What is your name and do you like it?

[Dyoulikeyourname]

Inspired by the thread asking if people don't like their names. As someone trying to choose a name for our upcoming baby, it would be so useful to know what type of names people tend to like throughout life and which they hate and why etc. I was surprised on the other thread that so many people disliked having a popular name!

I realise this is very outing if your name is very unusual so you may not want to say it. I've obviously name changed. I'll go first!

Nicola (nickname Nicky) I'm a mid 80s baby so Nicola was still popular amongst my peers but not overly so. It was even more popular in the 70s. There was a couple of others in my year at school. I didn't hate my name but I would have preferred a more girly name when I was younger. I didn't like that Nicola is a boys name in other parts of Europe.
The vast majority of Nicolas are my age or older which is slightly ageing, so I'm wary of that when choosing my own kids names. I MUCH prefer Nicky and I'm glad I have a nickname option.
Overall I'm fine with it and can't imagine changing it but I'd probably choose something different for myself.

Nope. Hate it. Always have. When I moved away to uni and didn't know anyone I considered informally changing it but didnt for various reasons. I really, really regret not changing it. It's too late now.

I’m Elizabeth - born 1992, go by Lizzie but some people call me Liz. Hate Elizabeth and Liz and I dislike Lizzie 🤣

Jacqueline Ann, named after Jackie Kennedy and I think Princess Anne although spelt differently.
i hate Jackie, Jacky and Jac 😔

I'd rather not say my name but I absolutely loathe it. I always have. It's not a hugely popular name though it's certainly recognisable and most people are familiar with it. It's also very close to another name (one letter difference) and a lot of people don't bother to learn my actual name and call me by the other one.

I wish I had changed my name when I was younger. Now it seems too late. Oh, well.

I'm an Olivia, born mid 80s when it was pretty unusual. I have always been Livy/Liv to family and friends but teachers often pronounced my name Oliver or Olivier at first glance. Then it exploded in popularity when I was late teens/early 20s and we are now everywhere!

I quite like it. I deliberately chose more unusual names for my kids as I really liked being the only Olivia in my school growing up

My name is Lilyella. After both my grandmother's

This! I’m an Amy and used to think it was plain but now I love it!!
I also have a really common surname so much so that my wedding venue sent an invoice last week and when I questioned it there was another bride the same week with the same name.
it’s fantastic for being incognito, no one can google me or dig anything up with such a common name!

I used to know a Caroline, her DM was a big Neil Diamond fan !

Another Charlotte here! I quite like it too.

I was born in 82 and was the first Charlotte to be born in the maternity hospital in over 25 years.

it was quite amusing when the name made a come back about ten years ago!

I really like Rachael or Rachel. A couple in my year at school and ones I've met have always been lovely. Not boring not annoying. Just Rachel / Rachael.

My name is Tracey, and the only reason I dislike my name is because some people tend to look down on it as being common. I mean things like the fat slags in Viz magazine, and the ‘Sharon and Tracey’ nonsense. The funny thing is, all through primary and secondary school I only ever knew one other Tracey, and the only time there have been several of us was at a management meeting. I feel anger on behalf of women called Karen. Another use of names to portray a ridiculous and misogynistic stereotype xx

I love my name. It's a name people also call their pet!

One of my friends is called Tracey Karen and she's one of the most beautiful accomplished people I know. The way people use 'Karen' as a derogatory term, is hate speech afaic.

Ha! Mines Kate on birth certificate but have always been called Katie. Kate on the birth certificate because, like you, they thought I’d prefer a more grown up version when I got older! Incidentally, I do actually prefer Kate!

Joy, and I hated it when I was a child as it was so short and because I had short hair and got called 'Joy the boy'. But as I grew up I grew to love my name. I've never met many other Joys and I love it's meaning, although I don't always live up to it. I also mistakenly get called Joyce sometimes and really hate that!

Another Nicola here! I like my name, especially because I’m named after my Dad, Nicholas.
I’m a Nic for short.

I think Olivia is a beautiful name. Would love to be called it 🙂

I have a name that is usually a nickname (eg. Ellie for Eleanor) and I constantly am asked if my name is the longer version. I've been accused of filling in forms wrong more times than I can count. It's a nightmare. So I would recommend anyone not to give their child the shortened version and let the child choose if they want to shorten it or not. I also share my name with pets.

@marshallzumarubble I love the name Olivia

I’m also Adele! Never met another in person but know a few in passing as such.
I’ve never liked it though - my siblings got what I think are much nicer names.

I’m Susan Elizabeth. My parents were choosing between those two names and Charlotte. I hate Susan.
There were two Susan Mysurname’s in my primary class, surname spelt differently; two blonde little girls who were mixed up constantly.

My name’s Polly. I absolutely love it - I’ve come across so few others that I almost feel aggrieved on the odd occasion I have encountered another Polly as I’m so used to being the only one. That said, I disliked it as a child because of the incessant cracker/pocket/dolly jokes. Nowadays I find them funny and I do have some hilarious nicknames with certain friends/family. I’m not a fan of how some people in other countries pronounce or spell it though. I’m Pooly in parts of Europe, Paulie or Paaally in the USA and occasionally people have called me Pauline or even Paul!

I'm Lauren 80s baby. I've always liked my name. Even though I think of it as quite a common name I've only met 2 others. I like it because it's not overly girly or frilly.

BTW I love the name Nicola, in part because Nicola Marlow is one of my favourite fictional characters. I’d love to have it as my name but it would sound ridiculous with my surname. 🙂

I’m Christine, born 1982. Always disliked it, I think it’s very old fashioned. Went by Chris for a while but now hate that as it’s what my ex husband called me so I just go by my full name and correct anyone who shortens it.