If you posted a baby name on here asking for opinions and...

[seeker]

you got nearly 200 responses and only 2 people liked it and all the others had negative associations with the name, would you change your mind about using it, or would you assume that the 198 people were wrong and the 2 were right?

[lunamoon2]

If you really like it then I think I would go for it.

However bear in mind that on initially meeting your child the vast majority of people will be in the " you are called what??!!!!" group.
x

[fizzpops]

The trouble is if you are one of the 2 who like do you choose a name instead that the 198 like but that you are not as keen on?

Choose a name you love - if you want to check for unfortunate nicknames/ initials/ associations then post about that.

People disagreeing with me always makes me dig my heels in more. And although I agree that people do judge on names I think that on a CV for example it could work in your favour. No-one will discount someone purely because of a name unless they are really shallow and they may acquire a different view of a name once they see it attached to an intelligent person. The person in question will at least be memorable!

[branflake81]

Surely you should be happy if not many people like it? that means your child will have a more unique name. isn't that what everyone seems to want on this board?

[hulabula]

And, seeker, the 2 posters are not right and the 198 are not wrong. There is no right or wrong name!

[hulabula]

As names are a matter of taste and views on names very much influenced by personal experiences (who they've happened to have met with that name), responses will always be so subjective and personal.

Agree with poster who said that names come to represent the people they are given to (and not the other way round).

So, no, I wouldn't change my mind if I loved a name!

[Leannabanana]

i agree with sobraniecocktail that there are a select few MN who always seems to post negatively about names regardless of what they are and if i ever see a post by them i tend to mentally ignore it straightaway....people that say that names make them 'snigger' and the like....so unnecessary IMO...but if you need to test your name out on MN before real life then i guess you have to be prepared for negativity - don't let it put you off your chosen name if you really love it - its all about context really, names in one place are totally fine yet in another sound odd....swings and roundabouts i guess...

[othersideofchannel]

As others have said earlier, names come to represent the people they are given to, not the other way round.

I rather use these threads to eliminate popular names that everyone loves - I have a very common name and hated it in school...

Also, without knowing a poster's taste/style, their comments don't mean that much imo. As others have said there are some very vocal posters that seem to hate names that I love (and love names that I hate ), so I would hope for them to dislike my choices.

[ilovesprouts]

i once posterd my kids names on here and i got a load of piss took out of me but i called em what i wanterd to and i could not of give a rats arse what ppl thought as long as you like em thats all that matters

[chandellina]

i did change my mind, even though I'd been thinking about it for years. Graham just wasn't meant to be this time around, but I'd still consider it if we had a DS2.

[lastboxoftampons]

It depends on why you posted in the first place. If you posted because you weren't sure about it yourself, then maybe an overwhelming No might sway your feelings. But if you were pretty sure about the name when you posted (which I probably wouldn't have done because, as somoene else said, Why post your choice for people to simply tear apart) then I'd stick with it.

[SobranieCocktail]

seeker - no, I wouldn't change it. In fact I've actively crossed off a few names for DC3 because they have met with a resounding seal of approval on the MN and I couldn't bear for my DC to have a really popular name. Also there are certain posters on here who are quite "vocal" about unusual names, so my first reaction to seeing their criticism is "yadda yadda yadda"...I know I will never find common ground with them, and frankly would be put off a name if they said they liked it!

[MrsWeasley]

I'd use it if I liked it. Infact no-one liked DS's name but I did so used it. Don't regret it at all.

One lady once laughed and asked if he was named after a purple dinosaur? (She was showing off to a crowd and didnt realise I could hear!) I replied "No Dear, the purple dinosaur is Barney, my DS was names after a little fluffy bear from a TV show I watched as a child but I expect you were already working". First time this lady has ever been speechless, first time I have ever been brave enough to say something out loud. She always says good morning to be now.

[bronze]

Cooch I think it depends how you asked it. The first thing I thought of was the softie from the beano I didnt have anythign else tolatch ont to but if you had introduced me to your baby Walter it wouldn't have been my first thought as I would have had your baby to concentrate on.

[seeker]

Absolutely it's a matter of taste. But if it's a matter of taste where the HUGE majority is on one side, wouldn't you think that the HUGE majority of people who are going to meet the child during his life are going to be of the majority opinion, and it might make life even a little bit more difficult for the child? I am all in favour of smoothing their lives as much as I can.

My ds adores sprouts, but I know that 99 children out of a 100 don't, so I don't serve them to his little friends when they come to tea

[diedandgonetodevon]

If I loved the name, I'd use it. But then I would never ask for a random bunch of strangers input on my name choices.

[ohdearwhatamess]

I would change my mind.

I posted a thread about the name we'd decided on for ds2, which is a bit unusual, and wanted to test out reactions to it on people who would say what they thought rather than just be polite. I was surpised at just how many people were really positive about it and that was a big factor in us deciding to use it.

Had everyone hated the name I wouldn't have used it, as I'd assume people in RL would think the same and snigger, even if they said all the right things in person.

[LaDiDaDi]

I'm not sure to be honest.

I don't remember posting here about names when I was pregnant with dd. If I get pregnant again then I might post for ideas rather than opinions but I do think that getting opinions on here can be valuable for people to find out how they feel if everyone dislike the chosen name, they might not even have considered it not being well-liked.

[pointydog]

If I did post for opinions and most were aginst, I'd probably change my mind, yes.

I'd never post, though.

[coochicoo]

Don't apologise Gorionine, I wanted honest opinions!

I've seen a few people say negative things about dd's name but it doesn't bother me because I love it regardless. I only ask for opinions if I'm unsure of a name myself.

[belgo]

I have never asked this board for opinions on my children's names, because I don't really care what people think. Just as well, as someone else recently asked for opinions on my ds's name, and roughly 98% didn't like it.

My own name was critised on here recently.

[PortAndLemon]

I wouldn't post a baby name on here asking for opinions . It does hack me off when someone else asks about one of my DCs names and posters are rude about it, though (and that's one reason to perhaps be tactful about saying a name is fugly for everyone who's asked for your opinion and so ought to be able to take the full force of your opinion there are probably a dozen or more who have already used the name and haven't asked you to tell them how hideous you think it is (this is why I now have Baby Names hidden I only came on this thread because it was linked to from the main page)).

[peanutbutterkid]

I can't imagine ever asking for opinions on a name, anyway.
If I did, then I assume I would go with the 198, what's the point of asking if you're going to ignore an overwhelming majority?

[VeryAnnieMary]

Laugs - I'd do that too (if I ever manage to conceive)- my family are too opinionated to share these things with. Presenting a done-deal is my favoured tactic. If I ever need it. (Is it to early to hit the gin?)

[Tortington]

i wouldn't ask if i didn't want to know tbh - and it really pissed me off when i post ' its a fugly name' and the reply i get is "how very dare you" wellyou shouldn't have pissin' asked in the first place!