To think that parents who give their children unusual names are egotistical...

[Crouchendmumoftwo]

I live in an area where there are lots of children with unusual first names, one might say contemporary or ever preposterous. Names such a Lux, Brutus, Fire, Ace, Rudy. Most of these children are mild mannered and don't stand out in any particular way. I wonder if the name giving is more to show other parents the: "we are creative and middleclass and bit different". I feel that the parents havent given their children much consideration in later life. A man in his 50s called Brutus doesn't have the same appeal as a small boy. I guess that is why David Bowie's son changed his name from Zowie back to Duncan.

[LynetteScavo]

RooneyMara- You haven't met my DC. They are indeed quite special. Which is why they can handle top 100 names.

[Brugmansia]

We're currently deciding on names for soon to be born DC1. The names we like are unusual but still real names. Finding names we both can agree on has been difficult and it's ended up that the current number 1 option is the most unusual.

Being an unusual name does to an extent reflect me and DP, but not because of us deliberately trying to find something different. It's our taste and reflects some of what drew us to each other as a couple

Having thought about it I'm happy the names we're considering wouldn't be a burden for the child. My residual worries are more related to the judgmental comments you hear such as the OP. Thinking about these things though I've found a little judgmental voice in my head getting louder every time I hear of another baby called a very boring popular name, in silent retaliation.

[LynetteScavo]

And my family have the ability to chose way out names, which twenty years later are in the top ten or twenty. Maybe we are just ahead of our time, but it's annoying to grow up with what's considered an unusual name, only for it to be really dull when you're an adult.

[CuriousMama]

Dss have unusual names. Mainly as I'm too lazy to write surnames in clothing

They're not awful names though. And are used by others just not commonly. They're the only ones in their comp with those names though.

[LynetteScavo]

CuriousMama, nobody thinks their own child has an awful name!

[DontYouJingleMyChristingle]

YABU

Both my children have very unusual names, but then they are names from another culture given to them to reflect their diverse cultural heritage. Their surname is common in the UK, but they have it because some of their ancestors were owned by slave masters with that name. I do not think it is egotistical to give them a name that although unusual in this country gives them a link to their true ancestry.

We live in a country where mixed heritage children are becoming more common and therefore names unusual in our culture will be used.

[foreverondiet]

I agree with other posters about advantages of having unique name in class.

DD has 3 Jonathans and DS has 2 Joshuas in his class.

Big difference though between something like Rudy and Lux or Ace. Rudy is clearly a name just a little unusual don't think Lux or Ace sound like names.

[KitchenandJumble]

I do roll my eyes at people who say (or imply) that they are just so unusual and creative that they simply must give their children outlandish names. The celebrity-style Moxie Crimefighter or Pilot Inspektor type of names are just ridiculous, IMO. There is a couple in the US who have become rather well known as interior designers, they have a TV show, are written up in magazines a lot, etc. All their kids have slightly wacky names (e.g., Major and Bellamy), but at least most of them sound like actual names. But they saddled one child with the name Five. Their fifth child, evidently. How very clever and original. Poor kid.

I have a slightly unusual name. It was not at all popular when I was born, though it gained in popularity in the subsequent years. Many people mispronounce it and almost invariably misspell it. I spent my entire childhood repeating my name over and over. It was quite tiresome. I've never liked my name and I would change it if I weren't too lazy.

So personally, I'm in favor of any name that prompts only a response of, "Oh, nice to meet you, [Name]." I'd cross off my list any name that people habitually respond to by saying, "What? What?"

[IslaValargeone]

I have a dc with one of the names you mention, although unlike the children you know, my dc does stand out, is utterly fabulous and once met, never forgotten.
Am I egotistical? don't know, don't give a shit.

[FryOneFatChristmasTurkey]

DD shares the same name as another girl in her form. in a form of about 20 children, there are:

2 Harriets
2 Laurens
2 Megans
2 Bens

So surnames/initials often needed to keep up with her day....

[KitchenandJumble]

I'm assuming you're kidding, Isla?

[Spuddybean]

i have an unusual name but i have a working class dad who loves greek mythology.

We have given ds an unusual long name, because we like the name and it can be abbreviated to a nice 1 syllable nn - as can mine.

I like the idea of having a 'Sunday best' name and an every day name. Like having a parlour for special occasions :)

[IslaValargeone]

Kidding about which particular bit kitchen?

[CheerfulYank]

Kitchen this article is an interesting look at how all of the Novogratz kiddos got their names. :)

They're certainly not for me...I have a Sam, and the one due in May will probably end up being a Sophie or a Jack, but I think they're nice and fit their family well.

[IslaValargeone]

Way to go MrsDeVere!

[lisad123]

I have a boring name but once on MN someone posted they always wanted to be called "Lisa"!
DDs have unusual names, dd1 alot more so than dd2. She suits her name but many family members didn't like it when we named her. We still get comments now.
I'm not egotistical but I hate boring names, and didn't want DDs to be the 4th child with same name in their class.

[KitchenandJumble]

Oh, I don't know. Of course it's lovely if someone thinks her child is fabulous. Most parents do, don't they? But to seriously say something like "My child is utterly fabulous and once met, never forgotten" struck me as a bit. . . well. . . lacking in perspective?

But I didn't mean anything horrible. No need to go on the attack. I'm full of the Xmas spirit. Peace on earth, goodwill, all that.

[Revelsarethebest]

My daughter has an unusual first name, there are afew of them around but its unheard of to some people.

I named her something unusual as i wanted her to have a name that made her unique, were no one else in her class at school would have that name.

[Smeggnog]

Just wanted to add my vote for Rudy being a great name.

DD's have 'boring' names. Just as well really, our surname is bloody weird! It's enough that they'll have to spell that out everyday for goodness knows how long, I think.

[CheerfulYank]

My surname is the same as "journalist" who thinks she's just gawjus. And my son's name is the male counterpart to hers. Sigh.

[auntevil]

We have an unusual surname. A commonly used name to go with it would look quite ridiculous.
I remember a girl in our street that was called Cleopatra Smith - I remember then thinking what an odd combo.
We didn't go weird and wacky, just delved back a generation or so and picked family names that seemed to go with the surname. They fit well together, and can, if wanted, be shortened.
No-one has ever said to my DCs that their names are pretentious and middle class. Sometimes people say that they are unusual and where do they come from. When we explain that they are family names, most people say how nice and that they like how old fashioned names have come back.

[threesypeesy]

After reading all this thread and posting.... Im now wanting to know everyones unusual names lol

[IslaValargeone]

Kitchen, the Op made a point of saying that the children given the names she mentioned 'don't stand out in any particular way'
I was merely making the point that my dc does, why does that make me lack perspective?
Many people have something about them, charisma? a certain je ne sais quoi.
They often become great leaders, thinkers, great actors...whatever? and people who knew them before they achieved success, are often say that there was always something about them even in childhood.
Somebody had to be their mother, why can't I be?
I know it's not the done thing to big up your own child, but what the hell, I stand by what I said about my dc being fabulous!
Xmas spirit back atcha! :o