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Baby names

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

Original poster

"meh" names?

51 replies

Hypergear · 14/02/2020 22:46

Having a discussion about baby names and how some names are just "meh", as in they provoke no reaction from you, you neither like nor dislike whatsoever. "Nothing names" as my DP calls them.

An example for me is Sophie.

Out of curiosity, what's a meh/nothing name to you?? Smile

OP posts:
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Janedoe82 · 15/02/2020 00:36

Jack, Amelia, Olivia. Ava.

lowlandLucky · 15/02/2020 00:54

Luke, Benjamin, Christopher, Harry Jack. Amy, Ava, Grace,Scarlett. Portia, Chardonnay

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 15/02/2020 05:24

I don't like overused middle names like Rose, Grace, Marie, Esme, Simone, Camille, Renee, Anne, Michelle, Lynn

I call these filler middle names.

But I find some of them stunning when used as first names! So I think that shows how versatile name taste is and that it makes a difference what order too if that makes sense.

Omashu · 15/02/2020 07:25

Anything in the top 50-100 really and especially ‘classics’ like Charlotte and Thomas.j And names that fitted that category once upon a time like Stacey, Tracey, Sharon etc...

Grufallosfriends · 15/02/2020 07:48

Jack, Steve, Mike, Oliver, Tom, Andy, Archie, Harry, Ben etc

Sophie, Kate, Ellie, Emma, Jane, Evie, Ellie, etc

They're 'meh' names because they've become dull from overuse.

They're just not memorable any more.

Original poster
Hypergear · 15/02/2020 07:57

@Pemba
I wouldn't necessarily agree, they are plenty of names I've only heard a few times and to me they're still meh.

OP posts:
NeverGuessWho · 15/02/2020 08:10

To me, any name with 3 syllables can’t be ‘meh.’ I love the sound of three-syllable names.

For me the following are ‘meh:’

Jane
Sarah
Ava
Lilly
Amelia
Eva
Sophie

NeverGuessWho · 15/02/2020 08:10

Ellie
Elle

ooooohbetty · 15/02/2020 08:16

Those meh names are classic in my opinion. Children won't have a lifetime of having to spell them out. Meh names to me are surnames as Christian names, anything and words that people have made up to be a name.

Poetryinaction · 15/02/2020 09:53

I also see lots of these as classics.

Bitchbadgerplease · 15/02/2020 11:35

A more modern one for me is Ellie. I remember thinking it was a meh name in the mid 90s first time I heard it. Like someone couldn't think of a name so used that one. I know lots of young women 18-24 ish called Ellie from the village I live in, and a few older (late thirties) so much so that I've sent Facebook messages to them meant for another ellie, twice that I can think of off top of my head. I think it is just the popularity but also the sound, in that case.

Grufallosfriends · 15/02/2020 11:36

Children won't have a lifetime of having to spell them out.

Why do people automatically assume that more memorable names 'have to be spelled out'?!Hmm

As if Clare/Clair, Lily/Lilly etc don't?!

beckywiththeshithair33 · 15/02/2020 11:43

James for me. It's just such a boring sounding name. Nothing to it. Just...meh.

My ds has a very common name. Always on the list of top boys names. But I think it's lovely and I wouldn't choose something else just because it's 'different'.

grandemac · 15/02/2020 11:48

I think it's just names that are very popular. They are nice names & you know lots of people with the same name so don't put a particular stereotype to name therefore you don't dislike them however they are common which maybe you don't like so meh.
I think girls names suffer from it more as girls names/trends change more in popularity. So for me it's Louise, Emma, Rachel, Sarah, Emily, Joanne, Claire etc. For my kids it will be Ava, Amelie, Chloe, etc.

TheFluffiestCat · 15/02/2020 11:50

Louise. It's mine and DD's middle name for family reasons, so I like it in a sentimental sense but the sound of it is so bland.

ClinkyMonkey · 15/02/2020 11:52

Nothing names? Lovely. Thank goodness we have someone to point those out for us.

AlexaAmbidextra · 15/02/2020 12:09

I have to say I disagree with pp - if someone named their baby Pauline these days I'm pretty sure the reaction would be anything but "meh".

Why? What’s special about Pauline?

SalmonOfKnowledge · 15/02/2020 12:17

Yes, some of these names listed as ''meh'' are far from meh.

Kim would be quite a daring choice now.
Also ''Ruth'' very classic and in theory sits with Hannah, Martha, but it is stronger and less frilly. I like it. I would think ooooh if I heard of a baby Ruth. I also like Miriam for the same reasons.

Margaret was listed as Meh too upthread and I haven't met a Margaret younger than I am, ever, I don't think. So it's really time it came back!

Pauline is just so unusual. It might not be to your particular taste but its not fashionable and that alone saves it from ''meh'' in my opinion.

I find some of the meh names pretty. Like eg Lily. Just wouldn't have given it as a name.

Grufallosfriends · 15/02/2020 16:04

I agree - Pauline is very memorable. It's a refreshing change from all the Ellies, Evies, Sophies etc! Definitely not 'meh'.

Poorolddaddypig · 15/02/2020 17:08

Ella, Mia, Evie, Emily, Sophie, Laura, Hannah, Rebecca, Sarah, William

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 15/02/2020 17:10

Hyphenated first names. All of them, it's SO overdone now...

PrincessHoneysuckle · 15/02/2020 17:12

I'm a Sarah and I agree it's a meh name Grin

Lucy
Mia
Lily
Amy
Grace

Are all meh names to me

SlippersAndThePaper · 15/02/2020 17:55

James
Sophie

OnABeachSomewhere · 15/02/2020 18:03

Matilda
Martha
Seren
Tabitha
Isla

Rupert
Rory
Arthur
Stanley
Benjamin

Nowayorhighway · 15/02/2020 18:30

I think Sophie is nice.

Ava/Evie/Eva/Lily/Grace/Molly/Millie/Tyler/Jackson/Jayden/Harry/Harrison/Leighton/Taylor are all meh.

Biggest meh for me is Mae and Grace as middle names, usually hyphenated.