What do *you* consider to be "horrible" names?

[HappyWifeandMum]

I was reading another thread here, where many people referred to a particular name as being "horrible". So it got me to thinking... What constitutes a "horrible" name, and how does that perception change from region to region?

Please... This is NOT to offend ANYONE... I just truly want to get a feel for what you think are truly awful names. Opinions vary greatly across the globe, and I would love to be able to compare them.

Here's the deal... I would be very grateful if each poster would post (as nicely as possible) the names they dislike the very most, and why, without taking merciless jabs. Also, if you are comfortable with it, would you please list the continent or country you are from as well. I am hoping this will be fun and informative!

Here goes... My uncontested, most disliked name of all time is "Nevaeh". Why? Because I think it is beyond senseless to reverse the spelling of a common word and call it a name. (North America)

[MooseBreath]

Teddy
All I hear is Teddy Bear. I can't picture it on a teenager or grown man, and would struggle to take an adult with that name seriously. I know it's something I need to get over, but I really hate it.

Louise
I have a Canadian accent and find that the name sounds very whiny. The combination of "loo" and "wheeze" is just unattractive to my ears. Ditto Louis/Louie.

Arthur
Again with the accent. "Thur" is not an attractive sound.

[Mrsmch123]

Teddy, Samuel, Theodore

The new obsession with the name Nellie. Also dislike mae, Olivia, Victoria Delilah

[Maggiesfarm]

Teddy comes from 'Edward'; Edward is all right and can be shortened to Ted or Ed (never Teddy).

Nellie is from Ellen which I like, would call her Nell or Ell.

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

I hate anything overtly frilly, and princessy on a girl, or something that sounds like it should be a kitten, puppy or pet rabbit. Top contenders for fussy/frilly names would be Arabella, Georgiana, Seraphina etc and for cutesy would be twee things like Betsy, Dolly, Binky, Bunny etc.

Girls have a hard enough time being stereotyped as it is (just look at the rows and rows of pink clothes in shops), I don't think it's fair to saddle a girl with a ridiculously girlie name.

[Violetlavenders]

emily, jack, oliver, olivia, henry, harry - I don't hate the names but there's just soooooo many babies all called the same thing it is a shame...

And that was 10 years ago! So so many more since then...

[Mags5Bia]

Sonia - sounds dull and clunky
Meryl - Nothing wrong with the name but you're giving your child a lot to live up to
Bertha - I just don't like the sound of it, especially in my accent.
Robin - I just don't care for it for either sex.

[Redcart21]

Surnames as first names eg Cooper, Harrison

Overly religious names which aren’t really first names but have religious context eg Praise, Blessing

Cutesy names which only sound plausible when the child is under 4 eg Archie, Freddie

Men who insist they name their sons after them but the woman in the relationship never names the daughter after themselves. Children need their own name

[FartnissEverbeans]

I don’t really find any names horrible - I like variety, even things that aren’t too my own taste.

I find boring names a bit disappointing but that’s it

[May2021Mummy]

Boys names I hate - Jamie Robin Malcolm they just seem very blah

Girls names I hate - Kimberly Tracey Crystal

[Echobelly]

Ugly names like Wayne, Barry, Dwayne, Geoffrey

I don't think there's any girls names I consider really horrible.

[lljkk]

While ppl are airing prejudices...
I'm fine with Chardonnay or Jayden. Those are cool. I even like most truly 'made up' names.

I cringe at Luka, Hugo, Clementime, Mabel, Juliet - lots of MN favourites. I used to dislike but am now resigned to Amelia, Eugenie, Oscar, Tallulah...

MNers say sharply unpleasant things about my name.

[bubblebath62636]

I'm not a fan of Penelope, sounds a bit try hard and pretentious.

Also Nevaeh as 'heaven backwards', surely a backwards heaven would be hell?

[Onlinedilema]

I really dislike it when a child is given the exact same first name as a parent, or Junior. Anything where the child is made a target for bullies e.g. Neville Neville, Thomas Thompson etc. Girls named after males e.g. Nigella such ugly names.
I dislike boys names ending in the ee sound Frankie, Alfie, Archie, Ronnie, Reggie they are everywhere and so common.
Made up names and spellings with extra letters thrown in to be 'younique'.
I can't stand Sebastian I just hear bastard.
Norah, Nellie, Cyril, Arthur- old fashioned names to my ears.
Names which make you sound like a tit simply because your parents didn't use their brains and work out it doesn't go with your surname. For example your surname is Ness do not call your child a name beginning with the letter P.
Names which are fundamentally nouns or verbs , and only for certain characteristics such as Hunter. No good at all unless your child grows up to like outdoor activities, is fit and healthy looking, long haired. Totally silly on an average looking indoor type.
Nick names as given names. The point of a Nick name is it shouldn't be forced on a child. Use it privately but for the sake of the child who will one day be an adult do not call your child a name such as Baby Jane.
Also if you are unmarried do not lumber your child with the fathers shitty surname. Names with Cock in them etc will mean the child has the mickey taken out of them relentlessly, don't do it.

