If you're thinking "I love the name, but I don't think I'm brave enough to use iit"

[BertrandRussell]

Please, I beg you, just remember, it's not you that will have to be brave.

But Bertrand, I have to spell my name constantly. It is regularly misheard, mispronounced, said as a completely different name (Georgina and Deborah are quite common ). People ask where I come from because of it. My name is Gabrielle. So fair enough, it's not a common name, but no one would call it unique, or think you were being "brave" to choose it.

Let's face it, unless you are called Sally or Sam or something, people mishearing, misspelling or mispronouncing is par for the course with many great names, and the world would be a pretty boring place if we had to exclude names on the basis we might have to explain them once in a while every day

Oh, and I love my name and have tried to give my children similarly unusual names too! (But not younique)

Akin to what pp said, my name is Harriet. Very normal name, always top 100, but I have to spell it out all the time.

Normal surnames - married and maiden - have to sell them out all the time too as one can be spelled 2 ways, and the other is always misheard.

No big deal.

DS has an 'unusual/brave' name, will no doubt have to spell it out. But I have a normal name and have to spell it out. Don't see the issue?

who has potential dates ask things like "no seriously, what's your name?"

I think the potential date is the one with the problem there, not the person with the unusual name. Who would ask that question? Only a dickhead.

I'd give exactly the opposite advice OP.

If you love the name but no-one gives any reaction upon hearing it/there are millions of them already/deep down you know its pretty dull- then don't land a dull, average name on a baby, please. They deserve to stand apart/be individual- but yes not have such a mad name its never been heard of before and people would snigger upon hearing it, agreed.

I'm done naming kids, but were I not, I'd be adding Pendragon to my lists!

People, be brave and bold! The world can cope with unusually-named humans, ever more so. My kids have unusual names and have only ever received compliments. And if the kid really doesn't like it, there is deed poll. I know two people who have changed their names - given names were Rachel and Helen. Both remamed themselves with far more adventurous names.

My name was one of the number one girls name in the early 80s and every other bugger at my all girls school was also called it....I wanted to name my children really crazy out there names due to this.

Not sure what happened (I half blame my DH) but my baby girl is called Charlotte...I hope she loves it!

I actually love my name, I think it's really nice, just not how common it is!

I think the important thing to consider is that when you name your child, it is THEIR name that THEY will have to live with - it's not about you.

My name is no big deal where I was born and grew up, but it leaves people tied in knots where I live now. There are no guarantees.

I will say imo there is a difference between unusual and ridiculous though. Fifi Trixiebelle is ridiculous. Christabel is unusual. Unusual is fine, and in my case usual can become unusual with the purchase of a one-way airline ticket.