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Baby names

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

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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KermitTheToad · 08/05/2026 20:55

usererror99 · 08/05/2026 20:46

It’s awful (and has chavvy downmarket vibes)

and you know it

if your other two kids have “normal” English names it’s going to stand out even more as weird

I think the name Nazareth is lovely. However I personally dislike names like Sharon, , Wayne ,Tracey or newer names like Jordan, Courtney or Kyle and think 'they' are chavvy. So we all obviously have our own likes and dislikes, there is no pleasing everyone.

HellenicOfTroy · 08/05/2026 20:53

It's not really for me but once I'd heard it I'd just move on and keep minding my own business. IME, that's what most people in real life do when they hear a new name but on MN there can be a lot of pearl-clutching - some people have quite narrow world experience.

Presumably you're not keen on Nazanin or variants of that?

itsgettingweird · 08/05/2026 20:52

Ooohh I like it.

and now have the song from Nativity as an ear worm 🤣

BettyRubblecausestrouble · 08/05/2026 20:49

Heavy rock band from 70s called Nazarath…

usererror99 · 08/05/2026 20:46

It’s awful (and has chavvy downmarket vibes)

and you know it

if your other two kids have “normal” English names it’s going to stand out even more as weird

StampOnTheGround · 08/05/2026 20:45

You know what, I actually don’t hate it. However I would assume boy if I’d heard it and didn’t know.

Purplewarrior · 08/05/2026 20:42

Oh dear. No I wouldn’t do that to my child.

Error404FucksNotFound · 08/05/2026 20:42

Nazarath seems more like a boy's name to me. Not sure why.

Yes it is very unusual and your child is most probably going to get some comments .

If you love the name, use it. Maybe give a middle name your child can use if they prefer

SpringingOn · 08/05/2026 20:40

I would have thought Naz would be a common shortening. Can't see anyone thinking to shorten it to Nazi. I would go with Nazreen though probably if you like Naz (which I do).

Splat92 · 08/05/2026 20:39

I don't mind it and in the school I work in, noone would bat an eyelid at it. I was expecting something much worse from your OP.

ButterYellowFlowers · 08/05/2026 20:38

Purplecatshopaholic · 08/05/2026 20:32

You want to call a child Nazareth? How would you feel if it was you? The NN Naz would be a given, but what if it was Nazi..? At least Bethlehem could be Beth.. I’d have a rethink if I was you..

Edited

The Naz in Nazareth and the Naz in Nazi are pronounced quite differently… nah-zh versus Nath-zee

ButterYellowFlowers · 08/05/2026 20:37

BisB · 08/05/2026 19:32

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

Show quote history

Nazareth is fine. Inoffensive, most Brits will know how to pronounce it too. It’s ok.

Purplecatshopaholic · 08/05/2026 20:32

You want to call a child Nazareth? How would you feel if it was you? The NN Naz would be a given, but what if it was Nazi..? At least Bethlehem could be Beth.. I’d have a rethink if I was you..

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 08/05/2026 20:31

No , it would be an awful name to saddle a little child with .
I have the most ridiculous middle name , I never use it and I have managed to eradicate it from 99% of my documents . And I was teased -children can be cruel.

The shortening will be to Nazi - do you want that ?

Eixample · 08/05/2026 20:28

If you are 100% in love with the name, use it. People won’t care enough to hate it, they’ll just be surprised by it, though I can imagine that many people brought up in secular homes won’t know it.
My post lady is called Bethlehem, funnily enough.

OurFlagMeansAfternoonTea · 08/05/2026 20:27

I think you should care what people think. Your daughter needs to live in this world and why make her life unnecessarily difficult? The name sounds ok, but I wouldn't use it because of the Nazi shortening.

CatsandChoc · 08/05/2026 20:26

Ibetitwasaldi · 08/05/2026 20:11

That’s a place name. You might as well name her Jerusalem or Birmingham or Slough.

Of Stoke?

CatsandChoc · 08/05/2026 20:25

What about Bethlehem? She could then be nicknamed ‘Beth’?

Shelleyblueeyes · 08/05/2026 20:22

I quite like it and I'm not religious. If you like it go for it. Never mind what others think.

Just worried that if you are on here asking strangers that's telling me you aren't 100% behind it and your daughter is going to need you to be 100% behind it to carry it off.

Keep us posted. X

MiaKulper · 08/05/2026 20:18

I like it, @BisB

KitchenColourandstyle · 08/05/2026 20:17

Your child will have absolutely no on line anonymity if they are they only person with a particular name in the country. It might not seem like a big deal but it means they can't ever leave any dodgy teenage photos behind or blend in if some is trying to find them or tell a potential employer that no it wasn't them that said/did whatever.

Smartiepants79 · 08/05/2026 20:17

Well, as a word it is pretty but it’s a place name. A very famous place with very definite associations to a particular time and place in Christian history. Are you very Christian?
I don’t hate it but I wouldn’t use it if I was you. It doesn’t sit well as the name of a real person in my opinion.

zurigo · 08/05/2026 20:15

Honestly, I've heard worse. I'm not a massive fan of city names (Brooklyn, London, Geneva, etc), and I guess Nazareth has the added layer of being 'Jesus of ...', but it's not a bad name. If you love it and it has meaning for you, go for it.

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/05/2026 20:13

Ibetitwasaldi · 08/05/2026 20:11

That’s a place name. You might as well name her Jerusalem or Birmingham or Slough.

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

AlertMentor · 08/05/2026 20:12

My first thought is that Nazareth is a boys name. It will get shortened to Naz or Nazi. If your other children have more 'usual' names she may grow up wondering why you lumbered her with such an unusual name. To me it sounds too much like trying to be different. Change your own name to Nazareth if you love it so much but don't bestow it on your child.