Calling a child Dolly?

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

Someone I know has called their new baby this and I can't stand it. Of course they're entitled to call their children what they like and it's none of my business. Just before someone tells me that.

I don't like it because it sounds babyish and not a real name. It's more like a nickname. It makes me think of an old lady or a Barbie doll, not a person.

I much prefer it to 80% of the names suggested on the baby names board such as Juno and Ottilie or however you spell it.

Probably better than being called Folly, Golly or Wolly anyway.

I had an Auntie Doll, too, she was Doris.

Aww she is just lovely. How are you? How is Dolly?

A nice response not declaring an opinion on name. If pushed i would lie and say it's a lovely name.

I know 2 children who's names i dont like. One because of negative association as same name as a horrible person from high school. Other just really not a name i like. Within a few months or sooner it is just their name, i don't think about my opinion on it any longer. And both have grown on me. (Not that it matters)

Well I wouldn't want to be called it myself but there's definitely worse names out there

The most “unique” names I have come across are

Flossy
Kitty

Clive
Cairo - brother of Clive 🤨
Pearl
Rolf
Dyson
Bronx
Minx

All of these have been reception age in the last 5 years. Also 2 of these names have / are names of cats I’ve had / have 🫣😂

Reminds me of Dad’s Army. Private Godfrey (of the weak bladder/prostate) was always talking about his sister Dolly.

Wouldn't be my choice of name but Dolly is OK. I agree with the poster who said it sounds on trend for now.

Passing judgement on other people's name choices reminds me of Katie Hopkins. She who branded certain names as " working class" and said she wouldn't let her kids play with children whose names she didn't like.

I know a 7yr old Godfrey.

For me it’s not in the same category as other diminutives due to the very strong association with a child’s toy. That’s what I think of first, whereas if you said ‘Molly’ my association would be with a person’s name. Dol is a general term of endearment rather than a name. I’ve only known it short for Delores, Dorothy is usually Dotty/Dot. So I wouldn’t choose it but if someone else would then that’s up to them, surely nobody likes every single name there is! Don’t think it makes any difference in terms of prospects, probably would be an advantage in a more creative field

Poor child. Good luck being taken seriously at work in the future. Yes, shouldn't be like that and jobs should be given on abilities, but it is.

Pearl and Kitty aren’t particularly unique. I know more than one of each

My aunt had a baby called Dolly. She was taken by SS when she was a baby so I don’t know if she’s still legally called Dolly or had her name changed when she was adopted

Barristers have all sorts of names. There's a barrister called Coco on the register.

I agree with this.

It is fairer to give children longer names that they can then shorten or replace with a middle name. I don't see the issue in having e.g. Frederick as there's then endless possibilities the child/parents/friends can use that name whereas if it's just Freddie on birth certificate you're kind of stuck!

I have a very unusual first name, not sure if it is even a name as such... but DM called me it, I couldn't be bothered to change it. Even my middle name is her maiden name as there were no male heirs with this name and she wanted to keep it in the family. Apparently other choices were Polly, Priscilla and another name for me!

I did do a bit of a the other day at hearing a child of a colleague of mine is called Leaf, but then I did know a Rowan (now in her 30's) so live and let live!

Barristers have all sorts of names. There's a barrister called Coco on the register.

Fancy that.

Luckily it'll be years till little Dolly needs to go to work. And hopefully more of these ridiculous prejudices around names will have broken down.

Why?

It works equally dreadfully if a male barrister was introduced as Bear, Mowgli or Satchel!

Dolly infantilises the user and I would be changing it as soon as I could.

It hasn't done Dolly Parton any harm

I say “unique” as that was how each parent has referred to it. They wanted them to be unique and stand out instead of the same Archie, Daisy, Scarlett etc
I can can honestly say I’ve only come across these children with these names. Compared to having 3 Scarlett’s in one class.
I'm totally for individuality, but draw a line at whatever Elon Musk called his child X Æ A-Xii Musk

I know a Spike and a Mitzee. Both their actual names not nicknames

*Why?

It works equally dreadfully if a male barrister was introduced as Bear, Mowgli or Satchel!

Dolly infantilises the user and I would be changing it as soon as I could.*

Thank you for proving my point.

I wouid hate to be called Dolly it's cringe

Why do you feel like that though? Genuinely - why is having one of those names and being a barrister incompatible to you? Do you think they get to sit an easier exam if they have a certain name?

I actually know someone who has a Mowgli who's 4.

Let's hope a Dolly marries a Mowgli at some point. 😂😂😂😂😂