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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wish I hadn't called my daughter Ruby?

211 replies

gonenative · 27/02/2010 23:23

When me and DH chose her name 6 years ago, we didn't know any Rubys (or any kids for that matter!) and liked the feisty sound of it. We actually thought we were being pretty original.

It was the MOST popular girl's name in 2007, 2nd in 2008, and there are 4 others in her year at school.

Am I being unreasonable to wish I'd called her something a bit less, well, common?

She has two lovely middle names and to my shame I've even asked her if she fancies being called one of these instead.

I know I'm being an awful snob, and I do still like the name but what do you all think?

OP posts:
swanandduck · 01/03/2010 12:31

I called my daughter (aged 7) Tessa and, until recently, hadn't heard of any other's. However, ds started nursery after Christmas and there are two Tessa's there .

Northernlurker · 01/03/2010 12:41

I don't know any other children with the names my older girls have (Miranda and Rosalind) but dd3's name is a bit of a worry as it does seem to be getting more popular (Beatrice). What does vex me is their middle names - when I used them nobody else had them, at all, especially dd1's name. Now every bugger picks them as perfect middle names - Rose and Grace!

OtterInaSkoda · 01/03/2010 13:09

Sorry I've not read the whole thread. I know a dd (lets call her Holly - although that's not her real name) who changed her name when it transpired there were another 2 Hollies in her reception class. I say the dd changed her name because she suggested it - she and her mum chose a new one. Worked fine.

Having said that Ruby is a lovely name. Even if they are two a penny (which strangely they aren't where we live) it's still feisty and a bit showgirly (in the best possible sense, you understand).

bobblehat · 01/03/2010 13:26

Fashions with names come and go.

My first name isn't unusual, but was certainly unpopular when I was growing up. Now I know several under 5's with the name. Before that I'd only ever met old ladies with the name.

swanandduck · 01/03/2010 13:32

I agree Bobblehat. When I was growing up, you never heard of a baby being called Molly or Lilly or Nell. They were considered 'old ladies' names. Now they're considered quaint and lovely. No doubt in thirty years time there will be lots of parents calling their daughters 'old fashioned' and 'original' names like Jackie, Debbie and Karen.

notquitenormal · 01/03/2010 13:43

My Mum gave me my name because she thought it was so unusual and no-one she knew had it. She didn't know it was one of the most popular names of the 70s (and I was born in 79 too, so wasn't the beginning of a trend.)
There were 4 of us my class.

Now, though, I don't know a single person who shares my name and haven't done since I left school. I think because as an adult you mix with so many more different age groups the effect of name fashion becomes much more dilute.

What I'm trying to say is Ruby is a very nice name and it will all be fine in the long run (I shouldn't mention I used to have a dog called Ruby, should I? )

NK3c22b695X12619aca2ba · 01/03/2010 13:50

I think Ruby's a lovely name, and although it's a pity you don't feel good about it, you can't really change it now. I wish I had a more common name (mine is 'Seonaid' pronounced 'shona' - a very traditional Scottish Gaelic name) and it causes me lots of trouble - nobody ever knows how to pronounce it or spell it.

BalloonSlayer · 01/03/2010 14:13

There are no Rubies in my DCs school. And I don't know any from anywhere else either.

Jack and Chloe were by far the most popular names countrywide when my DS1 (9) was born. I'd say there are a couple in his year but nothing like as many as there are Thomases, Jameses and Katies.

I sometimes wonder if there is an entire school somewhere where every girl is called Chloe and every boy Jack so that these statistics are true.

So I reckon it's a regional thing and when she moves out into the big wide world she will be more unusual.

Ruby is a lovely name.

rusmum · 27/04/2010 14:36

i did exactly the same, and feel the same. tough luck eh?

Madascheese · 27/04/2010 15:01

Oh my sainted lord!

This thread prompted my to look at the link for the Office of Statistics, littlemad's name is less popular than....

wait for it.....

Wiktor (yes that is spelt correctly)

Haroon

and

Maksymillian (again spelt right)

Which is odd, when he was born I told people the name and they went ooo that's nice you don't hear thet, but the during my 3days in hospital I heard of 3 of them being called the same name.