[Giggorata]

Whatever names people inflict on their children, other children can always manage to tease them about, or make a nickname or meme. If not with the first name, with their surnames.
DC had a well known round sung at them about our surname, which wasn’t malicious. We had a Joy at our school, who was universally known as “Miz”; there was the inevitable Snowy, surname White and Madeleine was always Mad.
People can always change their name, as did Zowie Bowie, now Duncan Jones.
It's a shame when names get taken up and done to death. We had 4 Karens in my form at school, and Jason, a beautiful name from Greek mythology, went crazy for a time. Likewise Olivia recently.
Or names that acquire unfortunate connotations, like Gaye, Candida, Kevin, Karen, Adolf.
As for the Chardonnays and Jaydens of today, they will date and decline, and end up as curiosities in the books of a baby names, as did Sherry and Brandy, Wayne and Dwayne.

[CoalCraft]

I really, really dislike "profession" names - Harper, Hunter, Mason... What if your child ends up doing something completely opposite what their name suggests? Hunter the animal rights activist?? Actually, worse, what if they DO end up going with their name? If Harper actually learns to play the harp she's going to get mo end of grief.

I actually dislike noun names generally as I find them sort of demeaning. A person is a person, and greater than animals, plants or natural features.

Another class I'm not fond of are -son names; Carlson, Jackson etc. Unless the child is actually the son of Carl/Jack then it's nonsensical.

Like others I dislike names that are misspelled versions of more traditional names. I see it as a bit try-hard.

UK

[CoalCraft]

I also dislike God(dress) names - Thor, Freya... Just seems a bit pretentious

[MrsMiddleMother]

Seriously dislike the name Astrid which is so popular on here! I just think it's a bit ugly sounding

[Synchrony]

Harper - I always think of someone harping on about something.

Jamie - I've irrationally hated this all my life. It makes me think of a little boy smeared in baked beans. I know it makes no sense.

Moira - too close to Moist.

Maeve - seems so awkward and unfinished. Mae or Mavis are both better imo.

[Violetlavenders]

Harper - I always think of someone harping on about something.

I think of a toilet cleaner for some reason..

[EmbarrassingMama]

Double barrelled first names are the pits.

[KellyanneConway]

Names beginning with W, particularly girl’s. Wendy, Wanda, Willow, Walter, William, all seem a bit wet and twee.

[notalwaysalondoner]

I hate hate hate surnames as first names - Hunter, Harper, Cooper, Grayson, Madison, Riley etc. To me they're so American and just horrible.

I dislike nicknames as names e.g. Betty, Archie, Freddie, Oli

I dislike super old lady names e.g. Dorothy, Agnes, Mabel (although there are some I find OK, the more classical ones)

I dislike double-barrelled first names e.g. Daisy-Mae (unless you're French where Jean-Christophe is OK)

I'm from the west of England.

[Maggiesfarm]

@Violetlavenders

Harper - I always think of someone harping on about something.

I think of a toilet cleaner for some reason..

I think of someone throwing a harpoon.

[danascully96]

Wow, I don't think most names provoke such a strong reaction in me, but apparently, that's the case for a lot of other people on this thread. Who devotes so much time to collecting huge lists of names they hate? My favorite girls' names are Lily, Charlotte, Julia, Anna, Elise, Violet, Scarlett, etc. Boys' names I love are Daniel, Alexander, Jack, Luke, etc. I'm not offended, but I thought I'd give people a chance to tear apart my names after I say which ones I dislike.

I'm so fascinated by the obvious here -- which is that there are always people looking to hate.

Names I dislike:

Luka -- True crime association and I much prefer Luke
Amy -- Too cloying
Amanda -- Just don't get it
Misspelled/grandiose names

I'm American in UK and for those saying Americans only say Lou-is, that's not totally true. St. Louis can go either way in pronunciation -- "Meet Me in St. Louis" has the "Lou-ee" pronunciation.But sometimes it is "Lou-is" too. And Louis Armstrong is always "Lou-ee" unless someone has a source I can look at where he says his name is pronounced differently? Also, why do we have to be purists when it comes to language? We all say cafe even though it's French?

[RuthW]

Jessica - perfect reasonable name, I just can't stand it.

Ethan - again, the same

Alfie, Archie, Billy, Tommy, Robbie, Bobby etc- anything that is half a name as a full name.