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?

I like Grover, nice choice. And, to your point, once a name is attached to your son it becomes him. So if you and your partner love it then have it. Our eldest is Archer, long bemoaned on mumsnet - a family name / he was born in the States - it always made sense to us. No one can imagine his little blonde head as anything else now. Do it!

Thanks for all the positive responses!

If anyone's still around, I need some input for middle names to go with Grover. Surname begins with 'R' and is v. long 3 syllable. So unfortunately any names beginning with 'R' are out which is a shame as I love a few 'R' names (or he'd be a little GRR!).

So far:

*Edward
*Sylvan
*Aubrey
*Ingram
*Linden
*Julian
*Felix

I'd quite like to see if any Scandinavian names ''go'' too if anyone has any suggestions (we have Scandi family).

Grover Linden sounds nice :-)

This is weird. Yesterday afternoon I met a Grover, he was three.

I did think 'who would name a child after a daft blue puppet...' but oddly, it did really suit him.

I say go for it. Sesame st is huge in America but a bit meh over here.

Ooh how fab! Great to know there are other little Grover's out there! Was this in the UK?

I met a Dougal once, had the same initial thought (he was actually named after The Magic Roundabout, his siblings chose his name), but it really suits him! It's just the initial 5 seconds of computing, then it's just their name I reckon.

Yep, in England. Southeast if it makes any difference.

Grover Ingram sounds the best I think, but I love the name Aubrey so I'd probably go with that. What's your favourite OP?

Op if it helps dd has a very traditional,common and some would even said boring name,no imagination etc. However it suit her perfectly. I just couldn't imagine her with a different name. The funny thing is no one has the same name as her so she's actually the only one around here. There was another little girl named the same as dd's nickname though

If you both like it and it's not ridiculously common use it.

I have (as of this week) two DC with unfashionable names. Both cause the odd pause when we tell people, but also a lot of enthusiasm. And DS is very proud of his name (DD is mostly concerned with milk, so as yet has no opinion).
No regrets here. Do it. We came round to thinking that nobody actually knows someone with an awful name- you only think it's awful when it's someone you don't know, or who doesn't use it (like the middle name that raised a laugh up thread).
Also- you can't control names. Next year a major star may appear with the name, or some terrible dictator. Just use the name you like!