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Baby names

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

Original poster

What's wrong with making up a name?

80 replies

hopperdee · 21/03/2010 00:10

I've met a couple of people with names made-up by their parents (one was called Thogdin but it does actually suit him). It might seem odd but if you think about it, every name was new or made-up at some point in time so is it so wrong to add a few fresh ones to the mix? Do you have a name that you've made-up and would love to use (but might not be brave enough to use)? or have you met any?

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EvilTwins · 21/03/2010 22:58

So, Tiggy - all place names are dead common are they? What about Florence? Wasn't Ms Nightingale named after the city by her rather orignal parents? Or is that a myth?

Original poster
hopperdee · 21/03/2010 22:51

Just because someone has a lower economic status than you (all the talk of 'chavs'), doesn't mean to say that they can't use their imagination when it comes to names. Some of those names might even become staples in 100 years time, who knows?!

Wendy is a great example of a recent name that just seems like a regular name now.

Like I said before, all names were made up at some point in time - and a new name can still refer to a meaning as many traditional ones do.

I wonder if the first ever David had a hard time with his unusual name?

Bit0ffun - that vid posting is great by the way!

OP posts:
MumGoneCrazy · 21/03/2010 22:17

Whats wrong with Vanessa?

CaveMum · 21/03/2010 21:57

Ha, ha! Trait names usually result in the child being the polar opposite-

Chastity will be a sl*t
Hope will be a manic-depressive
Faith will be an atheist

I went to school with sisters called Sunshine and Rainbow. They hated their names and were bullied almost constantly. In the end they reverted to using their "normal" middle names of Amanda and Tina.

Parents really need to think of the potential consequences when giving their children "unique" names.

A friend of mine has the surname "Eyre", he informed us that he'd like to call his hypothetical-son Ryan! He genuinely didn't realise what he had said until we explained it to him.

TiggyD · 21/03/2010 21:42

All 'place' names are dead common:
Paris
Brooklyn
Hull

All 'trait' names are chavvy/Essexy:
Faith
Hope
chastity

All 'I' names are slutty:
Mandi
Fifi
Luci
Bambi

All 'gemstone' names are stripper names:
Ruby
Sapphire
Jade

CaveMum · 21/03/2010 21:29

Hey if making names up is "cool" can I be the first to suggest:

Khyfsthu
Rykdyo
Aegjkby

[bangs head against the table emotcion]

schroedingersdodo · 21/03/2010 21:24

Di'monae? Thogdin? I can assure you they'll have a lot of trouble having their CVs read by anyone.

I think parents should think about these things when naming their kids (not to mention having to explain to every single person why they have a weird sound/bunch of letters as name).

stickylittlefingers · 21/03/2010 21:09

A name has to come from somewhere (Pamela springs to mind as a made-up one that is totally mainstream (if a bit old!) now) - so why not. I really don't like some already-out-there names, so the jury's out on any new one, I reckon.

Also, we did sort of muck around with a name for dd1, but everyone seems to love it - to our faces at least!

CaveMum · 21/03/2010 21:08

I highly recommend that you all take a look at this site and then tell me that made up names are not a bad thing!

Some of them are truly awful and make the children sound like strippers/porn stars.

littlemissm · 21/03/2010 20:50

Each to there own i say.

JoeyBettany · 21/03/2010 20:48

Yes, Rebeccaruby, and wasn't 'Vanessa' made up as well?

Adair · 21/03/2010 19:35

See, now, I wouldn't choose Di'monae for my own children but I am not dreadfully offended by it. I think it's quite pretty. I am a teacher who sees all sorts of names from all cultures - at least it's phonetic!

Debs75 · 21/03/2010 19:35

I kind of made up DD1's middle name. It is Elabeth It is from an Anne Rice book where the character is callad Emaleth. That could be sorted to Ema and an old school friend was called Emma and we fell out. It does get lengthened to Elizabeth which bugs her.
Made-up names do not have to be chavvy only people with no imagination and foresight will pick a really chavvy name

Chavtastic · 21/03/2010 19:34

Ooh! Someone mentioned me (not my usual posting name, but I felt called).

Problem with a lot of made-up names is it comes across as a bit pretentious, like your child had to have some super duper unique name that couldn't possibly be shared with anyone else (only it probably is).

And there's a reason that made-up names aren't ordinary names, they usually don't sound so good!

But when they do, fine. For years I thought that I had made up the name 'Katrina' (when I was 4).

clam · 21/03/2010 19:31

Di'monae

PLEASE tell me that was a wind-up.

Rebeccaruby · 21/03/2010 19:28

Depends on the name. I'm sure there are some lovely made up names. J M Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan, made up Wendy, because a child he knew called him her "friendy-wendy". I'm sure there are a lot of literary names where the name was made up by the writer. I reckon Shakespeare probably made up a few. But Throgdin!!

5DollarShake · 21/03/2010 19:24

Oh my goodness - Di'monae is not doing anything for the cause of made-up names.

memorylapse · 21/03/2010 19:15

each to their own I guess..Di'monae is awful..sorry..I think the problem with made up names is that you have to remember that you condemn that child to a life time of probable teasing...constantly spelling out name etc..

differentID · 21/03/2010 19:01

What's wrong with "Diamond" anyway? At least it means something!

JoeyBettany · 21/03/2010 18:59

I quite liked Di'monae but not the way it's spelt. I'd spell it Dimone-maybe with an acute accent on the 'e'.

SusieCarmichael · 21/03/2010 18:56

math why would you make a clicking sound for an apostrophe?

differentID · 21/03/2010 18:51

Di'monae is truly cringeworthy. It isn't even pretty.
Poor child.

DebiNewberry · 21/03/2010 18:50

In rl I HATE them, but in my tra la la head I think,why not?

ooosabeauta · 21/03/2010 18:47

Went to school with two girls (sisters) who had made up names, and they got a lot of stick for it, although this was 20 years ago and obviously it's become more common. Also knew of a girl in a local school called 'Baccardie' poor sausage.

yellowcircle · 21/03/2010 18:43

Thanks!

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