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.

I have quite an unusual name - but it's more Araminta or Phryne unusual than Ace or Lilypad unusual IYSWIM. Hated it as a child but love it now.

I do tend to get asked about my name when I first meet people. It's actually something I like because I'm not exactly good at conversations with strangers and it helps me get started. I also appreciate that I've never had to be [email protected] anywhere I've ever worked. When people refer to me by name, nobody ever asks "which Stack?" Since my surname is also quite rare, I'm in fact quite certain that I'm the only Stack Overflow in the world.

To me, my name is a bit like a bespoke suit: it's pretty unique but in a good way. I suppose I'd mind a lot more if I were called something along the lines of Uneeqe, Renesmee or Cheyenne, though.

My sister, by contrast, has a very traditional name. Think "Elizabeth" or "Anne". She feels pretty indifferent about it now.

And, yes, my parents are middle class and sort of creative.

Lets be honest, there are unique names, and then there are unique names

marriedandwreathedinholly I love how you complain that you have a classical Greek name and then wish to be called Helen

Oh yeah, lets all follow the crowd and name our kids Emily and Jack and Ben. Not that there's anything wrong with these names, but if someone finds a name they really like that is a bit unusual, why the hell not? People shouldn't be criticized for not being mindless sheep. Likewise, if someone really likes the name Emily, why shouldnt they go for it? It's about their preference not what other people think. They're the ones that will use the name the most often.

Some people before you meet them you cringe at the name and then you forget it and see them for the person they are and the name becomes insignificant.

I often say "wow what amazing names/name" when their parent tells me their terribly individualistic name for their very plain child! I heard an OTT one yesterday and had to ask what it was again as it sounded like a cartoon character and I was actually in shock and horrified and to hide it I went totally over the top about what an incredible name it was. I wonder how often that happens...

People saying Im arty and creative and want my children to stand out seem about egotistical to me, what is wrong about fitting in and for you child to want to fit in, or not as the case may be. What gives you the right to burden as in many cases you child with such a huge name to live up to just because you want to be perceived as a creative individual.

Some kids fit those names well and will grow into them and be delighted but often the names says more about the parents mental state!

I suppose the world is a more interesting place for is eh Jesus, Oprah etc, but hearing someone shout Bertie in the park to a little unassuming boy and not a dog or Willow tho a heaving great bulk of a girl does stop me in my tracks!

marriedandwreathedinholly - You complain that you have a classical Greek name and wish to be called Helen? Hilarious! I am half Greek and many of my family are called Helen, or subtle variants of; Elena, Eleni, Helena...

DD has a relatively popular name - DH and I both loved it and we didn't google and realise that it was in the top bloody 10 of names for the last zillion years! So, unfortunately, there is another 2 in her tiny school of 60 something. With the benefit of hindsight (and google) with DS, we went for something a little less obvious, but not terribly unusual.

The children have to grow up with these names and you have to imagine them in a professional capacity - I cannot imagine an Angel (there was one in DD's nursery) or a Zion (a friend of a friend's DS is called that) being taken very seriously... Maybe that's just me though gets splinters from fence sitting

Bunnyjo Got there before you

Haha Balthier, I hadn't refreshed the screen to see your comment when I posted. I was just in stitches at the irony

There are twins near me called Rudy and Rufus - i think it sounds cool.

In our local paper a few years back was announced the birth of Leroy and Elroy.

So they look the same, share the same birthday, will probably be dressed the same and have "matching" names?!

They are not unusual where I live either, but I wouldnt give them to identical twins!

The only difference between them is transposing the first 2 letters of their first names!

I agree op, hate it when parents strive to call their child the most original name just to make them stand out - I am not saying all parents of dc with unusual names do this but many do.

I chose my ds' (fairly common) name because I love the name. I'd liked it for ages, before it became popular, I wasn't going to not call him it just because it's popular. I also liked the name Eli, so that's his middle name - didn't not call him that just because it's unusual, but preferred his first name. IMO you should just call your kid the name you like most regardless of how 'common'/unusual it is, you can't pre-empt what your dc will think of it as they grow up based on your experience of your own name.

yes it's a def mc trend,parents think they are hip cool,chose out there obvious name
say the name,pause as if youre supposed to gasp to affirm the parental hipness
if it's such a great name introduce yourself socially as lux,yes call me lux

if name doesn't matter and your nonplussed introduce self as fanny
socially say to folk,hey call me fanny,everyone calls me fanny
see how names don't matter I. that case

My DS is James, apparently common as muck in some places but not as common as Alfie, Archie and Lexi down our way! Obviously my son will stand out regardless of his name as he has his mother's good looking (and modest) genes

I don't think James is ever 'as common as muck' in any place, but it is very common, as in popular; some may say over-used, but I don't think anyone would say James is 'common' in any other sense, would they?

sm are you drunk?

I don't mind my name. It's alright - don't' love it, don't hate it.

It's a fairly typical 60's name but not one that was ever overused to the point of ubiquity. I have never had another one in my class, or in my immediate circle of friends, but I have known, or known of a few others.

I would have hated to be a Julie/Karen/Sharon/Lisa/Debbie/Tracy. Not that they were awful names, but there were just so many of them.

Fellatio, I am a Julie! And obviously not common...but very over-used!!!

I KNEW someone was going to come and say that! No offence, but ykwim.

I'm not that high maintenance to get offended! lol. You do realise you need to say what your first name is now though. Just out of politeness! Or are you are Julie too!!! (come on, nothing's gonna happen...)