I'm singling out this post as it pretty much sums up the whole problem with naming your child.
My daughter has a name that has been mentioned a lot here but we like it, she suits it, it has meaning for us and people know how to pronounce and spell it. What's the problem?
I'd much prefer that to some bullshit made up word, and I don't really like very traditional names either. They're just not my taste.
There is no problem with picking a popular name if you like it. But is it ok make defence of your choice whilst slagging off someone else's for being not conforming to your taste. Why is it acceptable to criticise one type of name but not another?
That's what I find odd about this thread; the number of people saying it will upset so many people, yet the daily unusual name threads are seen as fair game. Like they don't have the potential to upset.
As far as this board goes, I think its fair to point out issues with names; if they have certain unpleasant associations or meanings that the OP might not be aware of, but to simply slag it off because its not to your taste is somewhat different.
I find it depressing that so many people feel like they have to conform in some way with their social circles, rather than use a name they simply love or has meaning to them because they are worried about others reactions. Including not wanting to be thought of as dull for picking a top ten name.
The funny thing is, that for all the threads on MN that suggest names like Persephone the number of parents that actually end up using them are very small (in this case there were 39 Persephones born last year - from the comments on MN, you would think there were hundreds).
As it goes we choose to give DS a very unusual name. People's reactions to it have been an education (particularly with strangers). It seems very marmite, but no one has been directly rude to our faces about it (yet - I'm sure it will happen). Its older generations which seem to have struggled most with it, despite it being a name everyone will be familiar with and is easy to spell.
I must admit to finding it hard making the final decision and have wobbled even after the fact as a result of this weird social expectation of conformity. DS's name is right for a million and one reasons though.
I think my feeling is that if you do choose a top 10 name, then you have to accept the criticism that its dull or boring because frankly it is. And in the same way if you pick something very unusual then you are always going to get comments for that too. Because thats how the world works... and you are never going to please everyone else, and tbh, I'm glad you don't have to.