Didn't bother me, doesn't bother me but does it bother your daughter?

FWIW I don't think it's common it's a lovely name, makes me think of beautiful courageous women.

Madsometimes · 27/04/2010 15:05

There are no Rubies at our school either, and I only personally know one, (who is a friend of a friend's dd, so do not know her well).

Pikelit · 27/04/2010 15:11

When DSD was born, DP and his then wife chose a name they thought was pretty and fairly original. As it happens, the originality thing was clearly going through quite a lot of parental minds - not that Megan has minded!

rubyrubyruby · 27/04/2010 15:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pikelit · 27/04/2010 15:16

Sorry...what I meant to conclude my post with was...

So there's really very little point in thinking your child's name is so unique that he or she won't be sharing it with someone else. Unless you give your child such a bizarre name that they spend their life facing complete ridicule.

Given a choice, I think I'd take the utter and quite mortifying devastation of being (possibly) thought "common".

You can't change a child's name like a handbag. Even if the poor child is so last year, name-wise.

helloooooooooooo · 27/04/2010 15:23

Pikelit - my name is Megan too and I am 29. It was really unusual when I was a child (I was embarrassed by it) but now you can't move for bumping into a Megan.

Blondeshavemorefun · 27/04/2010 15:33

i know of 3 rubys - 2 are 4/5 and one was born last year so 9mths

there will always be more common names, i went to school with 4 claires,3 sharons, 4 sarahs and 3 traceys

you never hear of babies being born with those names now

rubyrubyruby · 27/04/2010 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Malificence · 27/04/2010 15:49

My DD was the only one in any of her schools to have her name but now it seems there a lot of little girls with it.

She is also a gem stone.

I had to change her middle name though, the names we chose were identical to a certain 80's pop star and his supermodel wife who happened to give birth shortly before I did, so we gave DD my middle name instead.

SimonCowellIsSatan · 27/04/2010 15:57

My girl is called Ruby! I adore the name. I Don't know any othe Rubys I must admit but it wouldn't bother me. Don't regret it, it's part of who she is now! 2 of my best friends have the same name as me (one even has the same first and middle name!!) Although they both spell their's the same and one is shortened.

Downdog · 27/04/2010 15:58

I didn't meet another Rachel until I was 16 - it's a very popular name now

missmoopy · 27/04/2010 16:18

YABU. Its her name, it doesn't matter that there are other Rubys. My dd is Emily - the most popular name the year she was born - and I cannot imagine her being any other name - she is MY Emily, thats what counts.

UnquietDad · 27/04/2010 16:26

It's a lovely name. There is one in DD's class and she is the only one.

I bet you never suspected that bloody Kaiser Chiefs song would come along in 2007 though

biddysmama · 27/04/2010 17:16

i know what you mean.. i have a tyler he's 8 and now loads of chavskids are called tyler, i didnt know any then

13 month old dd is called Grace, thats popular again now

new baby is going to be called Jonah (as long as the scan was right) that'll be popular soon...

my name is too popular, there were 4 of us in my year at school

tillywee · 27/04/2010 21:43

I wanted to call my youngest Ruby but hubby wasn't keen...I personally love the name.

We called our girl Scarlett and now there are alot of scarlett's about....Still love her name

miacat · 15/01/2011 03:41

I chose Ruby years ago and our baby is due in 4 weeks and we are definitely using it. I refuse to let the common lot steal it from the list of beautiful traditional names! If anything i feel like that's even more reason to choose it.

I must admit tho, the other day i was at the school with my kiddies and some one called out 'Rub-eey-aa'. Sounded like Bianca! Grin

I completely see why you are a bit pissed tho. LOL @ Shabba-My mum nameD me Mia after Mia Farrow and no one could spell it or say it properly and i HATED it. (Born 1979). Now it's top of the list!

My daughter is named after Joni Mitchell and it is the best decision i have ever made about anything in my life. It's also my mums name and it really really suits her.