Page 3 | What happened to normal conventional names?

VelvetLace · 2026-06-17T17:41:40+00:00

An acquaintance who is due slightly after me has just announced on Facebook that she will be naming her baby girl Charm. I originally thought it was short for something else but no. It's just the word Charm. I'm not saying that everyone should name their baby something incredibly dull, but why have full-blown dog names become so common for human beings? Has naming babies just become a creativity contest? I see a lot of conventional names being asked about and considered on MN, but I'm seeing the opposite with people that I know offline. DH and I were discussing this last night.

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

user404927 · 24/06/2026 06:18

My sister is a civil registrar and one day a few weeks ago she had five birth appointments and all five babies were called Noah. Two of them with no middle name.

At least Charm is a name in that it serves the purpose of a name because it’s something that identifies her.

maxslice · 24/06/2026 06:04

Petrine · 18/06/2026 12:04

Parents would do well to think of their baby as an adult when choosing their name. Some names proposed on MN would require very definite traits/abilities. The recent suggestion of calling a child Knowledge comes to mind.

I always wonder how the now child will feel about their unusual name when they become adults. “Today, we’re welcoming MP, Charm McKendrick. Introducing her will be Mayor, Brandi Holmes, and surgeon, Biscuit Wilson.” Not offensive names, but they could lead to employment or bullying.

feckingmassivecakeandvesttop · 24/06/2026 06:01

Honeyhonay · 17/06/2026 20:17

So many people on mumsnet have a real issue with anyone naming their children something out of the norm.

Let’s face it, everything in life is really just made up. There’s nothing particularly admiral about naming a baby the same name as a whole bunch of other people.

Even if baby naming was a creativity contest, so what? Is that less than someone naming a baby after the dad and having two Johns living under the same roof.

Some people need to just lighten up imo.

You've stumped me with "admiral" . I presume you mean "particularly admirable" but I could go with "admiral" as a verb. It's cool.

maxslice · 24/06/2026 05:52

I met a gentleman named Debonair and a woman called Rosebud. I had a student in class once, “Nasscia” pronounced “nausea”. Poor child.

Cuzy · 19/06/2026 13:36

Loures · 17/06/2026 19:41

Most MNers always want to be contrary, OP. I've noticed this. If someone had started a thread saying that they loved the name Charm and wanted to use it, everyone on here would be saying how awful it is. Because you have started a thread criticising the name, everyone comes to defend it.

Edited

This is so accurate about MN. The contrarianism can be exhausting. These people know damn well that they do not genuinely like this name and think that it's a good choice. Normally they hate on any name that's not 'classic'. They just want to disagree with the OP for the sake of disagreeing. 😩🥴

ConstanzeMozart · 19/06/2026 10:50

oliviaAustin · 18/06/2026 21:23

I’m a big fan of Annunziata and Renata!

Show quote history

Love Annunziata!

FlowerPower666 · 19/06/2026 09:26

MidnightPatrol · 19/06/2026 08:06

I know a Justice

Show quote history

I used to know a Confidence. She was very confident! Loved it.

FlowerPower666 · 19/06/2026 09:26

AndresyFiorella · 18/06/2026 19:42

Amelia and Olivia have been the top 2 girls' names for over 10 years now, so I don't think you've got much to worry about. I currently teach a Yr 7 class with 4 of each. I get depressed just thinking about how it will still be the same in 11 years time! There are so many wonderful names but everyone seems to be totally fixated on those 2; I'd happily exchange a few for the odd Charm!

In my daughters class there are 3 Amelia/Emilias and 4 Olivias (and about ten eva/evie). They are ok names but come on, that is so dull. If I had a baby right now and had to call her one of those, or Charm, I would pick Charm in an instant.

MidnightPatrol · 19/06/2026 08:06

AndresyFiorella · 18/06/2026 21:13

I teach a lot of girls of African heritage with names like Pride, Precious, Glory, Gift, Blessing, Comfort, which are no different in concept to Grace, Hope and Faith, just less used by white British people. Charm fits in that category quite nicely.

I know a Justice

pambeesleyhalpert · 18/06/2026 22:13

I’d rather see a Charm than another Charlotte or something equally as boring

TheBirdintheCave · 18/06/2026 22:04

FallenNight · 18/06/2026 15:06

I have been so convinced by the Manda Scott Dreaming serise I think of her as Breaca!

