Kinda regretting my eldest son's name

[3under5somg]

To cut to the chase we named him Kylo. For those not in the know it's from Star Wars. He wasn't named for any love of the character (I hadn't seen the sequels at that point) the name to me just sounded cute, like a varient of Mylo I guess and I do still like it now. To be clear I have absolutely no desire to change his name (he's 4 now), he is Kylo and doesn't like to be called Kai or any shortened version. I just worry sometimes that I've given my child a name that he'll grow to regret. What do you think?

It's funny you called him Kylo without watching the sequels!

Fortunately the sequels are crap and will be quickly forgotten, unlike the proper Star Wars. I bet there's a couple of Lukes and even an Obi-Wan or two wandering around! I love Leila.

It’s a nice name and the associations aren’t the worst out there by a long shot.

Theres a child in one of mines classes called Loki, which is associated with the Norse god of mischief! Poor adult stuck with that!

Also, whilst the name Loki sounds great and strong when said with a Scandinavian accent, with a terribly boring East Midlands accent it (imo) doesn’t word quite as well as it should!

This isn't a new thing. My stepdad was named out of someone from Blake's 7! People have been naming their kids after popular culture for millennia.

I wouldn't worry. I've heard far worse. He'll probably like the Star Wars connection when he's older.

Kylo isn’t really “out there.” It’s a blend of Kyle and Milo. Many British babies have been given that name (if you search it online). Not sure why you named him after the Star Wars character if you’ve never watched the films.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I work in a company where it's mainly people in their 20's (I'm nearly 40) and there are a massive range of names that would have raised an eyebrow at previous employers (older ages on average).

So if that's already the case for younger millennials and older Gen Z you're DC won't have any problems at all. I suspect they'd be more the odd one out if they had a very bland name.

Yesterday I was having a conversation with Vlad & Velvet and beyond thinking for a millisecond 'Wow...that's an interesting name' I thought nothing of it.

It's fine. Better than some of the awful names some parents saddle their kids with, especially some of the double barrelled ones . Some are very mismatched

I really dislike this attitude and it’s often trotted out here by teachers.

I too have met many children named after TV characters and even types of alcohol but it has never affected my opinion of them and I find it very cruel to take such a judgmental attitude.

Their parents gave them that name because they liked it. What makes Kanaloa so superior to Kaleesi?

A TV show is a short-lived thing and also zillions of people won’t have watched it, what matters is that it was given to them with love.

There are exceptions of course such as using a gang name or an otherwise offensive term but they are very rare.

OP my son changed his name at 5, (he wasn’t named after a TV character) he was very persistent about the name he wanted and everyone accepted it quickly.

Does he have a less unique middle name like James for example so his name is Kylo James Surname on his birth certificate maybe he could be James Surname at school etc

I am fussy about names, but would never say to someone's face that their name is weird as they did not choose their name.

It's a nice name OP. It kind of trips gently off the tongue whilst also being strong sounding.

Somehow it works well for a young boy, a teen, a younger or older adult. It's unusual without being try-hard, and manages to sound like a classic name even though it's not!

I love Star Wars and would've immediately thought of that for a second or two, but wouldn't assume that's the reason for the name.

I think it's normal to have brief moments of regret, or to over-think a name as a child grows and life changes but hopefully you will find love for his name again, as you previously had.

I like it too. I agree that kids now have a much wider range of names and when he's 25 nobody will bat an eyelid. He cpuld easily shorten to Kyle of it bothered him.

There's a girl at my DC's school called Bow, as in hair bow, (she wears a giant hair bow quite often, too). The parents, and hence the poor child, pronounce it as 'bore'

Kylo is not bad compared to a lot of names!

It's an unusual name. Names come and go and many people think they are being different or fashionable. Does your son like it.

I guess when picking names the surname needs consideration with it, if it immediately makes people think of a celebrity or show or film.

Erm Kanaloa isn’t my real name. I presume 22N isn’t your real name either. And I’m totally not judgemental or mean to the kid at all - im the first one to call people out on that snotty attitude. However, I wouldn’t want to have a misspelled version of a TV character’s title for my name. It wouldn’t suit a variety of people, it would be embarrassing to constantly explain to people, and it dates really quickly.

And I don’t see why its such a horrible attitude to say you wouldn’t want to be named after an invented fantasy character’s name.

