OK - here's what I think.....

[seeker]

When you're thinking of a name for a baby you should consider the following points.

1. Do you LOVE the name - and do you think you will still love it in 50 years time?

1. Do you think - even for a second - "Am I brave enough to use this name?" It's not you that's going to need bravery - it's your child. And he or she may not be a brave person.

1. Are people - teachers, employers, strangers, juries..going to make negative judgements about your child based solely on the name or its spelling? I know they shouldn't, but they will.

1. Will MOST people hearing the name assume that it's the opposite gender?

1. Is it a name that will go with a baby, a toddler, a young adult,a middle aged and an elderly person? You REALLY don't want to be a 50 year old Sunshine.

1. Is it a name that might make your child unhappy at any stage of their life? It's bad enough being a dumpy, spotty teenager with glasses - it' s even worse if you're called Apollo or Bellissima. And you don't want to be a Scottish boy called Jesse - for example. Or a girl called Candida.

7 Is it a name that has to be spelled or explained EVERY SINGLE TIME it's used? It's enough of a pain in the neck to have to correct Bryan to Brian - but at least there's 50:50 chance of it being right. Brion hasn't got a hope. Even if you do think it looks better.

If you answer yes to number 1, and no to all the others, then go ahead. If not, then please please think again.

fair points!

1. and honestly, don't ask mumsnet's opinion.

Or 9 - If you do ask mumsnet's opinion, bear in mind that the percentage of for and against opinions is probably going to be roughly the same as the opinions you will meet in RL - in which case, point 2 applies!

SOOOO disappointing when you expect to cause a "discussion" and it turns out to be a damp squib!

10. Think about the acronyms

If your surname is Taylor then Charles Uriah Nigel is a poor choice for eg

very good points.

11. Bear in mind nicknames and rhyming of the name.

12. Are there any very, very famous people with the same name? If so, do you like them?

don't ask Mumsnet for opninions and then get uppity when they don't share your enthusiasm.

and I'd like to add that if a MN'er takes the piss out of a name that one of your Dc's has...... IT' S NOT PERSONAL!

13. Say it along with your surname. Does it sound ridiculous? Then don't use it!

And if it's a name more usually assciated with a French poodle - Fifi Trixiebelle springs to mind - step away.

Hmmm...sorry, have to disagree with the spelling and the "kids will taunt him/her" reasons. They always seem to be used as deterrents here on MN and I just feel they're not very valid. Children are always going to make fun of one another and will find any way they can to do it. If a child is a spotty, dumpy teenager and are named something completely reasonable, they'll still get called Spotty, etc.

Also, I've had to spell my name for my entire life and people still get it wrong (because they don't listen to my phonetic cues - ie "F as in Freddy"!) It doesn't make me feel any differently towards my name. Maybe it's just me...

Seeker, but if we all followed your advice every single child would be called Janet or John completely dull.

People have trouble spelling dd's name, she's called Niamh and I don't worry about that (although I have had wobbles about it in the past) so I don't totaly agree on the spelling issue if it's the correct spelling for a name.
I do think it's ridiculous to take a well known name and re-invent a spelling for it though.

Apparently there are so many umusual-ish names around now that being teased for your name is not so much of an issue as it was in our day when anyone not called Clare or Rachel was fair game. This is according to my parents and sister who all teach in the state sector.

CountessDracula has a very good point - my dad has the initials M.A.D. .

Bumping as a public service!

And to say I agree that I don't think that generally children are teased because of their names nowadays - unless (and I wish this wasn't true - but it is and we're dealing real not ideal world here) if it's a boy with a name that sounds feminine. But they will be judged. That's wrong too, but it will happen. Make an interview panel take a truth drug and ask them to describe unseen candidates called Chardonnay and Harriet. I rest my case.

Make sure the name goes with the surname e.g, I know a Kylie Currie and Marnie McKnight (marmite)