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Baby names

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Original poster

Do you like your name and why do you feel that way?

128 replies

Fiddlesticks1 · 12/07/2026 10:27

At a family gathering we discussed our names and whether we liked them or not so it got me thinking. I was born in the fifties and was as school with several Jane’s, college with more and taught in a school with three of us. So a popular name back then. I taught a Jane back in the nineties but since then have not come across any.
I love my name it’s simple, has associations with famous people and now not common.
So what is your name and do you like or dislike and why.

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GJMJ · 10/08/2026 23:25

Devilsmommy · 12/07/2026 22:01

I actually do like my name because it's not one you hear often. It's Joanna. I've met a gazillion Joanne's but only a couple of Joanna's.

That’s my little girls middle name, I love it ! It’s also my middle name and my oldest daughter’s first name combined.

Mumofgirls2017 · 10/08/2026 22:15

I have an unusual first and middle for the 80s, but it is very acceptable and liked now. I’m so pleased my parents were forward thinking!

BewareOfTheFakes · 10/08/2026 21:30

Victoria….born in the 80’s.

Hate it and its screams that my parents lacked imagination considering I was one of MANY born in that era.

RoseApp · 09/08/2026 16:22

Absolutely hated my name and hated the shortened version even more which my mother still insists on calling me despite my never using it ever!

There is a longer, more elegant version of my name but no, my parents literally chose the most common, rubbish version that was shot 10 years out of date when they used it.

i recently but it on to AI and asked what image did my name contour up. It said, working class, probably born in the early60s probably working as a minimum wage admin assistant, living in social housing, has five grand kids! :)

Anyway as soon as I was 18 I changed it, then after a period also changed my middle name, an equally awful one that was named after an aunt and for which I was bullied at school.

i have asked my mother why she did it and she said well i didn’t know how intelligent you would be so i thought you better have something you could spell.

My dad admitted he’d pushed for it as it was his favourite Johnny Cash song!

Brummiecurlz173 · 04/08/2026 20:41

Arlanymor · 28/07/2026 22:06

I can't either. The male pronunciation on that link is how I say my name. I think the female pronunciation isn't quite getting the 'Rh' part. That said when in England I just say - it's Ian with an R! Much easier!

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yes, thats it.

Moll2020 · 30/07/2026 13:20

I’m sad about my name because internet culture has turned it into a shorthand label for entitlement, rudeness, and racial aggression. I’m sure everyone knows what it is!

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 30/07/2026 12:50

Helene

Mymsy · 30/07/2026 12:47

You’re on the right lines as he added the letter “e” at the end like Ann/Anne.

Aiming4Optimistic · 30/07/2026 12:40

I'm a 70s Sarah (with the obligatory Louise middle name). I like the sound of my first name and that when I apply for jobs, it's impossible for people to make snap judgements about me, based on my name. I don't love that it doesn't actually serve its purpose in identifying me - every school or job I've had, there have been at least 3 of us!
I gave my dd a more unusual name. She can use the more common abbreviation when she wants to blend, but has the option of her more unusual longer name then she wants to stand out.

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 30/07/2026 12:01

Mymsy · 30/07/2026 11:59

My name is typical of the decade in which I was born. My father preferred one spelling, my mother the other. He registered my birth so I ended up with the less plain version which I’m pleased about.

Tracey or Claire?

Mymsy · 30/07/2026 11:59

My name is typical of the decade in which I was born. My father preferred one spelling, my mother the other. He registered my birth so I ended up with the less plain version which I’m pleased about.

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 30/07/2026 08:59

Maybe the pp thought it was pronounced Araitchie-ee-en Smile

Arlanymor · 28/07/2026 22:06

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 28/07/2026 12:55

I can't make sense of that. Is it like Ian with an R in front (Ree-un)?
The Welsh pronunciation of Rhian is Rhian pronunciation: How to pronounce Rhian in Welsh

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I can't either. The male pronunciation on that link is how I say my name. I think the female pronunciation isn't quite getting the 'Rh' part. That said when in England I just say - it's Ian with an R! Much easier!

Arlanymor · 28/07/2026 22:05

Brummiecurlz173 · 28/07/2026 12:45

RH-E-E-N pronounced as spelled. i didnt know there was different spellings or versions

I don't understand the phonetics you are trying to share sorry?

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 28/07/2026 12:55

Brummiecurlz173 · 28/07/2026 12:45

RH-E-E-N pronounced as spelled. i didnt know there was different spellings or versions

I can't make sense of that. Is it like Ian with an R in front (Ree-un)?
The Welsh pronunciation of Rhian is Rhian pronunciation: How to pronounce Rhian in Welsh

Brummiecurlz173 · 28/07/2026 12:45

RH-E-E-N pronounced as spelled. i didnt know there was different spellings or versions

Arlanymor · 27/07/2026 19:21

Brummiecurlz173 · 26/07/2026 20:30

@Arlanymor He pronounced it exactly the same as the female name.

As the Welsh or the English version? Sorry I should have specified, that's kind of what I meant as both are different. I like it though regardless!

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 26/07/2026 21:50

Brummiecurlz173 · 26/07/2026 20:30

@Arlanymor He pronounced it exactly the same as the female name.

And what pronunciation is that?

Brummiecurlz173 · 26/07/2026 20:30

@Arlanymor He pronounced it exactly the same as the female name.

Arlanymor · 18/07/2026 10:43

Brummiecurlz173 · 18/07/2026 10:09

i knew of a male Rhien once, a kind guy

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Oh that’s a new one on me. I like it though and glad he was kind. 😁

Brummiecurlz173 · 18/07/2026 10:09

Arlanymor · 12/07/2026 11:27

Rhian - I love it. A connection to my heritage and it literally rolls off the tongue, because where I am from we roll our Rs! Surprising how many people struggle to say the English version though.

i knew of a male Rhien once, a kind guy

AndrewMountbattenWindsor · 18/07/2026 09:03

Natsku · 18/07/2026 06:48

Seems like your name is the wrong way round - Mary Louise sounds more right than Louise Mary.

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But she was known as Louise, and Louise was so overused as a middle name that it became normal to have it in the middle.
Having your known as name being the middle name is a PITA.

Natsku · 18/07/2026 08:35

ArwenUndomniel · 18/07/2026 08:24

You're right, but I think Mary was considered incredibly old-fashioned when I was born and my parents would never have picked it. I don't think I've ever met a Mary of my age either.

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I knew a Mary a couple of years older than me but I was never entirely sure if it actually was her name or she just preferred it. Its a good name though.

There was another Mary but I'm 80% sure we only called her Mary because she was married to a Joseph and had just had a baby.

Pokingbroccoli · 18/07/2026 08:31

I love my name, it's classic, a bit unusual but not so rare no one has heard of it. I went to an all girls school in the 80s and there was only one other girl with my name in 1200 students.

It's easy to pronounce, easy to spell and pretty without being fussy. It's also reasonably common in other European languages so it works in other countries too.

ArwenUndomniel · 18/07/2026 08:24

Natsku · 18/07/2026 06:48

Seems like your name is the wrong way round - Mary Louise sounds more right than Louise Mary.

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You're right, but I think Mary was considered incredibly old-fashioned when I was born and my parents would never have picked it. I don't think I've ever met a Mary of my age either.