For thinking baby names are getting silly

[bulbarsaurus]

Hi everyone,

Recently read through a thread with OP who wanted to name her child something completely ridiculous.

I have noticed a lot of threads with the same comments of very odd baby names, think things Like Spartacus or Amicablalette. For some reason this now seems to be the norm.

It seems like people are now either trying to make their normal child sound like a WW2 veteran by naming them Albert or Rodney or the lord or lady of the manner with names like Tarquin or Agatha.

Is it just me or do some of these names not look ridiculous. I know a child at a local nursery with working class parents called Horatio.

I can't imagine naming my children anything other than something normal so that when they finally go for a job interview their names appear professional and easy to read/pronounce.

Are there a list of normal Girls/Boys names you can give me! And does anyone else agree with me?!

AIBU?

Oh god. Sharon, Debbie, and Steve 🤮

There's a set list in Germany too and if you want to go off list then you have to apply and see if they will accept it. I think Sweden and a few other places are the same

I remember Kathy Burke in a comedy with Harry Enfield. They were called the Slobs, it was having a pop at the then new trend for unique/made up names. The children were called Spudulike (pronounced Spud-u-lika) and Frogmella.

@Singersong I think it's sensible to think of names that work in different settings, including careers

On MN, people are a bit disingenuous, claiming that they NEVER form an opinion on someone based on their name

IRL, if an employer looks at CVs, one from Jayden-Kayden and one from Jonathan, I suspect their instinct may be that Jonathan more likely to be well-spoken, which matters in some client facing roles

I don't think names are getting silly, I think they've been silly for a while now.

I personally don't mind the Pearl, Albert, Olive, Arthur old fashioned type names. Although it does make me wince at the thought that names like Clive, Keith, Nigel, and Brenda might make a comeback when my kids are naming their kids 😬 not sure how I'll feel about a grandchild called Nigel.

My only eye roll names are the made up ones. Where the parent is so keen to make their child unique that they've just invented something. I've heard of a Londyn, pronounced like London but spelt Londyn. I've heard of an Everlay. I clarified that I hadn't misheard Everleigh/Everley, but no, actual name Everlay. Which sounds like a good name for a flooring product to me.

As someone with a complicated surname that I always have to spell out, I would never saddle my child with a first name that requires explanation/spelling guidance.

But you are naming a future adult who has to function in the real world - and that includes the job market - not a lifestyle accessory.

You think Jayden-Bear or Kasey-boo are getting taken seriously when they are applying for a professional role?

I don't get this weird obsession with 'what will people think in a job interview'?

I hire people. LOTS of people. Over the years I've been in my current job I've probably hired getting on for 1000 people. From that perspective, to be honest, the Xalinahs and Oberons stand out a bit over a James or an Emily just through novelty value but either way it's irrelevant because I'm not interviewing their name and we have a robust set of procedures in place to evaluate the actual candidates, including points at which we challenge the possibility that we may be unconsciously bringing biases to the process. At the initial screening stage we'd be unlikely even to look at their names (and many employers have systems in place where applications are reviewed without that information being available). We are not perfect but if Starling or Winifred or Chaelina or Mick rock up to an interview they all get a shot and I'd be delighted to hire all of them if they're good. Whatever profession it is you anticipate children with less-common names being excluded from, they have terrible hiring practices which should be a red flag anyway.

And the longer names will be shortened… Juno’s ok? I find it startling that names that were hopelessly old fashioned when I was growing up are now popular. Double barrelled first names are always shortened because otherwise they’re such a mouthful. Lily-May is a perennial favourite, in fact -May or -Mae seems to be something of a convention

Oh get over yourself 😂 how dare a working class family use the name Horatio?! What a wanky comment.

I know a lovely black lab called Juno 🤣

If the hiring manager is professional and assesses the candidate on their skills, interview performance and work experience, why should that be a problem? Besides, when these babies with more unusual names are adults looking for work, their names will no longer be that unusual.

I also have a Juno, but she’s a cat 😁

Weird as my son's nursery has all those names alongside many other names from other cultures. I teach secondary and there is at least two Toms in every incoming class.

I quite like the diversity.

My class in the 80s = 10 x Emma, 8 x Rachel and 6 x Sarah.

My dc's classes rarely have people with the same name.

Names are on a 100 year cycle so names like Arthur, Albert, Violet etc are ten a penny and not at all strange or unusual. Arthur is in the top 5 boys names the last few years. I find those kind of names very boring to be honest as they are so common.

You probably wouldn't like my little girls name. It's a lesser used very old fashioned name. But in any case I like an unusual name. Spartacus is maybe a bit far for me (though I'd prefer it to being the 800th Arthur in the school year) but I love Horatio.

There is definitely a trend with some parents if naming their baby theist ‘unique’ name they can think of.
By that I mean a name which has. Ever traditionally been used as a human name. The present trend often involves a double barrelled first name plus several middle names then using the fathers ( unmarried parents) surname. Even when he appears no more that a fb and they are not on a committed relationship.
The more ‘extreme’ or ‘unlikely’ the better.
Ali’s make sure to use ‘unique’ spellings.
Example: Vienna-Mist Octaaveea Harper Hiscock.
Or Teddy-Blu Dax Dexxter Hiscock.
It is a trend and it will date.

Actually I know someone called Spartacus. He had brothers called Apollo, Hercules and Lysander IIRC.

Sadly not a joke.

Then the people reading the cv need to check themselves

Sorry for the typos I’m on my very old phone and I really should wear my glasses.

OP I'm baffled as to why you think there's something wrong with a child working class parents called Horatio! This may a be a family name passed down through generations or have some other special meaning to them, is that not allowed ?
I must admit it makes my eyes roll when I see the ridiculous spelling of normal names in a vain attempt to look different /unique .The poor kid is going to be correcting the spelling on the daily for life, what a pain in the bum! Reminds me of Kath and Kim when they were choosing names for Epps, funny as that was on the tv show it's really not in RL

I do sometimes think wth at some names op. But I can’t wait for the Gary trend.

At least Horatio is a name. It's not anything I would choose. I think it's time a list of approved names was drawn up. And special dispensation is needed for a name not on the list. Other countries do this.

Also, I don't think "CV names" are a thing any more. For one thing the jobs these children will be applying for are not even in existence yet. How do you know what is appropriate for them?

I work for a large national law firm. In the past we've had solicitors called Coco, Princess and Buster.

What's worse is people who take a normal name and spell it stupid. Met a 6 year old called emylee recently. Poor thing.

Have one of each of your first lot in my class, along with 3 Georges and an Albert.