And I’m not sure why you’re saying it affects my opinion of the child when all I’ve said is it makes me think the parents are using them as a billboard for their fandom interests rather than thinking of them as a grown adult. I’m not cruel in the slightest and I’m always calling out the silly name snobbery on here. All I was saying is I don’t think it’s ideal to name your child a name so strongly associated with your favourite fandom - it seems a bit immature and thoughtless of the actual person with the name to me.

Yes I realise Kanaloa is your username, I’m pointing out that it’s absurd to judge by names. I’m sorry that went over your head.

And you are judging them unkindly no matter how much you protest. You write a whole post about how awful their names were. I genuinely never have that reaction to a name, it’s their name just as my name is mine.

I find it depressing when I see these mean-spirited posts by teachers. I would really hope by now that teachers understood they are held up as role models not snide commentators.

But a username on an anonymous website is absolutely nothing like an actual name that you use every single day. Your point didn’t go over my head, it was just a silly point that didn’t make sense.

It’s just my opinion. I never form opinions about the actual child or treat them any differently but for me when you’re choosing your child’s name you try to choose something that will serve them well. Something that they wear, not something that wears them. Something that won’t encourage embarrassing comments, constant references to a TV show, silly questions. Something that is about THEM. Not them as a baby extension of you, but them as a man/woman of any kind. Naming your child a clear homage to a television show isn’t about them. It’s about you. And you’re not the one who needs to constantly say ‘yeah, Kaleesi. Like - yes, mother of dragons, haha. Except I don’t spell it like the television programme. Yeah, mum was a fan of Game of Thrones, yeah, obviously.’

I think its sweet. If he doesn't like it when he's older he can either choose to be known by something else or change it by deed poll. One if my friend was accidentally given a boys name(I know!) and she has never been known by her real name. In fact most people don't know her real name.

I don't know anything about Star Wars so didn't recognise the name but I think it's a good name, doesn't sound that unusal we have a couple of Milos an Arlo and a Cosmo at school it's the same sort of name as them.

I suspect he’ll get Kyle a lot when he gets older, people may think the o is a typo. I know a middle aged Micah who is constantly called Michael or Mike even in emails because people presumably think he spelled his own name wrong.

"He's only 4, as he grows up he might decide he prefers Kai anyway."

I second the above. My youngest is called Nathaniel. When he was very young (he's 18 now) anyone who called him 'Nat' or 'Nate' got short shrift from him - he was Nathaniel, thank you very much! (Always said with much indignance out of a typical little grub of a boy...). My side of the family has always used a different shortened version for him, which he's always been okay with - but his Dad/that side of the family decided to call him the more usual "Nat"... which did not go down well with my son at all. So he was Nathaniel to everyone but me, his sister and my parents/siblings/nephews and (weirdly) my friends/their kids. To us, he's still (and always will be) Other Shortened Version Of Name.

Until he turned 14. When he became 'Nate' to all of his friends (most of whom he's known since nursery school). He went, seemingly overnight, from indignantly insisting on only ever being known by his actual/full name - to using the moniker he detested as a child. I have to confess to quite liking it, but would never use it myself as it rhymes with the shortened version of his sister's name (she named him from a list of approved names)... but now that he's older, it really suits him/his personality. So yes; one day your Kylo (which I also love, incidentally, even though I wasn't a fan of the character) may well wake up and decide that they're going to be known as 'Kai' going forwards...

I met an older man called Kermit once - named after the muppet.
He liked it!

I think it must be common to re-think your child's name. Mine is still just a baby and I don't intend on changing it but I keep thinking 'was it the right choice?' in the last few weeks, and the thought keeps niggling - there's a thread about it in Baby Names as it's been bothering me so much!

Kylo sounds cool.

I haven't seen Star Wars since I was about 10, I can barely remember the main names, let alone any others!!

I don't understand why you're bothered about it now? I don't see why he'd regret it, no more so than any other child/adult may wish their parents had called them something else, no matter the name!

As @PeskyRooks said it certainly doesn't stand out amongst all the milo, Arlo, cosmo type names and the U.K. IS so multicultural these days he's not going to be in a classroom full of Thomas, Michael, David or Paul's. In fact any of them would stand out now.

Kylo is fine.