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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you like having an unusual name?

217 replies

WeAreNow · 09/05/2021 15:14

Just that really.

DP thinks it’s mean to give baby an unusual name as people will struggle with it. All of the names I’ve suggested are unusual. My name is really common, there were 4 of us in the same class with the same name at school and I always wished I had an unusual name.

So my question is if you have an unusual name do you like it or do you wish you were called something a bit more ‘heard of’? If you don’t like it, why not? I know there will be usual problems such as not being able to find things with names on in shops but I’m not sure of other reasons!

YABU: no I don’t like it
YANBU: I like it

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 09/05/2021 15:17

Depends how unusual...
I know someone with a really daft hippy name who changed it the minute she turned 18.
If it’s a recognisable name that just isn’t used much, fine, if it could potentially sound made up... less fine.
Remember your naming a person who will be an adult one day and what’s cute on a baby will not be received the same way on a 30 year old.

TTCat39 · 09/05/2021 15:18

I have an unusual name, but I think it helps that's it's spelled phonetically, so I don't hear too many mispronunciations.

TidyDancer · 09/05/2021 15:18

It depends how unusual we're talking here. My name is not unusual but I only ever knew two others when I was a child and I definitely liked not being one of six (etc). I wouldn't have wanted to be anything truly weird though.

HelloOldSport · 09/05/2021 15:20

I have one (more unusual in this country anyway - never met anyone else) and I love it. I like standing out, and always get compliments on it.

Beatinghearts · 09/05/2021 15:20

My name is unusual as in not common but it’s nothing out there. People regularly say it wrong pretty much everyone I meet. I personally wouldn’t go with an u usual name as it’s pain keep correcting people. Most of the time I don’t bother anymore.

Ginevere · 09/05/2021 15:21

Depends how unusual! I have a normal but uncommon name and I like it. I have a lot of friends with ‘everyone has it’ names and though it annoys some of them none of them dislike their name. I have had three friends over the years with ‘weird’ names and they all changed them or nicknamed them. On that basis, I didn’t even consider ‘weird’ names for my daughter.

If you are that worried about a unique name I would say don’t pick unusual, just pick a normal name outside the top 100.

Woodlandbelle · 09/05/2021 15:24

I didn't have anyone with my name at school or workplace and only met one or two in my life. I don't really mind. It's plain and not out there. But would sound a bit dated to a baby.

It's fine. Easy to spell (phonetically).
I wouldnt like a wierd spelling name.

MyCatIsADentist · 09/05/2021 15:26

My name is unusual in that you don’t regularly come across it (I’ve only met two others in my life), but it’s a totally normal, classical name. I love it. I love that it’s a little memorable and unusual.

I wouldn’t like to have a ridiculous or made up name - they date terribly and lead to unfair judgment.

gabsdot45 · 09/05/2021 15:30

I have quite an un common name. It's a proper name from the Bible, so not made up or anything. I hardly ever meet anyone else with my name and whenever I usually make a fuss and we chat about our uncommon name.
When I was a child I didn't like it and wanted to be called Tracey. Now I really like it. It's a lovely name I think.

Ostara212 · 09/05/2021 15:31

Hate it.

CirqueDeMorgue · 09/05/2021 15:32

I'm the only one I've ever met or heard of and yes I like it, partly because it's easily shortened.

shivawn · 09/05/2021 15:33

I think its fine. My name is Siobhan which isn't unusual here but was very unusual when I lived in US and Australia. Some people struggled with it or even gave me nicknames if they couldn't remember how to pronounce it but no big deal.

MyFavouritePlace · 09/05/2021 15:33

Hate it. Lots of people don't pronounce it correctly and I have given up correcting anyone who gets it wrong.

firstimemamma · 09/05/2021 15:33

I have a normal name but used to be a primary school teacher and have also taught supply - so have seen a lot of children with a wide range of names. I've seen the misery and awkwardness unusual names can cause e.g. when I was taking the register and tried my best to pronounce the boy's name and when he had to tell me what it was he just looked really uncomfortable that that was his name (it was a double-barrelled name with one of the names being a colour). I also know a boy called reyn and just feel so sorry for him as when he's in school he'll be susceptible to 'reyn, reyn go away!' and other such horrible jokes. It's just not fair on the child imo plus they have to have the name as an adult too.

WaltzesWithSnobs · 09/05/2021 15:34

I don't know, it's hard to compare because I don't know what it's like to not have an unusual name. It has its up and downs.

EL8888 · 09/05/2021 15:35

I like my unusual name. But part of it is the name is less niche and has become popular in recent years. I haven’t argued with a stranger for years about how my name is pronounced and if its a boys name Confused

My lazy side means l only need to write my 1st name down for lots of things which l like

lanbro · 09/05/2021 15:37

Mine is uncommon but not unused, often comes up in suggestions for underused name threads. I go by a shortened version and many people assume my name is Louise. Both my dds have unusual names, neither come up on the names list for their birth years but they are not daft or out there, or 'unique' spellings...

We all like our names, over the years I've never had to use my surname to differentiate from a classmate or colleague, the girls are the same. I hated not being able to get personalised things when I was a child but that's obviously not a problem these days.

Are you happy to share your choices?

LAlady · 09/05/2021 15:37

I have an unusual name here. Spelling is not what you would think and I do remember as a child, teachers always choosing me first based on "how do you pronounce this name?". For that reason, my children have very traditional names.

It's always, without fail, an opening topic of conversation with people. Doesn't bother me now and I do like my name but as a child it wasn't much fun.

romdowa · 09/05/2021 15:38

On the opposite side , I have the number one most common girls name for my year of birth and the years before and after. I hated it so much growing up. I was always romdowa 2 or romdowa x or y. I think you need a balance between unusual and common as muck

NotBeingCoerced · 09/05/2021 15:39

Mine's unusual and a real pain in the backside tbh! No one can pronounce it from seeing it written, and no one can spell it from hearing it. The letters don't seem to go naturally next to each other so even when I spell it out for people they get terribly confused and end up spelling it wrong. I hate calling companies to book things (holidays, for example) and always favour online and won't set foot in a Starbucks since they started asking for your name to put on the cup.

waitingpatientlyforspring · 09/05/2021 15:40

Uncommon but 'normal' is fine. Unusual, difficult to pronounce and spell is not.

My name gets mis pronounced and misspelled and I hate it.

chipsandgin · 09/05/2021 15:41

There’s a lot of scope in the word ‘unusual’...

If you mean an actual real name that isn’t widely used but you like then go for it. If it’s a made up word or a real name, or an inanimate object or a brand name or the name of your favourite wine or the place of conception (especially if also used with with a ‘yoonique’ spelling) then avoid like the plague, they won’t thank you for it IMO!

titchy · 09/05/2021 15:42

Hate mine. Always have. Hence
my dcs have straightforward classic names.

There is a middle ground though between unusual and four in a class.

TheGriffle · 09/05/2021 15:43

I was the only me in my school and at my place of work that I know of. It’s not an out there name but a classic, biblical, easy to pronounce name and I love it. Very rare that I meet another and they are always older than me. I only know of one younger as well.

waitingpatientlyforspring · 09/05/2021 15:44

@MyFavouritePlace

Hate it. Lots of people don't pronounce it correctly and I have given up correcting anyone who gets it wrong.
Sometimes I think its not worth correcting as unlikely to see them again.... but I know have a friend who still calls me the wrong name but I don't feel I can say anything 😬