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)

The 'made up' names Kegan, Brayden, Jayden etc. A very popular one for girls round here is Tegan. Bloody awful!

season names eg Autumn, Summer and virtue names

Elizabeth, Catherine, etc. Not because they sound awful, they're perfectly nice sounding names, but just a little too commonly used. I prefer to go with traditional but less used names. (although just found out that my DD's name is in last years' top 100)

Since coming on mumsnet I have started to hate the names Kayden, Jayden, Brayden etc. This is because their horribleness has tainted two of my favourite boys names, Aidan and Haydn. Just because they have a similar sound to the ending of the name, everyone seems to lump together two solid, traditional names with a load of made-up, 'chavvy' for want of a better word, names.

Doesn't seem to happen with other names that sound similar - Ben/Ken, Guy/Kai etc.

"Amelia - it is also the medical term for a birth defect with missing limb(s). Why use a name which also means this?"

Because most people have never heard of this condition? I admit that I hadn't until I read your post.

Met a family yesterday whose daughter was called Shakira. I think that is almost criminal.

I am pleasantly suprised that DD's nickname hasn't been mentioned yet. It always gets brought up on these threads as being twee and babyish.

While I don't love Shakira, it has a nice sound to it and is easy to spell/pronounce. Certainly more interesting than another Ellie or Tilly.

And seems to have a nice meaning too:

The meaning of the name Shakira is Thankful
The origin of the name Shakira is Arabic

1950s American nightclub names eg Ruby, Lola, Talullah, Scarlett. Why make your poor little DD sounds like something out of Bugsy Malone?

Brian, Keith, Nigel.

And I really really hate Ian.

Don't like Claire either for some strange reason.

Lola seems to be very popular (among people I know/hear about anyway). It's a very middle-class slightly-alternative thing. Personally it always makes me think of a spaniel. I don't really know why.

I can't help quite liking Scarlett though.

I have two dds with four names between them and two of the four have now been mentioned (although not by many people!). Waiting for the other two to appear now!

I just think it's intriguing how what sounds good to one person is so awful to another - it's like musical taste: it inspires such passionate feelings yet who knows why certain names make some people go 'ooh' and others go 'ugh?' This is why I love the baby names threads so much!

someone at work actually said to me the other day 'Whats his name again?' about DC6 aged 2 (who was standing there) ' ' Oh N*&%$ it's a bit silly' I muttered or some such self deprecating gobshite and she just sort of smirked....

Take &^&(() THAT posh woman!

hrothgar a medieval form of roger . deepest aploogies to all little hrothgars and their mums .

I hate the following-
Lydia, Ethel, Ivy, Adelaide, Agnes ,Audrey, Gladys, Glenys, Mavis and lots of other old lady names. Absolutely hideous IMO.
Really boring names -Karen, Claire, Ann[e] [my own name], Jane, Mary
Old man names -Sid, Reggie, Harry, Wilf etc
Martha, Matilda ,Beatrice, Eugenie [no particular reason]
My pet hate is boys names for girls eg Toni, Billie, george. Girls should have pretty girls names.
Obviously all the usual made up, misspelled shit.

re reading the name books and have seen these gems

the girls name chava hebrew for life and it's dimunitive chavetta honestly i'm not making this up

and 2 boys names
chavez a spanish place name
chavara hebrew for loved one

not sure they'll be gaining in popularity in the uk any time soon

unless either baby beckham or windsor would like to be the first

In our local paper today:

"Mr and Mrs Whatsername welcome their daughter, Kensington Elizabeth..."

For the luvva God, why ?!

My son's name would be nice on a dog, I admit. But also on a lovely little boy! :)

I love a lot of the names mentioned so far.

Most of mine don't have clear reasons. Some are because I've known people or taught difficult children with that particular name.

I'm from the UK. Lived all over at various times but now in the home counties.

I've tried to group them a bit but probably only makes sense to me
Boys:
Sean, Shane, Wayne, Keenan, Jayden, Kai, Declan, Darren, Kevin, Kyle
Roger, Trevor, Brian, Brennan, Bradley, Barry, Keith, Norman, Allan
Hugo, Hugh, Rupert, Frederick, Hal, Vincent

Girls:
Chelsea, Kelsey, Kylie, Keely, Krystall, Kimberly, Kayleigh, Hayley, Kelly
Tracey, Stacy, Karen, Nancy, Sharon, Shannon, Michelle, Louise
Ann, Jane, Mary, Eve, Ellen, Scarlett, Sara, Elizabeth, Josephine

manic, great minds think alike! I dislike all the boys' names you mention apart from Hugo (but probably because I have a friend who's a Hugo and used to work with a gorgeous Hugo too, so it has good associations).

Pretty much agree with your girls' names too apart from I rather like Eve, Scarlett and Elizabeth.

Cecil, Nigel, Nathan, Ethan, Eustace, Eugene- anything that makes your nose do that screw up thing, I think is why I associate those names with unpleasantness. And all the whoops-we-wanted-a-boy versions, too: Nigella, Eugenie...

Class based hatred: Gemma, Donna, Kelly, Louise, Michelle, Claire, Stacey -> dating myself pretty accurately there. Barry, Gary, Neil, Trevor, Bernard, Karl, Lee.

I have sort of generalised lower middle class resentment towards Tarquin, Crispin sort of names but can't bestir myself in the same way. Narcissism of small differences etc.

Just looked up the birth defect where a foetus's limbs don't develop, actually it's called Amelia, not Amelie.

Although I find Amelie a grating name for any child that isn't French, tbh. A bit twee really.

Well it is "Amelie" in french, I wasn't sure it would translate as "Amelia" in english (even if it is the latin name too). I like the name but the meaning make me shudder.

Ella. It's not a name, it's the end of a name (Daniella, Isabella, Gabriella). I can't help feeling sorry for Ellas, they always seem incomplete.

Also Elle, especially when pronounced 'Ellie'.

Ellie as a whole name rather than a nickname. It's wrong.

frilly names or cutesy babyish names for girls- Set my teeth on edge

Fanciful and/or overtly pompous names for boys.