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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Genuinely interested to know

41 replies

GingerLDN · 12/02/2015 11:53

I'm not going to mention the names I'm talking about as I'm not trying to offend honestly! But...

Some of the names I'm coming across are awful. If it's only you that likes a name, everyone else hates it, but you're determined to have it anyway - do you care what your child is going to think about their name/if they'll get picked on etc. Especially the names that can't be shortened. I find it really strange.

I've got a name I can't shorten, never liked it, always have to spell it. So maybe it colours my view, but I don't see why you would put that on your child!

Granny names are cute for little girls but they'll not be little for long. Unusual names (really out there I mean) are great if they turn into a celebrity but as a lawyer/doctor, not so much! Changing the spelling so a name is different is all very well but having to spell your name every time you say it isn't fun. Nor is a name nobody can pronounce.

Some of these name will no doubt attract name-calling in the playground etc and not every child has the confidence to not take it to heart.

Does this affect your choice, or do you just think, tough?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Thurlow · 12/02/2015 12:02

Probably not the best person to reply as my own personal taste is not for the kind of the names you are talking about. But yes, definitely, the idea of people's reactions to a name and the potential for being bullied or sniggered at when the baby becomes an adult did cross my mind.

OH would really like a particular name for any future DSs and while it's a pretty normal name, to me it's one that would only really work if the child grew up to be quite cool. That's probably a horrible worry

Jackieharris · 12/02/2015 12:09

I think people just test out wacky names on this board. Irl I assume most chicken out and go for more popular choices with maybe the wacky name ending up in the middle.

MazzaP78 · 12/02/2015 12:11

I think children can find all sorts of things to tease each other about and a name may or may not be one of them so I wouldn't really worry on the bullying front.

I have a very boring name and while it's great to never have to spell it out to people I would've probably liked something a bit more exciting!

BlueStarsAtNight · 12/02/2015 12:19

I agree to a certain extent, though I do think that there is an awful lot more variety in names these days than when we were young, so when our kids are older what seems like weird names to us will be much more usual!

squoosh · 12/02/2015 12:21

If everyone tells you they hate your name choice it's important to stop and ask yourself why everyone hates it so much. Do they hate it because it's a name with overwhelmingly negative associations eg. Adolf, a name that's also a slur eg. Jezebel, or do they just dislike it because it isn't to their taste. Cressida's family and friends might turn their nose up at the name Ruby whereas Ruby's family might think 'wtf' when you tell them you're calling your child Cressida.

re. Granny names, they're granny names to our ears but to a whole new generation they won't be granny names at all they'll just be their friends' names.

Original poster

GingerLDN · 12/02/2015 12:35

IRL I have never been anything less than polite about someone's name choice, I don't expect everyone to have the same tastes, but there's just quite a few I've noticed on here that I've thought wow that's not going to be fun for the child in a few years! Jackie I wondered that, because for all the wacky names on here, I've never really encountered any that strange around me. Mazza I know what you mean about kids being bullied for anything, but I think parents shouldn't give their children something to be picked on over deliberately, you know you wouldn't choose for them to have a wonky nose or big ears or anything, so why a ridiculous name. Thurlow you're right some kids can carry it off, some can't. I'm sure we've probably all seen Friends, some cool wee girl could probably carry off the name Gertrude, but remember the girl dancing on Ross' feet at Monica's wedding, Gert! That was an unfortunate name choice... It's just an example.

OP posts:

lunar1 · 12/02/2015 13:14

I worked in a nursing home when I was 16, my boys class lists look like my old list of residents. I love all these names. The ones I don't understand are some of the made up ones. I think before naming a child you should have to go to the park and repeatedly shout the name you are thinking of. If you feel silly then it's not a child's name!

squoosh · 12/02/2015 13:16

If you feel silly it's because you're in a park by yourself shouting out the name of an imaginary child!

sonniebonnie · 12/02/2015 13:22

The problem with anonymous boards like this is that we don't know a poster's tastes.

If someone hates a name I love then that is not necessarily negative, is it? That person might love a name that I dislike! Thankfully we all have different tastes - that makes life so much more interesting imo.

It isn't unusual names that get teased in my experience. These names simply become their owners iyswim.

Teaseworthy names might be Adolf, Willy, Minnie or Dick!

PeasinPod1 · 12/02/2015 13:34

I’m completely opposite to you OP. When I hear a run of the mill typical (in my opinion- boring) name when friends announce babies name- go for something “safe” you hear 100's of times every day but when they openly said in the run up to choosing name they like unusual/quirky but lovely names abut then were too scared to use them, my heart literally drops.
I think “oh, boring and unimaginative”…by calling him/her this. you are already setting them to be pretty average in life and just “fit in” (rather than strive to lead/be different) and to accomplish great things with a plain, very over used name takes much extra work.

