Do I just have really awful taste in names?

[Mahraih]

BF and I have discussed names, very casually, and the conversations always end up with him saying, "Seriously?!" as if he thinks I'm joking! I'm not.

Here's my list of names I like, please do tell me if I'm actually just crazy:

Boys:
Nichol
Fyfe
Felix (BF doesn't mind this)
Kerouac (I love this)
Auden
Jethro

Girls:
Kimya
Irene (pronounced eyereenee)
Perdita
Clotilde
Ottilie
Proenza
Belphoebe

Looking at them now, there's not a John or an Emily there. But they're not 'bad' names, are they?

Good thread though Mahraih. More interesting than the usual baby name ones. Incidentally, what made you put Jethro on the list? It doesn't seem to fit with the others.

I only read On the Road about a year ago for the first time. Of course, he was a child of his time, but I remember finding the incidences of Kerouac's homophobia made it difficult for me to appreciate it and I wouldn't want to name a child after him - just my opinion.

There is a new fashion design duo , a couple of really young new york boys, not sure on their real names but their label is Proenza Schouler, sold at Liberty. FYI

I understand where you're coming from with these names, especially the ones with the literary connotations. But I do think there's a middle ground.

Nichol - I prefer Nicholas or Nikolai.
Fyfe - no.
Felix - I like this a lot, but maybe it's a bit too stereotypical middle class. It also makes me think of those adverts with the cat.
Kerouac - it'll make life hard for the child!
Auden - I do like this, but perhaps only as a middle name?
Jethro - I immediately think 'Tull'.

Kimya - no.
Irene - I like the pronunciation, but most people will pronounce it eye-reen.
Perdita - a bit too frilly.
Clotilde - pretty, but hard to pull off if you're not French.
Ottilie - I adore this. But again, may be difficult for an English person.
Proenza - definite no. For the reasons everyone else stated. It's something from a biology textbook.
Belphoebe - I like The Faerie Queene but this will sound pretentious.

Felix and Auden are the best boys' names, IMO. And Irene and Ottilie for a girl.

I like Felix and Perdita, but not the others. (Kerouac and Auden - did you study Eng. Lit. by any chance?). What about other literary/antiquity names, e.g. Miranda, Ophelia, Julia, Octavia, Alexander, Julius, etc?

PixieOnaLeaf: Thanks - I think I'm going to take that advice and go for unusual but ... recognizable.

Fayrazzled: thanks for your thoughts. Kimya is actually a Swahili name (I'm originally from Kenya). I do like Carenza though, that's really nice. Not sure about Phoebe on its own - always reminds me of Friends.

Thanks everyone for your honest and helpful thoughts! I'm going to go look through a baby book

When I started reading your list I thought your BF was being unreasonable, I changed my mind once I got to the end, though.

Nichol- fine but a nn
Fyfe- good
Felix (BF doesn't mind this)- the cat in the ad but fine
Kerouac (I love this)I started laughing...
Auden- you could get away with it
Jethro- trying too hard

Girls:
Kimya- I can hear "Kim, ya'r being a twat"
Irene -(pronounced eyereenee)- then put an extra 'e' on the end then
Perdita- 101 dalmatians
Clotilde- looks like blood clot
Ottilie- sounds like 'oddly'
Proenza- are you on prozac?
Belphoebe- I'm laughing again

the are asolutely horrendous names.
get a teddy bear and name that and let your bf name the baby!

Yes.

You do just have really awful taste in names.

Perdita is the heroine in The Winter's Tale

it is also the spoilt bitch character in jilly cooper's polo.

From your list I like Felix for a boy, but I'm afraid I don't like any of the girls' choices.

Fyfe - bananas
Felix - yes, I like this
Kerouac - too surnamey
Auden - too surnamey
Jethro - Tull

Girls:
Kimya - why not Kim or Tanya?
Irene (pronounced eyereenee) - dislike
Perdita - not keen
Clotilde - dislike
Ottilie - dislike
Proenza - no
Belphoebe - why not Phoebe?

Have a look on www.nameberry.com where it is possible to search for names based on meaning, origin, number of syllables, popularity etc. It is an American site but you might find it interesting.

I totally see that other people think my names are unusual/ugly etc and don't want people in general to mock my child. I've been mocked for my name and found it amusing, but not all children will see it that way. So I will temper my instinct to just give it a 'crazy' name.

However I think that Kimya will have to stay, as a middle name. I have to give it some sort of Kenyan name or my family will dissect me, slowly. It's either that or something like Akoth, so, small mercies.

It'll be an odd kid, so an odd name shouldn't be too out of place

Thanks again everyone, for your advice!

Thanks for the nameberry rec - will check it out

Mahraih, FWIW I have taught in Inner London secondary schools and never seen a child teased for their name. Kimya is lovely in my opinion (but then search my threads for what my dc are called ). Isn't there a female singer called Kimya something? Is it a boy and girl name? I vaguely recollect teaching a boy Kimya...

It is sad that grown adults people judge based on names but tbh I think this says more about them (and their provincial lives). These are probably the same people who will judge on surname/appearance anyway. Sad but true.

I do think you and your bf have to both love your names though.

Proenza (Schouler) is a designer no? Pretty sure it's a surname.

I like Felix.

Aside from that, you are just crazy, yes.

Seriously though, I think they are all just too unusual. Especially if your DP has a more "normal" taste in names, and really, you both have to love it.

Hope you find one that suits you both

I think you could get away with any of these in most London schools. Like the French girls' names and Irene with a long 'e'. Not sure about loiterary hero surnames as first names. What about Wystan if you love Auden?

That would be "literary"

Kimya Dawson is an excellent singer/songwriter.

(and a perfectly good name, too)

Your BF is correct!

Boys:
Nichol - not good
Fyfe - ditto
Felix (BF doesn't mind this) - very try hard IMO
Kerouac (I love this) - oh dear oh dear oh dear
Auden - no
Jethro - west country comic

Girls:
Kimya - eh?
Irene (pronounced eyereenee) The only nice name on your list!
Perdita - isn;t that the female dog out of 101 dalmations?
Clotilde - Not good
Ottilie - still not good
Proenza - good grief!
Belphoebe - Please don't do it.

That's it - Moldy Peaches!
And didn't she call her daughter Panda? Which, as far as I am concerned, beats any of the names on your list for oddness . (Though still can't say I would bat an eyelid seeing it on a register).

Totally agree with your BF (sorry!)

Play it safe ... go with Emily or John

Actually I think Akoth is quite nice!

OK my opinion is:

Boys - no no no except Felix is OK and what is wrong with Nicholas?

Girls - I love Irene and Ottilie is all right, agree with other posters that Phoebe is better than Belphoebe.