What would you do if...

[andpropersteel]

Both you and DP had settled on a name that you both love, but it was quite an uncommon name at present...

Not a 'yoonique' name.
Not a 'made up' name.

Just a name that, because it hasn't been in the top 500 since the 1950s, isn't on everyone's immediate radar?

We both really like it, and can't see anything wrong with it. It carries well from tot to adult. But there seems to be some people (on the internet, not daft/brave enough to share potential baby names in real life) who vehemently hate it looking at you mumsnet , and others (usually those who've actually met someone with this name) who love it.

Our thinking is that people are way more judgey of names when they're just arbitrary, and should we use it, it'll just become our little boy's name once people get used to it and that'll be that = new positive association. Names that are really popular now, like Henry or Gabriel for example, would have been considered ''cruel'' 10 years ago, and are totally nice names now.

We have a couple of ''back up'' names but DP in particular is really saddened to have to use those and it feels a bit weird to do so since using his ''in-utero'' name.

WWYD?

That list is very 50/50

Clayton Clyde Claude Clarence are all awful -

Ah, is it Sylvester?

Sylvester is a kind of nature name.

My guesses are Walter, Ernest (ernie) or Otto

Or Clarence. Claude. Clyde. Clint

I'm gonna guess Elmer, Eugene or Perry

I really hope it's Grover. Grover is fabulous.

PrivatePike's gettin' angry!

Agree with what BertrandRussell said earlier. If it's old fashioned but has no negative or 'humorous' connotations I'd use it but if it's likely to cause sniggering in the playground I'd not. Eg. I'd use say Stanley or Edith but probably not Walter/Wally or Fanny.

If you're not sure could you use one of your 'back-up' names as a middle name to give them the option of using this more common name if they don't like the one you chose?

For reference, my parents gave me a name where the only people I have ever met with the same name are at least 30 years older than me. I also have an even old fashioned middle name (and not one that has come back in to fashion). I never had any teasing/name calling as a child about my first name (although other children at school did find it amusing when they found out my middle name from the register- but didn't make a big deal of it). However, I did often wish that I had a slightly 'cooler' name so would have liked it if I had a middle name that I could have used if I wanted to. I suspect if I'd had a common name I would have wished for something more unusual though! Nowadays I just find it amusing when people speak to me on the phone or by e-mail and assume that I am about 80.

tell us, tell us!

I like this

My DH and his workmate call each other Walt and Walter. No idea why as it is quite as far away from their actual names as you can get! It is funny when the phone rings and he asks if Walts there. Same as when he yells it across public spaces if they're out too!

I'm actually with you Private

I like Sylvester...though he will always be a black and white cat to me

Felix or Rudolph

Sylvester is actually really cute too! Though what could a nn. be?

I might wait for a few more opinions before I dare reveal..

Impatiently waiting the name reveal.

Heyyyyyy my dog is called Algernon!

Is it Rumpelstiltskin?