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Original poster

Do you know anyone whose name doesn't suit them?

161 replies

Louwheeeeeze · 03/04/2023 20:15

I name-changed for this, since I'm about to reveal my actual real name...

I'm a Louise, and I've never felt that I look like one. It just doesn't suit me! I think of it as quite a feminine name and I'm a big clumsy oaf who can break things that other people wouldn't consider to be breakable. But at the same time, I always think that Louise sounds ugly, with all the emphasis on that "wheeze" sound at the end. It's just about ok when French people say it, but alas, I am English.

Do you know anyone who has a name that just doesn't sound right on them? I sometimes see on the Baby Names board comments like "We were going to call him George but when he arrived he just looked like a Sam" and I wish my parents had had that sort of ability when I was born.

OP posts:
Woahtherehoney · 03/04/2023 20:49

I don’t but I am so so glad my mum didn’t call me Francesca like she was planning - it wouldn’t have suited me at all and my name definitely suits me lots better!

SpinningFloppa · 03/04/2023 20:52

Yeh my exes name doesn’t suit him at all

MrsBunnyEars · 03/04/2023 20:58

I feel a bit the same about my own name. It’s so so so dull and quite dated (I suspect it was the Evie or Olivia of the 80s).

I like to think I’m just a bit more interesting than my name suggests!

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Families
brawhen · 03/04/2023 21:02

I love the name Ruth, always wished I was called Ruth. When I was a kid I would often write stories with the heroine Ruth.

I've recently struck up an acquaintance with a Ruth. She is disappointingly unlike the Ruth of my imagination! (I'll keep that to myself 😂)

PermanentTemporary · 03/04/2023 21:03

What name would you prefer?

It was really common a couple of generations ago to go by your middle name. I've found it odd as both my mum and dad approached the end of their lives that they get called (eg) Reg and Mary in hospital, when they've always been (for example) Bill and Jean. Their real first names don't seem like them.

Mumoftwoinprimary · 03/04/2023 21:04

I know an Isolde. In my mind Isoldes are rather delicate and the types to be sent to the seaside / the San for a rest cure in the Chalet School. They enjoy embroidery and dabble with watercolours.

The Isolde I know is a very strong, very sporty, rather fabulous girl who most definitely does not “dabble” with anything!

PennyForearm · 03/04/2023 21:04

My husband's name is from the Kevin/Gary/Keith era and it's a bit of a running joke (started by him I should add) that it really doesn't suit him.

TurnedOutOrangesAndLemonsAgain · 03/04/2023 21:05

I never liked my name. I always felt it made me stand out as it was quite unusual when I was a child. I never changed it though, as it would have hurt my mother’s feelings - there was some significance to it when she chose it.

dontforgettofloss · 03/04/2023 21:05

I absolutely loved the name Louise when I was a teenager, and wished it was my name. I still think it's a nice name

Original poster
Louwheeeeeze · 03/04/2023 21:07

PermanentTemporary · 03/04/2023 21:03

What name would you prefer?

It was really common a couple of generations ago to go by your middle name. I've found it odd as both my mum and dad approached the end of their lives that they get called (eg) Reg and Mary in hospital, when they've always been (for example) Bill and Jean. Their real first names don't seem like them.

That's really odd, because my dad goes by his middle name, so when I hear doctors referring to him by his proper name, it sounds all wrong. My middle name is even worse than Louise, though, so probably not an option.

When I was in my teens, I desperately wanted to be called Sophie, Emily or Amelia. Back then, those were really old-fashioned names and you hardly ever met any younger people with them. Now they're everywhere, funny how fashions change.

OP posts:
VickerishAllsort · 03/04/2023 21:08

I was at school with a girl called Joy. Joyous she was not, by any stretch of the imagination.

Original poster
Louwheeeeeze · 03/04/2023 21:12

TurnedOutOrangesAndLemonsAgain · 03/04/2023 21:05

I never liked my name. I always felt it made me stand out as it was quite unusual when I was a child. I never changed it though, as it would have hurt my mother’s feelings - there was some significance to it when she chose it.

I toyed with the idea of changing mine when my parents are gone, but everyone knows me as Louise now and I doubt I'd be able to make it stick. What makes it worse is that it didn't have special significance to my parents, it was just the name du jour in the late 70s. There were Louises in double figures in my year at school.

OP posts:
SmileyClare · 03/04/2023 21:13

VickerishAllsort · 03/04/2023 21:08

I was at school with a girl called Joy. Joyous she was not, by any stretch of the imagination.

I’m here to post about a lady I worked for called Merry. Often quite miserable and glass half empty 😂

Gladiaterf · 03/04/2023 21:15

Me. I hate my name. It's a shit 80s name that has aged badly.

I've been told several times it doesn't suit me.

WhatInFreshHell · 03/04/2023 21:17

I have a very uncommon name, never met another one to be honest. I don't think it suits me in the slightest.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 03/04/2023 21:20

I’ve taught a lot of ungraceful Graces 😳

Sweeted · 03/04/2023 21:21

There's the lady I used to work with called Patience and she's the most gobby, snappy, irritable cow. I really thought people were referring to her as Patience for a joke

DoesItHaveKosovo · 03/04/2023 21:22

I worked with a Mercedes who had a very chilled-out, hippy/art teacher vibe - long hair, long skirts, hand-knitted cardigans etc. It jarred a bit!

OrangeKnot · 03/04/2023 21:24

@Mumoftwoinprimary I know an Isolde too, and I smiled reading your post because the one I know is a very pragmatic arty type who lives in dungarees and is built for rugby.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 03/04/2023 21:26

My sisters and I all have lovely classic names but theirs are more feminine than mine and I would gladly have swapped with either. However I think my name actually suits me perfectly.

(BTW I love the name Louise)

icanneverthinkofnc · 03/04/2023 21:27

I've got a typical early/mid 50s type name that signals that generation but was born 10 years later. Women with the same name are nearer to my mother age. I've always hated it. I prefer the pet nickname , but only DM and my brother call me it.

ukholidayseeker · 03/04/2023 21:29

Nirvana

torquewench · 03/04/2023 21:30

I once had a boyfriend whose mother was called Joy. She was a nasty, miserable bitch.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 03/04/2023 21:30

I know a Grace who is clumpy and clumsy and anything but graceful. She recognises this, but has no middle name alternative.

xPaz · 03/04/2023 21:31

I have a good friend and to begin with I could not seem to "accept" her as a Suzanne, I kept calling her Rachel. I remember telling her that she looked like a Rachel. I've got to grips with it now!! This rarely happens to me.

I was nearly a Kerry, I like it. It would suit me more than my actual name imo.

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