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

[Louwheeeeeze]

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.

I always think naming a child after a trait (Joy, Grace, Patience, Faith etc) is a bit risky. I went to school with a very impatient Patience.

I know a Cherie who isn’t remotely feminine or delicate.

My MIL uses her middle name because her first name is aristocratic and she absolutely is not 😂

Yes! My dad goes by his middle name, doesn't suit his actual name at all

There is a small skinny little boy in a school I work in called Hercules, bless him.

Yes, I knew a Charity who liked to spread unkind gossip. I also think names like Belle/Bella are risky - literally being called "beautiful" is a lot to live up to.

I work with a young man called Trevor. He's very cool and stylish.

Yes! My brother. His middle name suits him perfectly though which I find vaguely annoying. So close and yet so far!

I have a really common/popular name that was all the rage in the 1960s. Throughout my life there have always been several in every group I've been in. First playgroup, then school, college and so on. Now Slimming World and WI is full of people with my name. Say my name at the group I volunteer with and six people look up.

I have a name of the Sharon, Tracey and Karen era. I hate it, its basically a strippers name. It also has no meaning being made up. I would like to be called Gwen. I don't know why, I've just always liked it.

😂This made me chuckle

Sue?

Yes the worst bullies at dd's school are called Bella, Daisy and Grace.

I'm from the Claire, Nicola, Karen era and there was a girl in my class called Patricia

Always jarred

There was also someone I used to work with called Norma which made her sound about 40 years older than she actually was

I think this is why I struggle with the older names coming around again

I went to school with a Joy who was probably one of the most spiteful, bitchiest girls in the year group.

Yes I worked with a Joy who was a complete arse.

Imagine trying to live up to that name! Absolutely awful.

Latterly and sadly, because one of the nicest people that I've ever had the good fortune to be friends with is called Karen.

My grandparents were the same. Not such a bad thing on my granny's case her first name was awful and definitely didn't suit her!

I taught a daisy once who was a big strapping steam punk wearing, rugby player, it was just too cutesy for her!

I don't think my name suits me but I'm not sure what wise I'd be. I think my kids names are perfect for them. They may think I'm wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think my name is horrible, it's double barrelled. I wish I could give it away but it's just far too outing (and I HATE that MN phrase!)
I've only ever met one person with the same name as me.
Barely anyone calls me my full name, most just call me the first half, or just the capital letters of first and second. It's also REALLY annoying to explain to people that the second part of my double barrelled name is not my middle name. I don't have a middle name

I don’t know her personally, but the charming & delightful Tory MP Priti Patel springs to mind…

All babies look like squishy potatoes though so I’ve never understood the “he just looks like a James” thing.

I’ve met a toddler girl called River, which to me conjures up an airy fairy hippy waif like creature. She was quite robust.

I once knew a Madeleine - which means 'little girl' and (I always think) has a delicate, dainty feel to it. She was quite a large lady, not at all dainty, rather clumsy and very robust. Lovely, sweet character, though.

I’ve always hated my name. I think it was old fashioned when I was born 60 years ago. My mother let my older brother choose my name and he said the name of a girl in the next street so I was stuck with it. Several years later when discussing a name for baby number 3 I remember her saying if it’s a girl she’ll be Alison , such a pretty name, always been my favourite. Thanks for that, I got the ugly name.

For instance my name could be (but is not:
Frances-Jo
Jo-Marie
Jo-Anne
Lesley-May
Lesley-Anne
Sarah-Lou
Alex-May
Alex-Jane
Amy-Leigh
Christie-Leigh
Jodie-Leigh

We have just had a new starter called Kimberley at work.
Shes quite posh and horsey, not what I expected.
She has rescue whippets - I would have expected a cockapoo