Would you choose a baby name you know most people dislike?

[BisB]

We're considering giving our daughter a name that we already know is going to be almost universally disliked. It's a very uncommon name (don't think there have been any registered in the UK). We both think it's pretty, and it has (religious) meaning for us. Our other children have more common names that are generally liked by the majority of people. We have saved this name prior to this baby because I haven't been brave enough to use it. DH really wants to just go for it. He couldn't care less about what other people think, but I am more concerned that they're going to be cruel and judgemental and think that we were trying too hard to be "unique" (which isn't our intention). I would like to avoid saying the name on this thread because I am looking for opinions on the situation rather than opinions on the name itself. What would you do?

I gave my son a name everyone told me not and I love it and everyone else does now. So many people use unusual names now no one will care when she is older. Just do it!

I do resent my parents a bit for my name. It’s unfair and childish of me but they set me up for a lifetime of annoying questions, spelling my name and standing out and sometimes I just really want to blend in. That said, it is unusual and timeless; I’m not another Clare or Helen or Rachel I suppose!

Yes, I think Nazreen (or even Nazarene - which is a person from the place, rather than just a place itself) would be much nicer.

I think it’s fine. No worse than Jordan or Bethany.

Sounds like a boy's name

Honestly OP yes you may like it but that’s not the most important consideration despite what others are saying. You need to think about the 5 year old version of your daughter starting school, the teen, the young woman in her twenties starting out in the world. Is this name going to hinder or help her? I think it would be different if all your children had similarly unusual religious names but they don’t so she will stick out like a sore thumb not only amongst her peers but also her family.

I really like Nazarene/Nazreen and Nazaré.

Would you like the name for yourself OP? Truly? All the way through primary and secondary into adulthood? Because you do seem embarrassed by it.

If you can honestly say you would have loved it through the tricky times at school, then sure. And if you live somewhere it would be accepted. But if you can’t, why give that to your baby?

I’m all for unusual names usually, btw.

It wouldn’t be my preference but a lot of kids have “unusual” names these days so I really don’t think anyone will bat an eyelid.

It’s quite a nice sounding name. Although it would be slightly odd if your other DC have very conventional names.

Nazareth is the name of the main character in Suzette Haden Elgin's book 'Native Tongue' which is a Handmaid's Tale-style feminist dystopian novel. That's what I thought of first but it's probably obscure enough that few others will.

I wouldn't choose it myself but I don't think it's terrible! I've heard far worse names. I'd say go for it if you like it.

That's a gorgeous name.

I was going to guess that. I used to work with a woman called Nazareth. She was lovely. If you like the name go for it.

Agree - I love the name Esther. I can’t believe people in PP’s life disliked it so much!!

I know an absolutely flipping wonderful little Esther. She gets called Estie.

Or Ashby de la Zouch!

I do know a child called Lucifer! He’s known as Lukey and I have no idea how on earth his parents were able to call him that

Slough could be a nature name.

I meant to add, I wouldn’t have any negative thoughts should I see the name Nazareth on a class list.

i know several men named Nazarius (Ugandan) which could be an option? They’re known as Naz.

And Nazi being a nick name with the hard Tz sound wouldn’t even enter my head. If you shorten the name to Naz and add a ee on the end, it would be Nazzy with a soft Z sound. Just teach/always use that spelling.

That being said, I do agree with a previous poster that future online presence should be a consideration. I’ve read in quite a few places that the best thing you can do for your kids privacy these days is to give them a common, generic name.

I wouldn't - it feels wrong to make a choice where they have to deal with the consequences. Parents are supposed to make their children's lives easier.

You know Nazareth is not actually a name? May as well call them Bethlehem.

On the most recent post I saw on MN about the name Myra it was pointed out by myself and others that it was the 377th most popular girls name in England and Wales in 2024. 114 of them were named, so there was plenty of people who either were not deterred by the association or simply weren't aware of it. I felt the uproar on that thread was ridiculous.

@BisB I would say go with it if you both like it, although seeing it written down I would assume it belonged to a male. That may not bother you though.
There were 17 babies named Naz in 2024 in England and Wales. Also 13 called Nazifa and 10 called Nazli.

Jesus of Nazareth

Is Myra religious?

It could be an anglicisation of Meira (Welsh)