To resent my parents choice of name for me?

[Blaengwnfi]

This is a rant - apologies.

I’ve always hated my name.

No one can pronounce it. Not even my father or siblings. It was always read out incorrectly at school and the other kids would laugh at me. It gives me major anxiety having to introduce myself.

I use my middle name professionally but it doesn’t feel like “my” name. I feel so angry with my parents sometimes for burdening me with this name.

Parents - please think before giving your kid a weird or “unique” name! It could really mess them up…

I'm with you!

I often asked my parents "what were you thinking??" They never really had an answer.

@grafittiartist Omg I’ve finally found one of my people. I feel exactly as you describe! It’s not possible to shorten my name and even if I could, it would be confusing, just as you say.

I said YABU. Sorry but you can change it and even still could- if you hate it that much. And I say that as a weird- named person who also grew up with teachers unable to read my name on a register. And I don’t give my real name at Starbucks as it can’t bear the agony of having someone try to spell it.

I’m with you OP although mine isn’t particularly unusual, just French and I’m most definitely not.
The pronunciation is often butchered, people
usually need clarification of the spelling, people then question why I have a French name when I’m not French…
I just hate it, and the negative attention I feel it brings me!

I think it was Neeve! Everyone pronounced it ok.

Plus I have not one but two horrible middle names too!

My mum wanted something popular (think Kylie)
My dad wanted something posh (think Hyacinth)

Not these names but i was supposed to be called Kylie Hyacinth

My dad registered me as Hyacinth Kylie

They each called me "their " name till I started nursery at three and had to go with "Hyacinth".

I hate both of my names, picked a suitable nickname, as few people as possible know my real name and when it comes up I get a raised eyebrow.

The many ways possible to fuck your kid up.

Sorry OP, you would have thought they would have the foresight and integrity to know how to pronounce your name! Doesn't seem like much to ask?

We tried to choose regular names that could be abbreviated in lots of different ways so that our children could have some choice about what they were called.

Can your name be abbreviated into something you like? Even [shock horror] anglicised into something you like?

What would be your ideal name? What name would you choose for yourself?
When you meet new people just tell them your name is that. Maybe choose one that begins with the same letter.

I have a fairly unusual name. Never top 500. Certainly noone in my northern town had heard it.

I love it. People get teased for all sorts of things. I have given my children unusual names. Just providing some context. I'm sorry you don't like your name op.

Exactly! When a company asks for the account holders name, and you can't remember which name you used- it just sounds silly! And- different people call me different things. Such a hassle!!

Consequently, my kids have really common names!

Sharon Horgan (whose daughter is Sadhbh) did a whole shtick in Catastrophe about no-one being able to pronounce Muirann.

@SoupDragon I ask my parents the same thing constantly. The annoying thing is I had a normal name at first (Naomi) but my father insisted they change it because of Naomi Campbell!?! 😕

I gave my DC a good, classic name because I thought she would never have any problems with it. I like the name and while she likes it now, there are many around with her name which she doesn't like.
How do you loathe a classic name? Are there any nicknames you can use instead although I understand nicknames can feel strange when you make them up yourself.

Sorry you have to deal with this. By the time you get to changing your name, if you decide to do so, the damage is already done. Your true friends and family love you regardless but it doesn't out cancel the difficulties

m.youtube.com/watch?v=n18KRkil-G0
Here you go! Rob is your Dad!!

They each called me "their " name till I started nursery at three

This is awful and very funny at same time.

I know a little boy who was named Alfred Albert. His parents both wanted the other name so for years he went by the two names, even in school!

I agree. My name is pronounceable but unusual and I always wished for a standard name! And I don’t even have a middle name I could go by!

Do you like your name apart from mispronunciation? Could you spell it phonetically or phonetically in brackets in your email signature?

I have an unusual name which is mispronounced about 40% of the time if it’s just written down, but I love my name.

Embrace the unusual name!

Sorry OP, must be hard having a name you don't like! Strange that your dad can't pronounce it though!

I have a very unusual name, and I absolutely love it. Teachers would make dickhead comments all the time when I was younger, in fact, it was never kids that commented, only adults. Strange that.
I

@SequinsandStilettos That scared the bejesus out of me because that’s my fathers name. I thought you had found a video of him 😂

That clip is very true to my actual life!

I loathe the majority of ‘classic’ names. I just cannot imagine growing a human being in my body, birthing them, looking into the face of this human that I’ve created…and then giving them a boring untoasted bread name like ‘Elizabeth’ or ‘James’ that six other kids they know will have. It seems mad to me.

The only thing worse is an untoasted bread name that’s been spelt ‘uniquely’. Just why?

i know how you feel i hate my name but dont feel like anything else suits me

when someone says my full name i cringe

is there anyway you can shorten it

@Libertyqueen No, I think it’s quite an ugly name to be honest ☹️

@Cherchezlaspice My middle name is a “classic” name. I use it because it’s easier but my god, it’s dull and boring.

forgot to say people pronounce mine wrong all the time