MN Acceptable Names

[timetomove]

Apologies if it has been done before, but as a long term lurker I have noticed that there are clear themes to the reaction a name suggestion is likely to get. So the following categories tend to get a negative reaction:-

1. made up names
2. real names with creative spellings
3. double barrelled first names
4. Popular names
5. Shortened names as the registered name (Charlie etc)
6. Uber posh names (Tarquin etc)
7. Over modern names (Jayden type names - trying to avoid using the C word here). Maybe they are also made up names? not sure)

Old lady/man names (Ivy, Enid, Stanley etc) tend to get a mixed reaction, as do names where the pronunciation or spelling is unclear (Esme - Esmee? Esmay?)

So what are the elusive names that get a largely positive reaction (real names with easy spellings which are not over-popular or modern and not too old fashioned). Would it be easier if we just listed them? Here are some examples for consideration of names that might past muster:

GIRLS

Juliet
Beatrice
Florence
Elizabeth
Catherine
Anna

BOYS

Actually, I started a list but thought the names I had come up with (eg Joseph and Alexander) might fall within the too popular category.

Any more?

I think they do this in der Schweiz. You have to choose from a list.

Juliet
Beatrice
Florence
Elizabeth
Catherine
Ann

All awful imo so wouldn't be on my approved list

All hideous.sorry

Didnt see the Anna.thats the only one i like

I don't like any of those on your suggested list either.

And I don't think there are any 'rules' either. Choose a name you and your dh like, one that sounds good with your surname. I hate the chav/posh labelling of names too.

Personally (but we all have different tastes and ideas) I would only avoid very common (as in widely used) names because I hated being one of several in my class.

Well I like all of the ones on your list - so shoot me. :)

I don't know about clear cut rules but there are definite types that are preferred on mn.

For example, when a recent liost came up I knew that most mnetters would not like the name Ryan.

You get a nose for it. If you're bothered.

But how 'relevant' is the mumsnet view? How representative is it of society overall? How international are the views?

It is only relevant if you care what a lot of message board posters think. I hope very few people do.

Excactly, pointydog.

And if we could see the lot of message board posters, perhaps we'd actually want them to dislike our name choices !

yes, I sometimes think that too, rachel

Pointydog sums up the point i was trying to make, i.e. it is often obvious in advance the general reaction a name will get on here. The names I listed are not all to my taste. They are, though, names that have received generally positive reactions on here (although not on this thread!). And while I agree that the MN view is probably not representative, and should not be relevant, people who post on here do seem to be seeking the views of MN posters, so it must be relevant to them (at least to some extent). Maybe a bit of forewarning of the types of names that tend to be badly/well received on here might save the odd thread - and a bit of hurt!

Many of the seemingly approved MN names make me yawn - ie - are soooooo typically, predictably middle class (some of the ones on your list are a perfect example). I guess it shouldn't be a surprise really as the demographic for MN is generally exactly that!

I chose a name for DD which got a mixed reaction on MN becaue it is a classless name in the sense that it is used by all demographics (a sin to the more snobby among you).

But then I guess I'm just not a fan of aspirational middle class yummy mummy names -some of which make me feel slightly nauseous.

Sorry- Anna is extremely popular round here.

There are a few MN-approved names that make me wonder if I'm living in a parallel universe -- Florence, Verity, Harriet, Elsie, Poppy, Scarlett, Daisy, Violet, Rose, Sebastian, Tristan; can't think of any more off the top of my head but I know I've encountered others.

From your list I like Juliet, Beatrice, Anna and Elizabeth.

Scarlett, Poppy & Daisy are not approved by MNers from what I've seen..

Elizabeth & William are..

I have seen William being critised on mumsnet due to the Willy connection...

As others have said above, without knowing someone else's tastes, how meaningful is their comment anyway?

Do we come here to ask about our hairstyles, recipes or shoes? No, because we don't expect everyone to share our taste. Same with names!

No name is going to be loved by everyone. You've got to be confident enough to choose a name you love without pleasing everyone else.

Anything so long as it isn't a made up spelling, obviously being applied to the wrong gender, it isn't the name of a kitchen appliance, a plant or animal (except a few particular plants) a geographical feature or the human genitalia.

Oh, and it's best if was used as a name for a human being 5 years, 50 years and 500 years ago.

Oh again, and NOT anything which infantilizes adults - the sort of name that people say are "cute" for a baby without the option of the long version when the person being named may not think "cute" a desirable option.

...plus any names which couldn't be used by a future lawyer/MD

psssst Rachel Style and Beauty, Recipes, Food, Good Housekeeping, Property/DIY food and recipes, shoes, hairstyles, living room paint galore.

I do come on here to ask about hairstyles, recipes and shoes too tbh!