has anyone ever told you their dearest newborns name and you've had to choke back a giggle?

[peacelily]

prob offend some people this but can't please everyone.

For me it was when uber competitive Mum at baby massage introduced me to Hubert.

Apols to any mummies of Huberts out there

I know an Otter too.

There are some really bog standard names on here being tittered at. Some Mumsnetters are so unbelievably straight, I honestly can't imagine being so easily shocked.

Why do so many people appear to place passage of the child through school as top priority consideration when naming the child. There's life beyond school you know.

I, for one, have a very common, ordinary name and was determined not to saddle my kids similarly.

Spider... I really agree (even though I do think it's a parent's responsbility to think about school years. I am saddled with a terribly avaerage, common and ordinary name and(compared with my family) it's horrid.

I've often seen people do this when I tell them my sons name, does'nt bother me in the slightest.

I've had people react that way to my name most of my life.
Did hear of a Lefty the other day, apparently very popular in Nashville...

I did find it a bit difficult to say anything positive when introduced to "Jezebel" Pretty enough name, but mum obviously wan't aware of the, um, negative connotations!

i was walking my dd1 into her pre-school the other day when another mum and her ds walked past us. my dd1 said 'that is derek mummy' in all seriousness. it was just as they were passing. it really was all i could do not to laugh out loud. much apologies to anyone with a ds with that name. is fine for my generation or above but for a 3 year old. just was so surprising i think....

Leyland when I asked how she had picked his name she said
"From dog the bounty hunter"

There is also a little boy at school called

Berkley

and his sister is

Lakisha

oh and my sister swears she works with someone called Kylie who has a twin called Jason they are in their late twenties so she could be telling the truth.

Only time I've struggled is when I was introduced to 'Cushion's mummy'....

Reading some of these names makes me sympathise with those countries which only allow you to choose names from an official list . Denmark, for instance, is quite draconian, despite its liberal image - but at least you don't end up being called Princess Lolita Jezebel.

I once worked with a girl whose neices were called Kylie and Danni, so I can well believe the Kylie and Jason

I also know a white Ebony

pmsl @ 3 yr old derek! its a bad name fullstop.let alone for a small boy

I used to teach a lovely teenage Basil but it does seem a strange name to saddle a little boy with.

I know of a little girl called Dale which I've always thought wasn't the nicest name in the book, although not enough to raise eyebrows or snigger at.

Also a Brett - which sounds straight from Adrian Mole and whilst being polite at the time, I did have a quiet snigger later.

I also know a 3 yr old Derek.

There is also a Randall in Ds's pre school - reminds me of the jewelers!!

There is a little boy called Jamiroquai in my DS's nursery group. He is called 'Jammy' for short..

Between 1984 and 2005 there were (admittedly not all as first names, but all as forenames)

787 Spikes
64 Jezebels
8157 Rogers
8876 Barbaras
1084 Ravens
29 Crows
12 Otters
505 Huberts
989 Mimis
75 Buffys
598 Cherishes
394 Sunshines

My particular favourite stat is the 13 children (all born 1997-8) who rejoice in the name Hale-Bopp. Anyone for passing comets???

subtlemouse, do you have a link to those stats? would like to check some of my own faves for upcoming DC2..

Urquhart - or possibly Erkel, I can't remember was trying to snigger

Bounty has a popularity checker...

In the last week I have met a Jonquil (sp?), a Tarquin and an Inigo.......and yep, I had to hold back the snigger....BUT ONLY because of Mumsnet ......BM (Before Munsnet) I would have just thought "what unusual names these officers call their kids" now I think Bunting Cupcake, Yummie Mummies and Johnny Boden

........see what you have done to me

I used to teach a Song. She'll be in her early thirties now I reckon. I thought it was quite nice though.

A few weeks ago I met a local mum I have seen at baby clinic in the street. She asked me what DS was called and I said "Name, but known as Very Common Abbreviation...." to which she replied in a very haughty tone "Oh you've shortened it already!". I asked what her DS was called and she said "Most Common Name Around Here of Which I know of at least 6 born in Aug/Sept this year in this and neighbouring villages" and I really had to bit my tongue not to say "Not another one!".

Also Savannah. I know it is an established name, and I know some people love it, but I can't stand it. I even know a baby one, and she is sweet. Tundra and Permafrost don't seem to have the same appeal.

I know of a Jolie as a girls first name. thats strangely unusual

Love the name Spike.

My dad is called Douglas and he hates it. He is 63, you think he would have got used to it by now.