Have I limited DD's future with an unusual name?

[whatsinaname5]

DD9 is called Raya. Her elder brothers both have traditional, biblical names and that was the plan for her, but DF died just before she was born and she ended up with a "tribute" name, which I also thought was lovely. Hormones.

She likes her name and no issues at school apart from the millions of other names ending with "aya" and "iya", but I have had a sense of dread that she'll be denied job opportunities or friendships because she's being as a chav - or at least someone of a lower class. What if everyone hiring is a Millie or a Hugo and they see Raya on her CV.

Of course there's not much we can do now apart from steer her to use her traditional middle name??

YABU - she's fine! No problem!
YANBU - uh oh ....

You are silly to think her name will have an impact on job opportunities etc, there are many weird and wonderful names these days. I've worked with many people who were born overseas so their names aren't even English, they sound bizarre but it clearly doesn't stop them getting a highly qualified job. I just can't imagine a situation where the person hiring would look at the name and go "nope, bizarre name".

It’s lovely

It’s beautiful! My DC have much more unusual names and I don’t think it will put people off hiring them as lots of children their age have more unusual names

It is an unusual name, but a lovely one. What if unusual names are all the rage when she's job hunting, and the "Millies" are being overlooked? That's just as likely.

And it isn't as if it is a totally "out there" name. I could name a few...Moon Unit and Dweezle Zappa, and Chana Lear.

It's not a "lower class sounding" name at all, it's quite classic-sounding imo. Don't worry OP.

Just makes me think of one of the newer Disney movies, raya and the last dragon.

I worked with a Raya. She had a top media job, was poised, classy, bright and very beautiful so that's the image I have of the name.

Not “Chavy” but even if it was then she would still be fine. I really don’t think most people are as bothered by names as some are here.

It’s fine! No panic needed!

Raya is a name of a dating app.
To me it's like calling a kid tinder. Sorry.

Or just start calling her Ray.

A man’s name and ‘traditional’. Very different to Raya (which is lovely).

I know a female Ray, very together, successful professional, beautiful, her name makes her memorable too to people in a good way.

Raya is beautiful, op. Honestly. It's a lovely name. Please stop worrying.

YABU to think your name choice will adversely affect her - it's a lovely name.
Has she (or you) seen Raya and the Last Dragon? If not, and she's old enough, she'll probably be delighted that her name is used for a film character!

But aside of all that, I understand where your reservations are coming from, given your own experiences, but I think they're unnecessary in this case.

I know a Raya (about 4) a Rhia (37) and a Rya (40 something. I think it’s fine!

It's fine. You're being skewed in your thinking by the fact that, in your mind, it's a tribute to 'Ray' (which is a traditional 'working class' name which has declined in popularity but may be due a comeback if you look at how popular names like Alfie/Ronnie are becoming).

Lots of names of that ilk are coming back into circulation (Edie/Mabel etc.), but in fact Raya doesn't have that vibe. I personally think it's quite timeless by comparison.

unusual - probably no effect
weird - possibly

I'd put Raya in the unusual rather weird category (weird would be something like cosmicbabystardust)
More & more companies are using AI programs to de-gender and de-personalise cvs and applications now anyway, to avoid unintentional bias😆

YABU. Raya is not an unusual name. Various spellings of this name as well as names that sound similar are super super popular amongst primary aged girls.

Sounds lovely. Can't see the issue. Does she have a complicated / unusual /non British sounding surname?

In my work life I know two female Raes- one of them is definitely a raechel /Rachel...

I like it!

Although I do quite like girls names which are male sounding...
Eg Georgie/Stevie /Jaime /Elliott

It's lovely and wouldn't stand out to me at all. It works nicely as a tribute, but isn't obviously that. You chose well.

If it helps any, Raya's a pretty classic girl's/woman's name in Russian and some other Slavic languages - probably traditionally a pet name for Raisa or Rahela (Rachel), but also used on its own. While it's much less common in the UK, I wouldn't think twice about Raya on a resume - any more than the (much more common) Anya or Maya.

If a company hires people based on their first names then they are probably not worth working for 🙂

I did feel this about my kids as they have unusual names, certainly not traditional, but when walking out and about it seems a lot of other people have called their kids the same. I don't think calling your kids a certain set of respectable names is a thing anymore. I don't think names will be judged as they used to by the time they grow up.

Personally I find it odd that people call their kids obscure aristocratic sounding names, like they think their name alone will have them running the country one day! But it is their choice and I wouldn't not hire someone or call them chavvy because of it.

I have never heard the name Raya before- but I think it's lovely.
I wouldn't judge the name as having any "class" connotations, in fact I think it sounds quite posh! If I had to guess it sounds like a name from a middle class arty family.

You didnt like people judging you for being lower class but you are doing exactly the same thing.
For what it's worth I am lower class and have a "chavvy" name. I have both a career and friends.

Like Raynor Winn? Who is married to a guy called Moth.

My dad (born 1940s) has a made-up spelling name. He has had a prestigious career.