Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Genuine admiration for new baby's name

89 replies

firefoxy · 30/12/2011 23:20

Do you get this every time you say your baby's/DC's name? And if yes, what's your child called? Trying to get a feel for unique but not too out there names.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ceri1985 · 31/12/2011 08:28

We have just named DD Lucinda, but introduce her to everyone as Lucy. Midwives, health visitor, family, friends etc have given loads of positive feedback & smiles, saying it is a lovely, classic name and a nice change from all the Lilys, Millies, Ellie-Maes & Olivias around.

But then again, I'm biased and it would take a pretty rude person to say "oh, what an awful name!" when being introduced to DC!!

mumatron · 31/12/2011 08:54

I always get a great reaction when I introduce dd2 (except from my mum). I think it really depends on so many different factors though. I have never 'met' another person with her name and it is different to what most baby girls around here are called. There are about 20,000 Lola's here.

Her name is Eliza.

CheerfulYank · 31/12/2011 09:01

Ooh, deemented, spill! :)

My next baby will most likely be Eleanora Josephine or Charles Frederick. I love 'em!

EdithWeston · 31/12/2011 09:02

We had - and still receive - positive, genuine admiration for all DCs names: one unusual, one middling, one middling since very popular. So I do rather agree with the poster who said that in RL, every comment will seem like genuine admiration. And socially adept people will add little expansions to their comments so you really believe it.

Admiration reflects taste, and so if you want to be sure lots of people like the name, go for top 20. They are classic and popular for a reason.

D0G · 31/12/2011 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

D0G · 31/12/2011 09:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SJisontheway · 31/12/2011 09:11

I think names are unusual for a number of reasons
A) they really aren't everyone's cup of tea
B) ethnic names that most people wouldn't get away with
C) the next big thing
DD1 got loads of positive comments for he first year or two. Now it's very common and no one comments anymore. DS on the other hand gets lots of positive comments. His name is not unusual though. Lots of people genuinely love it - I guess that's why it's popular.

SausageWrappedInBaconSmuggler · 31/12/2011 09:16

At the risk of outing myself (meh no one I know is on here anyway) we had/have the same criteria as you OP, unusual but not unknown. DS is Dexter which, aside from the odd serial killer jibe it's been very popular. Am pregnant now with DD who we've decided to call Delilah (Lilah for short). Again the reactions have been really positive, the only person who seems to not like it is MIL who keeps asking if i'm sure about it. Hmm

deemented · 31/12/2011 09:33

Cheerful - I have a Ciaran, but that's no so unusual, a Brennan, a Brogan and a Tate.

RobinSparkles · 31/12/2011 09:37

Sausage Delilah is beautiful! A lady on my PN thread called her baby Delilah, Dilly for short which I think is so cute Smile

I get lots of compliments about DD2's name. Her name is Charlotte but she is known as Lottie, which I often introduce her as. People who have overheard have stopped and said, "oh, what a pretty name."

OP, not everyone is going to like the name that you choose. Both my DDs have names that are often named by MNers as "their favourites" or "classics" but on other threads they are named as "boring" and "overused". DD1's name is particularly popular nowadays, which it wasn't when I chose it (or didn't seem to be).

MudAndGlitter · 31/12/2011 09:41

I have an Alexandra which me and DP love and think its a name she can grow with IYKWIM. She goes by nicknames at the moment however as its a bit of a big name for a little girl.
DS is Jack. I hate it but we have had no negative comments on it.

Original poster
firefoxy · 31/12/2011 10:27

Morning all, thanks for your comments, they are all useful Thanks.

Some of you still missing the point though which is a bit frustrating, finding myself explaining over and over again that I am not naming my child for anybody else but ourselves. All I need is inspiration to the kind of names I know I will probably like and start compiling a list.
Whether a name will become popular or common over time nobody is able to tell, and if our chosen one ends up like that, I'm sure we'll be able to deal with that too. But the criteria for choosing a name right now is as above.

OP posts:
JollySantaJackrum · 31/12/2011 10:37

DS is Harris James and my mum usually introduces him as Harris James Surname. There have been lots of positive comments, including two people saying the name sounded 'distinguished'. I like to think Harris is 'unusual but not unheard of' although it had a huge leap in popularity in Scotland in 2011.

SilveryMoon · 31/12/2011 11:06

DOG Your dc's names are lovely. I like all of them Smile
[stalker emoticon] Wink

RobinSparkles · 31/12/2011 11:54

What names do you like firefox? Then we could perhaps give you some similar names that you might like?

I know that you've said "unique but not too out there" but I'm not entirely sure what these names would be.

Ok - names that I love but my DH vetoed are:
Aurelia
Delilah
Gabriella

They are quite frilly and princessy though, which is not to everyone's taste.

I also like:
Jessica
Amy
Elizabeth
Isabel (DD1)
Charlotte (DD2)
Sophia
Anna
Which are a bit more run of the mill but possibly unlikely to be met with a Hmm face when introduced.

For boys I like:
James
Francis
William
Joseph
Benjamin
Theodore
George
Harrison

spottyscarf · 31/12/2011 12:29

DD is Meredith- we always get comments on her name. Sometimes very genuine-sounding 'wow what a beautiful name, how unusual' but often just a kind of 'ooh you don't hear that every day' reaction which I guess could be taken either way. We love it though.

4madboys · 31/12/2011 12:40

my dd was nearly meredith spottyscarf but dp wasnt sure, she is Merryn and we get lots of positive comments, and asked where its from, why we chose it etc, not had a negative yet! :)

ahhhhhpushit · 31/12/2011 12:42

My DS is Edward Arthur. Never had a bad comment in RL or on here! Grin

ahhhhhpushit · 31/12/2011 12:42

We call him Ted/Teddy (he is 1 btw)

pinkgirlythoughts · 31/12/2011 12:49

I think it depends a lot on where you live etc- DS is Frederick, and in RL I often get comments along the lines of "oh, that's....er.... nice", but on mumsnet it seems to be at the top of everyone's lists. I actually mostly introduce him to people as Freddie, because that seems to get much more positive comments.

NotJustKangaskhan · 31/12/2011 13:16

My DD2 Mirabelle is always complimented on her name in the way you describe.

DD1 is Alexandra, and I've repeatedly had people call her name posh Confused I think it's because she goes by her full name rather than a nickname.

My DSes get the generic 'that's nice' from everyone but family.

sonniebonnie · 31/12/2011 13:42

"Genuine admiration - do you get this every time you say your baby's/DC's name? And if yes, what's your child called? Trying to get a feel for unique but not too out there names."

Any name that is less commonly used (outside of the top 100 or so) will by definition not be admired or loved by lots of people. But why should a name be loved by everyone?! How dull would life be if we all loved the same things and named our children the same names....?

sonniebonnie · 31/12/2011 13:44

And, without wanting to be rude, I dislike quite a few of the names listed on this thread. But that doesn't mean I don't the person with the name Smile.

sonniebonnie · 31/12/2011 13:45

sorry, I missed out the 'like' in my second sentence.

Meglet · 31/12/2011 13:49

I get positive comments when I say DD's name. I'm not outing myself though. I do a good job of it at the best of times