What makes a name officially ‘made up’

[ikeakia]

And why can’t you have a ‘made up’ name without Judgement?

Surely all names were made up at some point, even those with a very long history. Someone had to be the first one to use it and why are we so against that now? When does it become a ‘name’ in it’s own right?

Btw, I’m not talking about ‘yoo-nique’ spellings or presentations of established names.

I mean more ones you’ve conjured out of the air yourself or perhaps combination names from one or more other names to create something unheard of.

I’ve noticed there seems to be a real thing on here about declaring that names are or sound made up (even if they aren’t, just very uncommon) which often goes with the poster not liking the name. Just wondered other posters thoughts?

For what it’s worth, I have one child who goes by an unusual animal name, not bear/fox/wolf but a feminine one. And one with a combination name that is mostly easy to say/pronounce and sounds like a proper name anyway.

Thank you Happy

To be honest you know what you might get posting on Mumsnet, people can say exactly what they think even when you never asked their opinion. It wasn’t part of my question.

I’m really not fussed what anyone thinks of me and children when we don’t know them. The people commenting have no idea about who my children are and all they can see is their own view. It’s so simple to them, ‘I wouldn’t like it’, ‘I could never do that to a child.’, ‘No professional would want THAT name as they’d never be taken seriously!’

The point is that’s their opinion, it doesn’t mean they’re right. I personally think they’re talking bollocks, but no point repeating that to every poster who is negative. They have their opinion, I have mine.

I just wanted to start a discussion over why ‘made up’ is seen as bad rather than judge each name on it’s own merits and suitability.

To be fair Aderyn where in my OP or sebsequent posts do you see me asking anyone’s opinion? It came up in the course of discussing my actual question, and while I accept I can’t police responses, it’s a shame that intelligent individuals can’t tell the difference.

They both several years old now, why would I care what anyone thinks now the deed of naming them is more than done?

You asked why made up names can't be chosen without judgement and the answer I think, is that it is human nature to make snap judgements. We form opinions about people we meet within seconds, often before they've even opened their mouths. Once we get to know someone, we are likely to revise those opinions.
It might be wrong to do it, but it does happen.
If you give your child a made up name, people will make all sorts of assumptions about you and them (even though in real life they are very unlikely to say anything out loud) and it's a possibility that it will work against them.
It's not being nasty to tell you that.

No, it’s not. I never said it was.

But my experience is different. I’ve honestly never felt judged over mine or my children’s names. It doesn’t mean we haven’t been judged, just that none of us have cared enough to notice because it doesn’t affect whoever might be doing the judging what their names are.

I am glad that your experience has been different. I do genuinely hope I'm wrong.

Of course they haven't experienced negativity because butterfly is adorable for a child. It just won't be so adorable when the child turns 30.

Look at all the backlash sianesse is getting on social media at the moment. I imagine Dracub would get similar if he was in her position.

The point is it’s her choice, she has options. She is fully aware of those choices and has actively decided that she is Butterfly. There’s no reason she shouldn’t keep it when she’s older if she wants to. Then it’s up to her to deal with any judgement that comes her way.

It doesn’t matter if it’s not ‘adorable’, she’s rarely adorable now, she’s a force of nature, Hurricane would have suited her better.

Dracob will likely keep his name as it is his actual birth name and he is also confident with his name, which doesn’t even really stand out where we are.

You say that butterfly is the type of person who will want to use the name butterfly as an adult.

I would have LOVED the name butterfly as a kid under ten. As a teenager and now a 29 year old....... I'd be mortified 🤣🤣
You cant say she's the type of person who will want to use it. You don't know adult her. People change a hell of a lot between 8 and 12, let alone 18, 28, etc.
Good job her name isn't actually butterfly then isn't it.

I can say what I like, I’m her mum and I know her. My opinion is she’ll keep it.

I may be wrong, but it makes no difference, it’ll be her choice then as it is now.

Look at all the backlash sianesse is getting on social media at the moment.

Nobody is going to waste time insulting someone named Butterfly about her name when she is 30, and if she happens to be famous at that time, "there's no such thing as bad publicity".

People shouldn't project their own propensity for mortification. Some kids are going to be mortified regardless of their ordinariness. When you are a teen, being mortified by everything about yourself is par for the course.

Nobody is going to waste time insulting someone named Butterfly about her name when she is 30, and if she happens to be famous at that time, "there's no such thing as bad publicity".

Most people don't become famous though do they, Butterfly will probably end up working in accounts at the local builders merchants and wishing she were called Yvonne instead

Or she could use her actual birth name?

Or she could change it completely?

Or she could not care one bit because it’s her name, she likes it and no one gives a stuff?

Options.

I personally like classic names but I agree you shouldnt judge others because they have differing taste.Did you know the name Wendy was made up by the author of Peter pan?

Yes. Fwendy wendy.