Today at work I met 2 children called

is that a real song??

I'm now singing, "Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand,..."

Some geeky part of me likes the Matrix themed names although 'Morpheus' is a bit much to be saddled with...

Don't cry for me Argentina!

There is a disturbing trend here in Canada to give kids last names as first names. When my Ds1 (age 5.10) came home with his class list last year, it was interesting to discover that MacKenzie was a girl, as was Tayleur (yes, spelled that way) and also Hunter. He had boys in his class called Logan, Marshall, Cooper, Haydon and Chase.

I don't think Rio sounds right on a girl...thats prob because I've only met male Rio's tho

As for the Matrix kids...

JuJusDad, I'm sure Treasure Island grew up grateful her parents weren't fans of Canvey

Who was it who wanted China Blue? Are you perchance Ken Russell fans?

I met two boys once, one was called Neo and the other called Morpheus . The eldest boy informed me that they had a baby sister at home called Trinity - one can only hope that once they're in their eighties, nobody will remember the film, poor buggers.

'remember having to take a firm grip on my facial muscles when being introduced to a young Marmaduke'

I see this from a both sides - I myself have felt my mouth twitch upwards to a tiny smirk if I have heard a name which I feel sounds odd or I feel is odd. (By odd I don't mean it's horrible - my brain automatically links any name up to my surname [no idea why] and not a lot of names sound good with my surname]

Then again - my ds is called Rio and the amount of people that raise their eyebrows at me and actually say "really?" Countless others must think it but are too polite to say anything.

I love the name Rio - and no (!) he is NOT named after Rio bloody Ferdinand.
Thats another very popular remark upon learning my ds's name.

Loving this thread btw - thanks to the OP
x xx x

Um, I know two little girls called China. No more unusual than India, imo...

i wonder if thats where they were conceived - thats what posh n becks did innit?

on that basis my ds would be called Basement Flat. DD would be Knackered Mattress.

i have a child caled skelmersdale - we call him skally.

i have another called stockton upon tees - we call him stocky

i have another called The River Thames we call him gary

Yes, I agree. That is why I said:

"To be fair to the OP, it would be difficult to hide the shock at being told a child was named Jamaica, and the mother should be prepared for that."

Perhaps you are getting me mixed up with someone else.

MamaLazarou I wanted Chynna Blue, but she ended up Chynna Skye

My friend's mum has the middle name Adelaide!

She hates it because everyone does a face when she tells them it!

The women you met was lucky - my mouth works befoe my brain most of the time so I would have done the face and said 'Why?'

Saltire, you may not have had any visible reaction, she may be defensive about previous comments and was getting her retaliation in first.

Fair enough, I retract that. Doubtless there's plenty worse things they could be called with the family name Island(s).

And yes, I always thought Treasure Island was quite sweet, though I wonder if she thought so...

I agree with Mama - parents of children with unusual / themed names should be prepared for others to react in some way on hearing the names. So I don't think OP was being rude, and the mother should be (a little) less defensive.

I know MamaLazarou - I did it, not a flicker of surprise, but it was a complete surprise as his elder sisters' names would never have led one to expect anything so exotic.

I think Treasure Island is rather lovely. I don't have any trouble believing in Marshall and Solomon.

child listed on school play Yr 6 programme as wanklyn

Can only assume she's not of bristish descent (goodness I hope so anyway)

Saltire my biggest annoyance would be rude Mum's attitude tbh, not exceptional names alone but for twins- goodness! I don't like themed names though

Love these name threads.

Always makes me feel better about the name my DD is saddled with was carefully chosen for her. (four syllabel first name, Chinese middle name, double barrelled surname)

At least my Dad managed to curb my enthusiasm and stop me calling her Solestra as well... (My excuse - carried away by her being my PFB)

I'm gonna need some sort of proof about those two kids called Marshall and Solomon Islands, can't quite believe that (although when I worked in banking I saw some fabulous names: Miss Treasure Island and Mr Maximum Velocity - he'd changed it, but hers was as given - are two of my favourites).

We are talking about human children here, though, Pyrocanthus, not puppies.

I remember having to take a firm grip on my facial muscles when being introduced to a young Marmaduke.

It took me a while to get the Jamaica joke but very funny!

I agree with savoycabbage, very bad form for an adult to pull a face when tolsd a child's name!