Worth doing the Starbucks test!

[SupetArt]

I know there used to be something about going to Starbucks and giving your prospective baby’s name so that it got called out when your drink was ready and you could gauge reaction.

I’ve tried it a few times at various places recently with a name that mumsnet posters were quite rude about but in the real world people spontaneously said oh wow you have a lovely name and young people seemed to be really positive about it Also despite what people on mumsnet said nobody had any issue with spelling it or pronouncing it. I think it’s worth doing.

in our case it’s meant we are now 100% happy with our choice of - Xanthe !

[CarryonCovid]

Just saying I love Xanthe classic yet cool. But I am 46 so don't listen to me.

[mnnewbie111]

@KaraVanPark

You’ve had people actually comment to you .. I need to move I’ve never had a stranger say what a lovely name!

When I take bookings for my restaurant if I hear a lovely name I comment that i think so. It's nice to be nice sometimes

[KaraVanPark]

You’ve had people actually comment to you .. I need to move I’ve never had a stranger say what a lovely name!

[Apricote]

I love Xanthe. I think other people having issues with pronunciation/spelling is a weird reason not to choose a name you like - I've had this all my life with my surname but I still love it and like that it's unusual. Who cares if other people say it wrong.

[BaaMoon]

I don't care who likes my DC's name. A lot of people hate it. Tough. It's easy to write on a cup though.

[ShadowPuppets]

@TheWayoftheLeaf

My name is one of the most common in the world. Starbucks still spell it wrong every single time

Yep - my DH has a ludicrously popular 3 letter name in the Tom/Chris/Dan/Rob bracket. You would be amazed at how often it gets mangled at Starbucks 😁

[wonderstuff]

I have started giving the people in starbucks a different name because mine is too difficult for them - it's really unusual in my part of the UK and in the US they had clearly never heard anything like it, they get it wrong and then I'm wondering is that mine, or has someone else ordered the same as me with a slightly similar name?

I know it's a completely different topic but it would be much easier if they ditched the names on cups and just gave you a number.

[pinklavenders]

I’ve tried it a few times at various places recently with a name that mumsnet posters were quite rude about but in the real world people spontaneously said oh wow you have a lovely name

This just shows how subjective tastes are. Just choose a name YOU love, rather than seek admiration from random strangers.

[Crunchymum]

@SupetArt

Sorry I should have made it clearer. Although it’s known as the Starbucks thing I didn’t go to Starbucks: I’ve been trying it out in other scenarios and across different age ranges.

Having said that, the racism/xenophobia on here is quite something.

i have a fairly common name myself that is constantly misheard as another common name so I don’t think it’s any guarentee.

You have a lot of time on your hands, sounds like you are halfway to a new identity


In the nicest possibly way, own your choice. Don't worry about the validation of others.

FWIW it's a lovely name.

[TheWayoftheLeaf]

My name is one of the most common in the world. Starbucks still spell it wrong every single time

[toastedcat]

I like the name Xanthe, and if it helps I'd also know how to spell it!

Having said that, someone above said something interesting about positive reactions being an exclamation -- I am definitely guilty of doing that. Like if someone I barely know is wearing an outrageous jumper, I'd probably say ooh I like your jumper. Even if it was horrific. It's like you can't NOT mention it...

[Talipesmum]

Nice idea! Incidentally I slightly knew a girl called Xanthe when I was little and I was always in awe of her name - it just seemed awesome. It has an X in it which is always great, and is cool Greek sounding. Excellent name!

[Luredbyapomegranate]

I like it, although I like Ianthe even better (bit more grown up)

[elfran]

OP I think it's great you'd had a good response, and I certainly don't think Xanthe is as out there as some pp seem to! It's lovely, congratulations.

I had a similar experience today, I was interviewing for a new job, the woman asked my baby's name. When I told her she literally squealed in delight! 😆

[SupetArt]

Sorry I should have made it clearer. Although it’s known as the Starbucks thing I didn’t go to Starbucks: I’ve been trying it out in other scenarios and across different age ranges.

Having said that, the racism/xenophobia on here is quite something.

i have a fairly common name myself that is constantly misheard as another common name so I don’t think it’s any guarentee.

[feellikeanalien]

Slightly off topic but DD insists on me giving random names if we go to Starbucks, usually to do with her favourite TV series at the time.

So far I've had Penny and Edie.😀

[pinklavenders]

I've been to plenty of Starbucks' and no one has ever commented on my name or anyone else's that been called aloud.

Me neither. And they certainly wouldn't say "wow, what a horrible name?!"

[anywhichwaytoo]

More than one person said "wow you have a lovely name" and several young people were equally as enthusiastic? Over how long of a time period have you tried this for?

I've been to plenty of Starbucks' and no one has ever commented on my name or anyone else's that been called aloud.

[hepaticanobilis]

@BertieBotts

Why would a coffee shop employee being from abroad mean that you shouldn't trust their opinion?

I'm from abroad and have one of those "international" names that is used in many countries. I assume PP mentioned this because names are pronounced very differently in different accents and even different countries - my name sounds very different depending on whether the person saying it is from Australia, Italy or Sweden.

[yourestandingonmyneck]

*so silly and affected. (Not "to")

[yourestandingonmyneck]

God I hate the whole "Starbucks name on cup" thing. Just seems to silly and affected to me. I go to just about any other coffee shop and they manage to make me a coffee without asking my name and writing it on a cup.

If this is the barometer you want to use for choosing your child's name, that's up to you. And I'm pleased you've got the result you wanted.

Just remember that when people comment on an unusual name in situations like that, it is often just an exclamation. They want to comment/ask, and so they feel they have to be complimentary. I wouldn't always take it as a genuine compliment.

[calmlakes]

I'm not sure I would base my name choice on the responses of coffee house employees.
These would frequently be be people too young to have the responsibility of naming a child.
But you think it is good name then go for it.

[veronicagoldberg]

Xanthe sounds like chewing gum.

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

It's a good idea, OP, testing your name out there in the wild. Glad it's given you confidence in your name choice.

On a related note, I love when people post their Starbucks name fails

www.buzzfeed.com/jonmichaelpoff/starbucks-name-fails