05

CatsandChoc · 08/05/2026 20:26

Of Stoke?

Slough could be a nature name.

UnexpectedCurveBall · 08/05/2026 22:04

LassiKopiano24 · 08/05/2026 19:46

I thought you were going to say Lucifer or Satan 😂 Go for Nazareth if you like it, I’ve heard worse

I do know a child called Lucifer! He’s known as Lukey and I have no idea how on earth his parents were able to call him that

Vaguelyclassical · 08/05/2026 22:00

CatsandChoc · 08/05/2026 20:26

Of Stoke?

Or Ashby de la Zouch!

Friendshipproooblem · 08/05/2026 21:59

AgentPidge · 08/05/2026 21:57

That's a gorgeous name.

Agree - I love the name Esther. I can’t believe people in PP’s life disliked it so much!!

I know an absolutely flipping wonderful little Esther. She gets called Estie.