A cautionary name tale...

[Clary]

I met some people today with small children (hope she isn't a MN-er) and wanted to share this cautionary tale.

Greeted oldest child - what's yr name? I'm Alex, he says. Very nice.

What's yr sister called?
Mum: Oh, this is Minka.

Me: Eh? Sorry what did you say her name was?

Mum: Minka.

Me: Oh that's nice, how unusual, errm what a pretty skirt!

It was Minka, I checked later, not Minca or Mincker or Mincer or Minger. {sorry}

But really, I just wanted to say that that is that child's destiny for the rest of her life, to repeat her name to everyone she tells it to.

So when you name your lovely baby, pick something less commonly used if you want (yes I did) but please pick something that people actually recognise as a name!

has actually been used as a name!!

Oh. I thought Minka sounded vaguely familar and rather nice.

I am sure I once knew a Minka... hmm didn't I? Buroogah! can't remember, almost sure that it is a name though.

yes but FAQ that's the daughter of a rock star.

As in Moon-Unit Zappa

IS it a name? Searched for it in vain on 2 baby name sites.

ermm Max and Minka?

pre daughter of a rock star (well at least I hope she is with children of those ages )

FAQ impressive research!

DH said it was eastern European actually. I was just so surprised at myself, not knowing waht to say (and I have heard some names in my time )

Oh dear I realise now that it could possibly have been a fictional name adopted.

I still rather like it though

Very at this thread!

@ "MinkasMum"

could be worse - have just seen sharleen spiteri at Proms in the Park and she called her daughter Misty Kyd. V. rock'n'roll but really. (although I quite like Misty by itself, throwback to childhood "comic"book of same name)

Minka doesn't sound that unusua to me....but then I know a few Inkas...which is not an uncommonly used name in Germany.....

"I just wanted to say that that is that child's destiny for the rest of her life, to repeat her name to everyone she tells it to. "

oh thank you so much for that

we will all call our children Jack and Jill from now on, and the world will be a better place

fark off

my dd has to repeat her name. She doesn't care at all.

So it may not be a "British" name but our society is multi-cultural and unusual (to us) names are on the increase. Bit rude to react as if a name is weird. By all means ask a person to repeat it if you don't understand what they said but to act all spluttery and shocked is a bit mean.

Do you honestly only speak to Johnny and Janes?

oh I hadn't realised it was you who was lost for words

so the cautionary tale is "don't let your children come near me because I will make no attempt to hide my inability to deal with anything different"

ds has a four-letter Welsh name that is common as a surname in England but STILL sometimes people get confused. Unless you call your child Kate, Rebecca, Peter or Sam, there is no guarantee that people will understand straight off.

Actually if you called children Peter or Jane these days they would really stand out - definitely be the only ones in their class.

I find it a shame when children are named one name but called another but aren't told.

I know it works for the Royals but we had one girl start school this week and all forms etc were filled in her offical name but when name called she didnt answer and then said "you missed me out"
Have had to rename all books, computer system etc. Child was very confused

Why did you need to say anything?

Depressing if no-one can ever use a name you might not have heard of because everyone feels the need to go 'ooh er, how odd' etc...or be visibly lost fo words.

And yes, it may well be E european or something, I have no idea - v parochial to go 'oooo er' at evry unfamiliar foreign name, too.

lol awww poor op

i kind of agree - names that sound made up are stupid but like unusual names or names from different cultures arent bad, they are just not english

Even if you consider a name 'stupid' because you consider it to be made up(and I guess that without an encyclopaedic knowledge of names worldwide you would be in a weak position to judge) it is rude to react - and insensitive tothe child - who had no control over the 'stupid' decision.

Minka - unusual yes, but perfectly simple, intelligible name I would have thought. So I don't get the difficulty, sorry.

If you don't like the name, then that is a different question altogether

MrsWeasley, that happened to me - didn't find out what my 'real' name is until I was seven and someone let it slip! I was mortally offended and refused to answer to my nick-name ever again.

Probably explains why I felt so strongly about keeping my own name when I got married and giving it to ds (although I would have let him have dh's as well, only dh wasn't bothered).