I'm starting a Baby Names mutiny... Who will join me?

[CheeseAndBunion]

Last year Mumsnetters rallied behind a seemingly pointless quest of mine to find a lost teddy and helped give my son a very Merry Xmas. The comments and posts on my thread were unbelievably kind and I was struck by what a great bunch of people Mumsnetters must be. On the Baby Names forum though I often read comments which would give the impression we are the total opposite and that instead it's populated by quite a vicious bunch.

I have read some awful things written about my child's name on here, comments that have sometimes really stung. If I was posting to ask advice about his weight, hair colour, acne or sexuality then I have no doubt people would reply with kindness but instead I've seen endless posts about how 'x' will never be a doctor or using 'y' is akin to child abuse and that you shouldn't have been allowed to breed if you were going to name your baby 'z' (or worse something beginning with k). I've seen parents and children described in the most awful way just because their naming style differs from others and for the most part the names being attacked are ones in the current top 100. Names that will be unremarkable, commonplace and totally acceptable once our youngsters are young no more. As most people on this forum are likely to be hormonal parents to be, or sleep deprived and angst ridden, I wonder if an intervention is needed?

I'm going to start an appreciation society for the hyphenated. A support network for those with the initial K. A meeting place for the made up, awkwardly spelt and abbreviated. You're all welcome - membership is free and there is booze on offer. Founder members include Tony and Cherie (nickname and slightly common sounding), Condoleeza Rice (made up spelling), Madonna (sounds like a sex worker) and Willie Walsh (never going to get a decent job with a name like that). Kay Burley, Kirsty Young and Kate Middleton have shown interest in joining. Yes, Kate has the far more acceptable 'Catherine' to fall back on but it's obvious she has experienced first hand the negative affect on your life a 'K' name can cause. Our hyphenated patrons have asked to remain anonymous as they know the persecution that might follow if the unfortunate dash in their name becomes public.

So I'll start...

My name is CheeseandBunion and I have a child with a nickname on their birth certificate... And I like it.

Well I have a last name which is a girl's chavy K name, AND it ends in "ee".

I also call dd by her first and middle name, as if they're hyphenated.

I have given DS a ridiculously long name - long first name, long middle 2 names - he's never going to have enough space to fill it all in on official forms. Poor boy. Plus he has an Irish surname (FIL was Irish) which is a bit of a bugger to spell and then a bugger to pronounce as well when people see it written down. He's going to love us when he grows up!

Going to have to be equally mean to number 2 or it won't be fair

Brilliant thread, OP!! I have a similar experience to you in that, on other Mumsnet forums, I have received kind, thoughtful, intelligent and useful counsel. Been a MN member for 6 months.

I have been on the names forum for about 6 weeks and got into 2 arguments with people being very vicious indeed. Now, I know I've retorted with harsh words but the important thing to know is that they started it

So, my name is MammaTonic; my real name is boring and from the dreaded Top 10 from the year I was born. Both my DDs have hyphenated names Recalling negative comments I've read about their names here, they're chavs and will probably grow up to be strippers or pole dancers. Or both. Certainly not doctors or judges.

Neither name starts with the letter K, which is something at least.

But no matter. I know that these negative comments are nonsense! I salute you and your wonderful thread :)

My dd3 has a stripper name, according to this forum. And her elder sisters have names that were quite uncommon when they were born, but have now "been done to death yawn ".

I may have balanced it out ok though as my ds has a name that is often commented upon favourably here.

My name is Celtic and I have named DS a try hard name that only ever comes up on ' names you like but would never use' threads. Noone can pronounce it or spell it.

I rather like the names topic though, names are extremely personal and I can only think of one or two RL friends who have chosen names I would consider myself. I like seeing how others view names even if it's harsh.

Even though Baby Names can be harsh, I appreciate most of what is said in all its unguarded glory!

I say 'most things' because I think one can speak the truth without being rude and/or offensive. I think that's what I don't like. Aside from this issue, this is one of my fave forums on MN.

DD is named after a farmyard animal according to someone on here.

Is that better or worse than a stripper?

(I was entirely unoffended I should add. I don't mind, I love DD's name!)

Yay, we've passed the 200 mark! Surely we'll be receiving an official endorsement from Mumsnet Towers soon - there must be a few naming renegades up there in the echelons of power.

There are some fantastic names on this thread and some cracking comments. Hopefully if anyone ever feels down about their name choice after seeing some of the harsh hate style threads they will stumble upon this and realise that there's a whole army of us about to cheer them up. The world is a far better, more diverse, colourful, hyphenated and abbreviated place with us and all our fabulously named children in it.

My son's name is universally reviled on MN. It is:
A dog's name
A surname
A place name
Not the name of a top lawyer
"Just no"

He also has two middle names, one is a made up name, to commemorate where we lived when he was born (although not a place name), which is a very unglamourous part of south London!

I am very pleased that it's panned on MN, as it confirms that a lot of people on baby names are stuffy and pretentious!

I have a lovely DS with a K name that I spelt differently that people have problems with.

They don't hate it they just never spell it right and never care to ask .

I don't care its beautiful just like DS

I have a K name myself and my DD has a beautiful old english name, cited on here as being hideous and frumpy. But i think its wonderful, easy to spell, uncommon and ageless.

i knew her first name before i knew she was a she, her middle name links her back to her own grandmother and great grandmother, as strong and courageous a set of women anyone could hope to have on her side.

My name is Nelly and my DD has a 5-syllable, try hard first name, two middle names, and is known by a nickname. People look at us askance and mutter - "that's a mouthful..." But I love it.

DS has one of the most common names of his generation. So does DD, except we've spelled it with an 'ie' rather than a 'y' ending. both get the 'yawn, dull dull dull' response on here. I love both names though, and think they are common because they are good names :)

my name is often suggested on here, but I bloody hate it, think it's an absurd moniker, and IRL get comments about margarine regularly.

Kveta Your name was on our list but everyone I mentioned it to said "No you can't name her after margarine"

My name begins with K and it is on every 'chavvy' baby name thread and everyone on MN hates it. But I love my name.

Hear hear.

My children's names are boring and old fashioned (and not in a good way, apparently).

My son's name (John) was on a thread on here: 'why would ANYONE call their child John??'

Well I called him John after my grandfather who was a wonderful man, kind and clever and loving and hardworking - and if my John is half the man my papa was, he'll be doing ok, boring name or not.

My name is Cherry and my real name was mentioned as a possible name for Alex Reid and Chantelle Houghtons baby (also a well known song)!

I really like my name, I don't care if it sounds chavvy :o

I had almost exactly the same experience as you, SP, although it was my daughter's name we were talking about. Instantly there was a response saying that it was pretentious and try-hard, but she also said sorry so that was ok .

I didn't say anything, just took the view that it made her look rather spiteful and childish so no response needed also I was too wussy !

Has anyone informed the kardashians about this k business?

Oh, and my name is so ridiculously popular for my age group that I was one of 5 in a class of 25 girls at school! But apparently it's not so common now and is regularly suggested on here. Shame I'm really not keen on it - I don't know anyone with the same name who is, either.

Just done a search on mn for my DD's name. Apparently it is:

awful
bleurgh
hard to pull off
hippyish
(and also very pretty....thanks to whoever said that!).

CherryBlossom I love the name Cherry! DH wasn't sure but if i have another DD it's definitely on the list