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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is it just me?

26 replies

Buntysoven · 09/05/2018 23:24

I actually lol when I read comments like "Your child will hate you" or "You must hate your child to consider that name". Surely posters who use such inflammatory statements don't really mean them...do they?

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TroubledLichen · 09/05/2018 23:30

Well I have a hyphenated name. Whilst I certainly don’t hate my parents, I do wonder wtaf they were thinking (apparently my Dad thought it sounded nice, blame the 80s) and I’ve changed it to remove the hyphen! So hate is way too strong a word but I would definitely have preferred that hadn’t put the bloody hyphen in there and saved me some hassle. I think what posters mean and articulate badly is that your child will not thank you for giving them a particular name.

manicinsomniac · 09/05/2018 23:34

I agree. There's no way of predicting whether your child will like their own name or not. And, if they really don't, they can always change it.

I know people with highly unusual or 'out there' names who love their names and/or love being the only one people know. And others who hate the exact same thing. I know people with top 10 names who hate being one of five in any room and others who really like the normality and anonymity of those names.

dinosaurkisses · 09/05/2018 23:34

I hate my name- I’m a twin and my sister has a classic name picked by our dad. Mum chose mine, and I ended up with an 80s-tastic, ugly name which has dated horrendously.

Since I was about 7 I’ve asked my mum why she gave me such a crap name, and I definitely wish she’d made a less fashionable choice.

PinkAvocado · 09/05/2018 23:37

I dislike my name. It’s very of its time so I chose names for my DC that weren’t.

I don’t hate my parents for giving me the name at all but I would have liked them to have chosen something more classic or more “out there” just not something that has dated badly.

PinkAvocado · 09/05/2018 23:40

Wondering if Dinosaur kisses and I have the same name...

dinosaurkisses · 09/05/2018 23:48

If people are constantly assuming it’s spelt ending “-ley” instead of “-leigh” then yes, it’s very likely!!!

PinkAvocado · 10/05/2018 00:04

Ah not the same then-the 80’s were responsible for some interesting choices

I do love that my parents loved it enough to give it to me and that it gives a glimpse into their ways of thinking in their youth.

RedDwarves · 10/05/2018 02:12

I mean... Not really, because some names are so dire, so trendy/likely to date that surely the person must grow up to feel some resentment that their parents valued their likes over their child's potential happiness.

I know someone who named their child Jezebel a couple of years ago. I don't think I'm being dramatic to say that her child will likely face some issues with a name like that and may well end up resenting her parents for being so ignorant/wilfully obtuse.

OrlandaFuriosa · 10/05/2018 02:22

My sister used to dislike her names whereas I love both of mine. Luck of the draw.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 10/05/2018 03:23

It’s an exaggeration but if you were teased your whole childhood for a stupid name, then had to repeat it and spell it your whole life, explain it repeatedly, listen to stupid jokes about it, well yes, you probably would be annoyed with your parents. It’s incredibly selfish to give your child an “original” name in the hopes they will own it and love it. There’s every chance they will absolutely hate it.

vampirethriller · 10/05/2018 07:03

I was named after a dog who had a very "dog" name. My siblings were named after family members. I did hate my parents for it for a long time- not now but I still really dislike my name. I was bullied by people I didn't even know at school because everyone knew my ridiculous name because it was "funny". Teachers joined in.
My baby is getting a normal name!

RosieCotton · 10/05/2018 09:53

I hate my name. My sister's got beautiful classic names. And my name is awful. Ive spent 30 years spelling it out to people, correcting people, answering to the wrong name and all in all generally just hating my name. Not only that my mother hyphenated my name too which I detest. I would never inflict my name on a child and I wish my parents had just called me "child" as it would of been less trouble.

sonnyboo · 10/05/2018 11:47

It’s incredibly selfish to give your child an “original” name in the hopes they will own it and love it.

It could seem more selfish to give your child a trendy popular name that becomes dated, according to the replies on here.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 10/05/2018 12:01

It could seem more selfish to give your child a trendy popular name that becomes dated, according to the replies on here.

True. Perhaps just a normal name that’s neither trendy nor yoonique?

Aozora13 · 10/05/2018 14:04

My mum’s name is a family name (actually a nickname but is her given name) and has always hated it, but loved her middle name. So she gave me that name - it’s v traditional/classical and was very popular for ages. Oh and it’s BORING and I’ve never liked it. So I gave my DD a name that I love but which just appeared on an “out there” girls name thread - I wonder how she’ll feel about it growing up!

Glumglowworm · 10/05/2018 19:45

Ive never liked my name. It’s unusual but not yoo-neeq, it’s almost always spelled correctly despite there being a couple of accepted spellings, it’s not really dated, I see it recommended on here occasionally. Objectively there’s nothing wrong with it. I just don’t like it and never have. I don’t hate it enough to change it, but if I could click my fingers and have it be something different with no hassle and no having to explain myself to everyone I know then I would.

My point is, no matter what name you pick, your child might end up hating it.

However, I would still encourage people to try and pick something that their child will be okay with living with.

PandaCat · 10/05/2018 21:07

I'm in my twenties and have a name that was at its most popular in the 70s according to the internet. I always hated it, I was the only one at my school and I've never met anyone my age with the name. I'm still unsure why I was given it but I don't hate them for it, it's a name they liked at the time I guess.

I don't hate it as much now I'm older but at school I just wished I had a more common name.

sonnyboo · 10/05/2018 22:52

Wow, I'm surprised how many people hate their names!

MikeUniformMike · 11/05/2018 08:06

Your name is your 'brand'. A child might relish the yooniqueness or comedy quality or be embarrassed by it. If you are embarassed by your name, it won't do you any good in life.
Balonz would probably grow up to be awesome.

sonnyboo · 11/05/2018 12:43

Your name is your 'brand'

I don't see it that way. In my experience your personality and your style is your 'brand'. A name just identifies you.

MikeUniformMike · 11/05/2018 13:15

Yes of course, you are completely right. Silly me.

fussychica · 12/05/2018 16:24

I love my name but am aware you would probably be to date me from hearing it but I don't mind that.

Personally, I think it's a bit selfish to give a child a totally wacky name just because it's on trend or really different. Names which sound stupid against the surname are also horrid.

DS has a totally classic/biblical name, it goes well with his surname and it will sound fine right through his life. He is very happy with it.

howtenuous · 12/05/2018 18:25

I had a shit name, Typical late 70's/early 80's. I changed it by deedpoll. I think a lot of Amelias and Lily-Mays will be pissed off with their parents in the future. Some names date badly.

sonnyboo · 12/05/2018 18:44

I agree. Trendy names that are super fashionable tend to sound dated as they fall out of fashion.

howtenuous · 12/05/2018 19:13

I just looked both my former first and middle names and both were in the top 30 in 1980. As were my brother and sisters. My parents clearly had no imagination, they probably thought they were lovely names that were popular for a reason at the time... No, they were just shit.

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