Going for something quirky (but not overly crazy) they already have individuality that allows their sets own character to shine , IMO.

AuntieStella · 12/02/2015 13:40

In RL I would never be anything other than complimentary about a baby's name (convincingly, I hope, even if it's one I strongly dislike).

But I do assume that posters ask anonymously on MN becuase they are seeking opinions unfiltered by conversational etiquette.

I try not to be downright rude, but would say when I don't like one here, or think it has difficult associations. I hope it never comes across as too strident or nasty, and am well aware that it's awfully easy for something to be read in a totally different tone from how it was written (IYSWIM)

Original poster

GingerLDN · 12/02/2015 13:56

AuntieStella (I love the name Stella) it is hard trying to get across "please don't ever call your child that" and not sound like a bitch at the same time! Peas I never said I don't like quirky - I don't like the wtf, is that even a name ones?!

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sonniebonnie · 12/02/2015 14:06

Some posters seem to have no problem calling proposed names "atrocious" or "awful" - names that are perfectly normal, classic names. They may just have different tastes or find them 'pretentious' (whatever that means?!).

Should the op therefore change chosen baby names, just because random posters don't share her taste/upbringing/cultural background? Wouldn't it be nice to be more encouraging of more name diversity?

Original poster

GingerLDN · 12/02/2015 14:28

I'm all for diversity, I like when there is something personal in a name. I like personal taste, taking family names, having the name reflect their culture.

As I said in my original post I don't like names that will cause problems for the child growing up/when they are older. I see lots of names on here that aren't to my taste but it doesn't bother me. I'm specifically referring to names which for one reason or another the person with the name will have to repeatedly spell/have it mispronounced/be teased/not be taken seriously or whatever else.

Here's a link, can you honestly look at these and think yep, these are fine, all great names - www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/the-weirdest-baby-names-of-2012-read-them-and-weep/story-fnet08xa-1226536009955

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squoosh · 12/02/2015 14:31

Yes we all know that some people choose stupid names for their children. I think we're all in agreement with that.

Not sure what you're point is. Are you specifically referring to MN or child naming in general?

squoosh · 12/02/2015 14:31

your

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 12/02/2015 14:37

Im an each to their own type BUT some of the names on that list are hilarious! Mowgli???

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 12/02/2015 14:39

And some are actually quite cool. really

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 12/02/2015 14:48

I know a Xenon - well, it is pronounced Xenon but the spelling is more youneek.

Original poster

GingerLDN · 12/02/2015 15:00

Does this affect your choice, or do you just think, tough?

This is what I'm asking. I've recently read a few people saying that they gave their DCs names that everyone but them hated, spelt in a way which everyone will get wrong etc but they just seem to say tough, I like it. You always get some differing opinions but if it's almost universally hated, what makes you think your child is going to want it?

And I suppose it is MN related because aside from 1 name I know of like this irl, I have never heard of anyone else with these crazy names. Do people go through with it or decide differently when the baby is here as someone said above?

The trend for really unusual names is fairly recent, it'll be interesting when these kids are grown and having kids of their own to see if they'll have loved their names and found some even more out there ones or if they'll hate their names & want something far more normal for their kids.

Yes we all know that some people choose stupid names for their children. I think we're all in agreement with that.

This is my point. Why are the stupid names becoming more common?

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sonniebonnie · 12/02/2015 15:04

You always get some differing opinions but if it's almost universally hated, what makes you think your child is going to want it?

Because lots of people only hate the name in isolation or because of previous associations.

Once they meet a lovely child/person with this name, they tend to change their opinion on it because they now associate him/her with it! (Assuming, of course, that it is a normal name and not poopoohead!).

squoosh · 12/02/2015 15:08

I don't know anyone in real life who's given their child a genuinely 'wacky' name. 99% of people stick with proper names, be that popular and proper or pretty rare and proper.

Original poster

GingerLDN · 12/02/2015 15:16

Because lots of people only hate the name in isolation or because of previous associations

I don't think I've written this very well. It's mostly the poopoohead (well really weird not necessarily toilet names) that I'm talking about

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MazzaP78 · 12/02/2015 15:17

When I was at school (I'm mid 30s) there were lots of Sarahs, Kates and Clares and I guess now they're having children and they don't want them to be one of several children with the same name in a class? So perhaps that's part of why unusual names are coming to the fore?

sonniebonnie · 12/02/2015 15:55

But what names, other than Poopoohead or Willie or Adolf (Hitler), are truly awful?

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