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.

I have an unusual name so I won’t share it but I love it. I have never met another in real life and am always surprised when I see someone on TV/social media etc with my name 😂 It’s often pronounced or spelt wrong but I”m not bothered at all. I was born in 1980 and always felt sorry for my friends with popular names! My kids all have unusual names too, I didn’t really consider any in the top 100.

I’m Annette. I’ve always liked it. I don’t meet too many other Annette’s …

I hate my full name but I’ve been Kate for 50 years and really like it. It’s simple, easy to spell, has suited all the (very many!) phases of my life from hippy teen to some high level jobs to SAHP.

I am also Alison. Born in 75 in Ireland. It was a quite unusual name where I was. In primary & secondary school there wasn’t one other Alison in the school & I hated it. But now I love it. It’s still not popular where I am.
I hate being called Ali. My daughters name is extremely popular & she was one of many in school & she hated that so I suppose we’re never happy lol.

Sunny Valentina. I love it. I've spend 50 years spelling it, proving it, correcting people who don't hear it because they're expecting to hear a 'proper' name - Sally, Sonia, Jenny, Wendy (!) - and the frustration on school trips when my friends went home with keyrings with their names on; occasionally as a child I wished I had a normal name, but I wouldn't change it and I think it suits me.

Elizabeth known as Lizzie (hate Liz). I like the name Elizabeth, particularly that it's pretty timeless/ classic and hasn't dated, but being called it unless in a formal context makes me feel like a child being told off.

I also hated at school how teachers couldn't seem to pronounce it properly - it always sounded like Lizberf, two syllables instead of four!

I like Lizzie, I think it's warm and friendly sounding, although some rude people have said it's a "silly name". Charming.

I’m a Sarah born in the mid 70’s. I knew at least 6 others in my year.
I’m ok with my name, don’t love it, but don’t hate it either. I prefer the nickname Sally, but have tried and failed to get my family to call me that.
I was going to be Oliver if I was a boy so I do wish my Parents had gone for Olivia instead of Sarah.

I love my first name. I hate my second name, which is Sarah. Every other girl in my year was called Sarah or Jane. There was only one girl with my name in my year, and very few in the school.

I'm Alexandra...my dad originally wanted Francesca and my mum wanted Rebecca.
I hated my name when I was younger (I grew up with lots of Julies, Sarahs, Claires etc) but I like it now.
Of course, I'm Alex now, and my parents aren't with us anymore so I'm not even Alexandra when I'm naughty!

Clare - I used to hate it, but like it now. It’s not really a popular name for little girls now though.

I know 7 Tracey/Tracy/Trace at work. They are all really good at their job. They are all lovely although you do have to "earn the respect" of 2 of them before they'll show you that side. Which isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Marie. I used to really dislike it. Forever correcting people who call me Mary, Maria etc. Pronunciation is difficult for some people who pronounce it “Marry”.

Now, I don’t mind it. Whilst it’s not an unusual name, it’s not very common anymore. I like the fact I don’t know any other Marie’s!

I’m Juliette. Growing up I got tired of the Romeo jokes ( they get old really fast) and having to spell it/ it being misspelled as Juliet is the more common spelling in this country, but now I’ve grown up I quite like that it’s a little different. Occasionally people ask if I’m French, but not if they’ve ever heard my attempt to speak French!

I'm Sharon and I love my name. I'm now in my 60s (obviously from the name), and it has never held me back.

I am Samantha.

I prefer Samantha, most call me Sam, the odd one calls me Sammy.

I love it. I have never hankered after another name. My children have slightly unusual names (they are proper names though, and spelled correctly, just rarely heard).

I'm Helen , born late 50s.

I like it , hubby calls me Nelly !

Same. Most other people I know with my name are about ten years older than me. I love it as it has a beautiful meaning. It usually gets shortened, so then it can either be a girl or a boy's name.

Ouch! 🙀Harsh….😹!! There were 7 in my class at school….. every spelling there is! And, yes, they are pronounced differently, too!

I was always intrigued when Prince William used to correct the media as to how to refer to Catherine… as in absolutely not referring to her as Kate! I wonder is she really does just “ go by” Catherine……🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️😹!

Another Deborah here! I too love my name, not met many others. I like the long spelling too. I see myself as a Deborah, never Debbie or Debs. Everyone calls me by my full name, apart from 1 very good friend who always call me Debbie, but somehow it seems right and I don't mind that she does.

Really surprised that no one has said my name yet…I am convinced it is THE most common name in the world (or at least the UK) for a girl born in the late 80’s…any guesses?

My middle name is also the most common name on here 🤣

I don’t really like it, especially as my mum was between my name and Alice, which I really like

Kylie!!!!!

Jane for middle name?! 🤷‍♀️

Victoria - tend to be called Vicky - born early 60s - I like it because I can use either my posh or less posh version as needed and I think it suits me!

I’m a Sian. I like my name.

Claire. Of it’s time. We’re all within 5 years far of each other. But it is a lovely name. It’ll be back

I’m a Valerie, though I don’t hate the name, I’m a scouser and I hate the way it sounds 😬