Show quote history

I suggested Breaca as a name for our daughter but my husband didn’t like it 😅

oliviaAustin · 18/06/2026 21:26

ThaneOfGlamis · 17/06/2026 21:50

What classes as a traditional name? Not many Barbara and Sharon's around any more. Or should we go a bit further back to Boudica and Æthelflæd? Times move on and things change.

I’ve just remembered that I actually DO know a Boudicca. Boudicca Fox Leonard. She’s a journalist. She goes by Boo. She’s in her 30s I think.

oliviaAustin · 18/06/2026 21:23

ConstanzeMozart · 18/06/2026 16:15

I dunno, I love mad Catholic names like Assumpta and Dolores

Show quote history

I’m a big fan of Annunziata and Renata!

AndresyFiorella · 18/06/2026 21:13

I teach a lot of girls of African heritage with names like Pride, Precious, Glory, Gift, Blessing, Comfort, which are no different in concept to Grace, Hope and Faith, just less used by white British people. Charm fits in that category quite nicely.

HobnobsChoice · 18/06/2026 20:45

I met a teenaged Havvanah last week. Perfectly nice girl but I did call her Savannah twice as I am hard of hearing these days. She's must be used to it as she said something like it's spelled like Savannah but with an H. Like Cuba". Poor kid is in for a life time of that. Charm is quite nice. I've met a couple of kids called Charming from Nigeria families. I love Nigerian naming conventions (specifically Igbo and Yoruba), a lot of consideration goes into the naming

Crunchymum · 18/06/2026 20:33

There is currently a thread running by someone who wants to name her son Knowledge Jamie Smith. That's a head
scratcher.

Edited to say the surname isn't Smith but something of that ilk (according to Knowledge's mum)

AndresyFiorella · 18/06/2026 19:42

Amelia and Olivia have been the top 2 girls' names for over 10 years now, so I don't think you've got much to worry about. I currently teach a Yr 7 class with 4 of each. I get depressed just thinking about how it will still be the same in 11 years time! There are so many wonderful names but everyone seems to be totally fixated on those 2; I'd happily exchange a few for the odd Charm!

Phineyj · 18/06/2026 19:38

I met an Inma once.

Inmaculata conceptione!

Offyertrolley · 18/06/2026 18:16

Iarthar · 18/06/2026 15:28

Whereas right-minded parents just call their children Boy#124577 to bring home their own insignificance to them?

Show quote history

😂

ConstanzeMozart · 18/06/2026 17:36

Iarthar · 18/06/2026 16:31

Concepta. My lovely friend Connie allows people to think her full name is Constance, but she was born on the 8th of December...

Show quote history

That's a good one!

Iarthar · 18/06/2026 16:31

ConstanzeMozart · 18/06/2026 16:15

I dunno, I love mad Catholic names like Assumpta and Dolores

Show quote history

Concepta. My lovely friend Connie allows people to think her full name is Constance, but she was born on the 8th of December...

ConstanzeMozart · 18/06/2026 16:15

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 17/06/2026 20:07

Not a lot wrong with Charm. Naming children for virtues or for your hopes and dreams for them is pretty common in some countries. There are more traditional ones we might be familiar with like Verity, Prudence or Joy and there are also those that are more associated with some black African cultures such as Blessing. Or you can go all Spanish and go for Purificación. I would much rather Charm than Purificación!

I dunno, I love mad Catholic names like Assumpta and Dolores

ConstanzeMozart · 18/06/2026 16:14

Iarthar · 17/06/2026 19:01

What counts as a 'normal, conventional name' is pretty subjective to class, ethnicity, generation etc.

I mean, I'd prefer Charm to George, by some way.

I agree, you'd need to clarify the parameters for this to work, and I don't think there are any universal ones.

FlowerPower666 · 18/06/2026 15:47

ToadRage · 18/06/2026 14:21

He is my favourite poker on but I would not call my child that.
Charm is ok, I have heard worse but with names I always consider if it would be taken seriously in adulthood.

Show quote history

Better Charm than yet another Eve/Eva/Evie though right? (oh, Eevee is a Pokemon too!)

FlowerPower666 · 18/06/2026 15:46

Honeyhonay · 18/06/2026 15:29

Oddly it’s the posters preferring ‘traditional’ names that seem to think their child is so much better than any other child.

Show quote history

So true