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.

[IslaValargeone]

I realise I have probably illustrated the egotistical element of OP by the bucket load :o

[KitchenandJumble]

Pax to all. No offense intended on my part, and of course I have no doubt that nearly everyone thinks their own children are fabulous. That's as it should be. As long as parents aren't raising their children to think they are God's gift to humanity and everyone else must bow down before their superiority, I'm all in favour of a bit of parental partiality.

BTW, Mrs.DeVere, I just wanted to say that I generally really enjoy your posts. Happy holidays!

[MrsBramStoker]

Agree 100 per cent

[WhereMyMilk]

Hen

[WhereMyMilk]

WTF!

Did not post that!

When we named DD, just named her as loved the name, it suited her and hadn't heard it much at that time. Since then it has become vvv common popular. In some ways, I do wish I'd picked something else, however, it is still a lovely name, and it does suit her...

[LtXmasEve]

I think I confused people . WWW.yasni.co.uk shows the number of people currently living in UK with a certain name.

So when I said 'Jane' ranks as number 37, I didn't mean just babies, I mean including all the 40 and 50 year old Janes (I know a lot of Janes, so it was the first name that came to mind).

I think they use census statistics, and they seem to count under 18s also (can't be sure but I used a couple of very unusual children's names (again, people I know and they showed up)

[Mu1berryBush]

ah right, I get it. So there are a lot of Janes out there but none of htem young.

[TheUKGrinchImGluhweinkeller]

I guess the thing is the name shouldn't be the most striking thing about the child (never forgetting the child is going to be a potentially awkward, self concious teen and an adult in search of a job/ who has to introduce him or herself to clients at work one day).

No matter how fabulous you might think your own child is, there is no earthly way you can know ahead of time that your newborn is going to have the kind of personality allows them to be remembered for themselves as a person rather than that little mousy boy called LoneWolf or the shy, awkward little girl called Phoenix-Isis

[LtXmasEve]

'Suiting' a name is a whole different thread though. I like unusual names, but vetoed one of my favourite names for DD, because it was unlikely it would 'fit' with her IYSWIM.

ie, I know a 'Bonnie' who was the most sullen child I'd ever met, and has turned into a really straight laced and grumpy adult. Or the 'Ebony' with white blonde hair

My neice with the wacky name is quite shy, but the name still suits her. Maybe because it doesn't bring any expectations to the table, it's just a name?

[kirrinIsland]

There were 7 other girls in my year with my name - and it wasn't even the most popular name!
Thing is, my Mum hadn't heard of any others when she chose it and so thought it was quite unusual. It wasn't until we got to school age that it became clear she'd chosen one of the most popular names of that time.
I think that must happen a lot as names come into fashion.

I hated being so "ordinary" and wanted slightly more unusual, but not outlandish, names for my children. But DD1 is now 2 and I'm starting to suspect I've done just what my Mum did! Time will tell.......

[Coralanne]

When my DD was born 28 years ago we gave her a name we liked. Didn't even know or care if it was popular or not.

Whenever my DM was asked what her new grandaughter's name was she said

"I can't remember but it's some kind of weed that lives at the bottom of the ssea"

[Bonsoir]

I like unusual names. Providing they are attractive and spelled well.

[LucieMay]

My son has an unusual name in the sense that there are not many other people called his name, but it is a "proper" name- it is an old fashioned nickname used as his full name. It's easy to spell and easy to pronounce and everyone knows it despite its lack of use. We have a long winded foreign surname so I wouldn't have inflicted him with a difficult forename too, however, the thought of him being another David/Josh/Jacob is awful! I like that he is the only one with his name at his school, he's a special little chap and I don't want him to just fade into the background. And no, I'm not remotely middle class! Very common!

[complexnumber]

Top 5 Boys names 1904:
WILLIAM
JOHN
GEORGE
THOMAS
ARTHUR

Top 5 Boys names 1994
THOMAS
JAMES
JACK
DANIEL
MATTHEW

Top 5 Girls names 1904
MARY
FLORENCE
DORIS
EDITH
DOROTHY

Top 5 Girls names 1994
REBECCA
LAUREN
JESSICA
CHARLOTTE
HANNAH


Sorry if this has already been posted.

Loads of interesting stuff on names within the UK has been published upon the Office of National Statistics:
baby names 2011

[FellatioNelson]

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.

Does anyone actually say this? I don't think so. I think they just choose something they think sounds beautiful and that they don't already know one of, and pick it.

It's everyone else that assumes they do it because they are so unusual and creative that they simply must.

[OHforDUCKSchristmasCake]

I have children with 'out there' middle names. One of them isnt even a name, its an object. One of them has a very popular first name, the other DC has a rare name but its becoming more and more popular.

Someone I know put on their fb last night that the middle name they chose for their unborn son is Will.iam (as in Black Eyed Peas, not a typo). I cringed, chuckled and judged all at the same time. Then DP chastised me and quite rightly reminded me what Id gived as our childrens middle names.

[saladcreamwitheverything]

Come on then ducks! I wanna here your childs outlandish middle names!! Why boast about them (unless you want someone to ask...ooo here I am

Spill!

[saladcreamwitheverything]

hear

[misterwife]

I have a stupid name, which I hate. I said to my DM that we were thinking of calling our DD Vita. She said 'No! She'll get lots of stick at school'. I gave my hypocrite DM shrift, of the very short type.