Why is it so important for our chosen names to be 'original'?

[MrsMerryHenry]

I have only ever met one person who truly had an original name; that's because her parents made it up.

99% of us share a name with lots of other people around the world, and we all know this, don't we? So it baffles me when people get possessive over their chosen names or reject a great name because it's 'popular'. No name is unique! Why do we try to fool ourselves?!

And moreover "original" names, as you say, are of the kre8iv ilk, and therefore to be avoided at all costs because they're just bloody awful.
People who bang on about others "pinching" their names, when the name is something like Joshua or Emily are just bonkers.

The 'new age baby name book' gives you tips on how to make names up. (DS2's name was from that book )

I think people generally want a name that is a bit 'different' not totally original.

like that doctor someone posted about recently - Je T'aime SomethingSomethingWhichI'veForgottenButWasUtterlyRidiculous!

Kre8iv indeed.

I must add that I have chosen a name for a girl (should we ever have one) and refuse to divulge until said child is born...but that's only because I don't want people going: 'You're calling her what??' Once you've named the child Cecilopodus, everyone will pretend it's a lovely name .

Hi, DB! What tips do they give, then?

Well, personally i think it's lovely when children are named for their meanings, especially if the meanings are personal to the parents. ie. places where they met, reminders of home, rivers/coasts relevant to them, that sort of thing.

I'm not a fan of Bevron, or Barbavid etc.

Thames?

Well, let's just say i'm not of the names police brigade although take offence at names like ella, milly, tilly etc.

there are some lovely parts of the thames you know.

Two reasons:

a) the very popular names quite often become stigmatised (e.g. Sharon, Tracy, Kevin). I'm afraid the Chloe's, Graces, Jacks and Joshuas of today will probably not be too happy with their names.

b) if you have an extremely common surname you risk being one of a thousand "John Smith"s or whatever. I would hate to have a very commonplace first AND surname. Plus it can potentially lead to awkward situations. DH (very common first and surname) has been detained by the police once, purely because he shared the same name and birthday as some guy who was wanted for a crime.

true madamant, my new age names were a little restricted by our already 'new age' surname.

he does sound somewhat like a fortune teller, but hey ho. we like it.

After spending years and years correcting people about my name, and the horrors of various spellings of it, I wanted to give my DS a "normal" name.

He has three first names, all with family connections, and all completely unremarkable Old Testament names. They go very well with our very traditional English/Yorkshire surname.

I never felt the need to get kr8tive. If you don;t want to, then don't! Despite DS's "boring" name, I have never met another one his age, and really wouldn't care if I did.

Having said that, if he had been a girl I wanted to call him Isis. It is the "Oxford" name for the Thames, and I thought it was rather appropriate as DH comes from near where the Thames rises in Gloucestershire, and I come from London. We are joined by the Thames.

Although we met in Newcastle. I am not sure I would have felt the same about Tyne!

Tyne Daly??

Maybe she's a Geordie!

according to the scottish records there were no babies named Thames or Tyne in 2007. but there was one thierry.

In my class at school in the 70's there were 4 Catherines, 4 Michaels, 2 Philips and I remember feeling quite relieved being the only one with my name. I don't like made-up names but I can understand wanting your child to have an original name if you were a Michael K as opposed to Michael D Michael M or Michael F

!

DS is a 2006 baby

Would be nice to at least have a chance of Thierry being a family name...if you know what I mean

Lifeinchaos - I do understand that, but it's more the way we create an illusion that the textbook names we choose are somehow unique, and that if anyone else chooses the same name they're at fault! Bizarre, huh?

DS2 is called S o l.
It's a bit new age but not all that unusual.
I don't get upset when people use it, in fact i presume them to be fabulous and wonderful people . Not at fault in any way.

nevergoogle - oooh that's what my DS2 due in Sept will be called for short [fabulous and wonderful]

I was always names + first intital of surname eg laura M.

It never bothered me in the slightest, can't imagine why it would bother someone.

Nope my children are named after beloved relatives and I'm proud that they bear their names and history to develop further

OP, why wouldn't someone chose a name that is less common and more 'original' than a very common name?

Wouldn't you rather your child be identified uniquely rather than be Jack A, Jack B or Jack C. In my opinion, thats the whole point of 'naming' someone!

At the same time, no parent wants to choose a name that implies teasing for their child. But unless you name your child Je'taime or Poohead, I don't think whether a name was made up recently or 1000s of years ago matters.

My name was very popular in the 70s. Lots in my class at school and at uni and I meet lots at babygroups I go to now. (yes the mums not the babies) It has never bothered me in the least.
My brother had a very unusual name in the 70s and now it has rocketed up the popularity charts.
Neither of us have been bothered.
I really don't think it matters if it is too popular or not. If you like the name then use it.

I know a little girl called Thierry

I was a bit taken aback at first but she is adorable and it suits her.

I wanted unusual names. Not outlandish but different - I always thought it was miserable that we had 4 Claires and 5 Emmas in the same class.

ah madamant you really are fabulous and wonderful

I'm sure there has been women called Uniqua on ricki lake/maury povich.
That's not good.

Unique (yoonique, uneek, etc etc) is ironically becoming a popular name in teh US, if you believe the very interesting chapter in Freakonomics on baby names