Boy's name Tiger

[MissesandMuddles]

I'm 28 weeks pregnant with ds3. Ds1 and ds2 both have unusual names. I like Atticus for ds3 but husband isn't so keen. The only name we both like and can agree on so far is Tiger but I'm worried it's a little too out there.

What are people's thoughts?

Actually I like it for a girl but not for a boy.

I think the name would bring too many preconceived ideas of Grrr masculinity to people before they met him, as a teenager, then if he was a particularly gentle soul, or very slim, or an introvert, his name would turn those characteristics into a joke.

I love Atticus!! Tiger is quite cool actually. I didn't know it was a name though.

It's not arbitrary, like all language there are rules to naming people. John is a name, Table is not. Mary is a name, Flobdobble is not.

Quite right! Personal names weren't originally just plucked from the air at random, the process involved actual meaning and tradition etc etc

I prefer it for a girl too, Crisply. No surprise then that it is more popular for girls, though I'd wonder, if I heard one, if it was short for Tigerlily.

Atticus is a bit 'of the moment' in some circles, in my experience. TKAMB being the favourite book of so many...

I think the rule of thumb is to imagine the name on a job application form for a serious, grown-up job. The employers have had too many applications and have to sift through them before even starting to shortlist.

Way-out names may easily be rejected.

Tiger is an animal's name. It could become a nickname of a small boy. It is not the name of an adult who wants to be taken seriously.

If you must use it, give him a sensible middle name so that he can use that instead.

I like Tiger. I have, or perhaps had, an unusual name and it is nice not to feel ubiquitous. Tiger is rather magnificent.

WRT Eldrick, it's a phonetic spelling of eldritch, meaning spooky or weird

I knew a Tiger once. It was short for Kit!

Im sorry if that offended you but when choosing my kids names I wanted names that wouldn't make them stand out. I had a close friend who, when faced with the list of kids names in her future class could pick out tge troublemakers from it. I know that has urban myth written all over it but nine times out of ten she was right.
Why saddle your kid with that kind of handicap.
In the real world you should be able to be called Chief Justice Fruitloop Hunnybun but don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.

I have five children, there names are: Charity Jo
Caspar Bob
Jeffrey James
Lacey Tina
Tiger-Rose Matilda

My children ALL stand out. They all (apart from baby Tiger-Rose) dance at a competitive level and are remembered by those that have seen them. This is due to a combination of factors, not least (especially in the cases of Charity and Caspar) because they have unusual names. Charity is known by her first name only, she is the only one and when a list goes up often her surname is omitted because it isn't needed.

Confidence is built in a variety of ways and having an unusual name can be character defining. People who haven't met my children perhaps think we are 'common' or something. Nothing further from the truth. My children all have grace, class and manners and whilst a few people possibly prejudge them on their names they quickly reassess when they meet them.

Very nice name

But the children at these competitions, the super-talented will stand out and their name remembered for that whether they're an Elizabeth or a Proserpina. Their name is the smallest of factors. The most talented dancer I know is an Amy, and she is always remembered.

I would hope not to prejudge or disregard somebody, in reality, based on their name. I have at times wondered what the parents were thinking for some of the more ridiculous names, though I am a fan of the unusual But nor do I think somebody boring, far from it (see the judging going both ways!) for having a top 10 name for their child.

My son is often known by his first name alone, both at school and several activities because he is the only one and his last name is long and complicated.

His name is Patrick.

He has a friend in the same position called John.

My children don't have 'unusual' (for want of a better word) first names, but we have an unusual surname. Their names don't define their character - that's down to far more important things. Thankfully.

I think some of it is people not understanding statistics. Even if you call your child the number 1 name, it still means that only one in 50 babies of the same gender have that name. If you look at Evie, which everyone says is far too popular to use, only 1 in around 130 girls were named Evie last year.

So you don't have to go far down the list to get to quite unusual in terms of numbers. You might have to go a bit further down to get to " look at me I'm such a free spirit" unusual - but if your concern really is only having one in a class, rather than making a statement about yourself as a parent.............

No. Not a name.

Oh dear. Why would you do that to your child?

I'm normally a laissez faire anything goes your bubz your rulez poster on baby names. Also my children are called (real, traditional) names that are outside the top 500. However...

Tiger is a great name but it's a nickname. Call your DS something unusual (Tadgh is a great suggestion) and then try it as a NN.

DH wanted to call DS2 Spike and I felt that was the same - good NN but not on the birth certificate. So far DS2 is not referred to as Spike - although he's one so it could happen.

It could be that Tiger won't suit him as a nickname and at least you won't be stuck with it.