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Baby names

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

Original poster

Wildan

57 replies

Rose1Thornton · 14/12/2015 16:17

Okay so after lots and lot's and lot's of No's Wildan is the name we have settled on for DS, I don't care how many people think it's more of a dog's name (which seems to be everyone's answer to a name they don't like on here) I'm sticking with it unless it's universally hated.

I just want to know what you honestly think of it and what's the first think you'd think if you heard this in the playground/park/street

OP posts:
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cece · 14/12/2015 21:43

My first reaction is to say it Wild dan

I really don't like it. Sorry

Tirfarthoin · 14/12/2015 21:54

I read it as Wild an but I like it. In my mind it's like Wilder so a bit surnamy.

Teawaster · 14/12/2015 22:03

Why would you want to give a name to a child that they will always have to spell and explain to people? If I heard it in the playground I would think it likely that it was a foreign family name of one parent. If I found out it wasn't I would think it ridiculous

RiverTam · 14/12/2015 22:48

Teawaster what, you think no-one should give their child a non-English name? I take it you don't live in a very diverse area? We have lots of different nationalities at DD's school and I've leant many new names. But you think that her friend who has Turkish parents shouldn't have given him a Turkish name? Right Hmm.

Out2pasture · 14/12/2015 23:01

river, maybe they would consider an anglo version to the cultural name. so in the case of wildan, go with the phonetic version wheeldun or wheldon (mind you as I typed out wheldon I giggled thinking of a turkey being well done).

Laquila · 14/12/2015 23:09

I like it! I'd wonder whether to pronounce it Wild-an or Will-dan, and once you'd confirmed that, I would merrily go on my way without thinking you were cruel/dull lunatics. It would then simply become a child's name, rather than offending me to my very core evey time I heard it basically because it wasn't Jack or Oliver.

RiverTam · 14/12/2015 23:10

Why should they? FWIW DD's chum's name is perfectly easy to pronounce and I now know how to spell it, though that was pretty straightforward too.

The OP said that Wildan is pronounced pretty much how it's spelt, Wil-dan. Do you think no-one should choose the name Helena, for eg, there's two ways to pronounce that? Or Tania? Siobhan should be changed to Shivaun? I mean, really?

lunar1 · 14/12/2015 23:24

It sounds like when they mash up celebrity couple names to make one name.

Original poster
Rose1Thornton · 15/12/2015 01:16

I like the name and so does DH so we're sticking with it, don't really care if people don't like it and if DS doesn't like it he can always shorten it to a nn, just wanted to make sure that it wasn't too strange and the fact that a few of you even like it is a big win.

@RiverTam agreed with everything you said, thanks for saying it, so I wouldn't have to.

OP posts:
Sprink · 15/12/2015 01:27

I've never heard it before. I think it's a lovely name. It has a nice rhythm to it, the vowels and consonants flow nicely, and it's similar enough to the well-established "William" to make it slot right in to jolly old Blighty.

Some of the objections seem based purely on discomfort with the new or unusual.

TeenageWildlife · 15/12/2015 01:32

Widerness

TeenageWildlife · 15/12/2015 01:32

*Wilderness

Sprink · 15/12/2015 01:40

As for the idea that people can't use a "foreign" name without a connection to it, I'd suggest there would be no Daniels (Hebrew) or Sophies (Greek) in this country but we might be overrun with plenty of Aarts (male) and Synnes (female).

Thank feck for naming outside the box.

Sprink · 15/12/2015 01:44

Finally, that there internet thingy led me to this wonderful article.

Enjoy. Wink

mathanxiety · 15/12/2015 05:41

I don't know why but if spelled Wilden it looks better or more of a name, imo.

Like Walden (Pond)...

SoWhite · 15/12/2015 07:07

It's just clicked what this name reminds me of. Walden from Two and a Half Men.

twohalfmen.wikia.com/wiki/Walden_Schmidt

MrsCaecilius · 15/12/2015 10:14

If you or your DH have Arabic connections then fair enough. If not, then I'm not a fan as it does sound made up.

And you won't get to choose his nn, his peers will so if Willy is a real no no, you might have to rethink.

buddy79 · 15/12/2015 10:25

Honestly? When I saw your thread title I thought it was awful - but after a few minutes getting used to it and with the short "i" pronunciation (which I would have assumed was a long "i" from the spelling) I kind of like it now. Terrible idea to ask on here though really!!

FunkyPeacock · 15/12/2015 10:31

I would assume it was pronounced 'wild-un' which is slightly unfortunate, especially if your DS is a bit wayward you can imagine the comments. ..."he's a bit of a wild un"

if you live darn sarf this might be less of an issue I suppose

BendydickCuminsnatch · 15/12/2015 10:45

My first thought was is it Will-den, Wild-an, Will-dun etc... I'm glad it's Will-den. I like it. Thank god you didn't go for Archie/Harry/Oscar etc.

People on MN really make a big deal of having to correct people's pronunciation/spelling of names and it's really nothing to get in a froth over. Most non-idiotic people will need to be reminded only once or a couple of times, if that. Besides, I have a very ordinary name but am forever having to spell my last name out as it starts with an H and people can't hear Hs over the phone. Either that or people hear it as Hudson, which it isn't. Also my first name is ordinary but people still spell it wrong. So what!

Teawaster · 15/12/2015 11:31

Whether I live in a diverse area or not is irrelevant. There are many children at my kids schools who are from diverse backgrounds and have unusual lovely names, in fact both my Ds's best friends have unusual names which originate from their parents countries. I just think it strange to give a name to a child which will cause people to question it and ask for the reasons why he was called it for the rest of his days. However each to their own. The OP wanted people's thoughts and that what she got

Original poster
Rose1Thornton · 15/12/2015 13:12

@Teawater you're right, I did want people's thoughts and I'm thankful that everyone took the time to let me know what they think, it helps to now all the possible reactions will get in the future.

@buddy79 I've learnt my lesson, but if foreign / strange / dull / made up is the worst thing people can say about the name on this site then I'm pretty happy.

And to everyone saying DS will forever have to correct people and spell out his name, that's really not that big of a deal.

OP posts:
Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 15/12/2015 15:10

With the greatest respect if you don't care what we think, and are determined to use the name, regardless of advice then why ask.
If seen it written down I'd automatically think it was prounced Wild-dan. Not Wild-dun which could also sound like Well-done.

RiverTam · 15/12/2015 16:48

That's not what the OP has said. She wanted to know if anyone found the name out-and-out horrible. Which, in the main, they haven't.

StoptheRavelry · 15/12/2015 16:50

Oh I can add many more adjectives if you like OP! I was just being polite...Grin