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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

what is the most over-rated name in your opinion?

183 replies

WhatsAllThisThen · 17/05/2010 17:26

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OP posts:
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WhatsAllThisThen · 19/05/2010 10:38

Thank you swanandduck. This thread really did just came about because I was idly musing on how you hear the same names over and over. I have no sinister motives!

I can understand that some people may not appreciate being told others dislike the names they have chosen, but if that is the case I would expect them not to open the thread.

Can I also point out that for a name to be over-rated it is presumably popular - so one voice of dissent shouldn't be too heartbreaking!

OP posts:
Aitch · 19/05/2010 10:58

but that is your opinion, in my opinion anyone starting these threads knows that they might very well hurt people's feelings about one of the most personal decisions you can ever make, ie giving a name to your child, but they basically doesn't give a shit because it wouldn't hurt theirs. i think that's naff and nasty - you don't, that's marvellous.

however, i certainly don't think the 'hide' button was intended to create a free-for-all on hurtful posts, otherwise you can justify absolutely anything (as has been tried recently).

like i say, you don't think these threads should hurt people's feelings, so you think that's okay. i'm telling you that they do hurt people's feelings (as some on here have acknowledged), so imo they're not okay. it's a difference of opinion. i will never understand the impetus for organising a thread where people's children's names are slagged off or undermined, be it for being over-rated, chavvy, try-hard or whatever... i just don't get it. you think it's fun, though, so carry on having fun...

swanandduck · 19/05/2010 11:05

Oh for crying out loud. There's a thread at the moment asking people to rate a list of children's names. My daughter's name is consistently coming bottom. I'm not posting on there asking people to please stop contributing because it's hurting my feelings. I'm just shrugging it off. There are far more hurtful things going on in the world. A group of random strangers not particularly liking your child's name is a very minor thing. If some people are that sensitive then they should just avoid this area of mumsnet. It's called 'baby names' so guess what? Children's names will be discussed.

WhatsAllThisThen · 19/05/2010 11:05

Thank you for that Aitch, you've certainly made your point.

OP posts:
withorwithoutyou · 19/05/2010 11:09

Result! My DD's name has been mentioned, as has the name we're considering for DD2.

I don't consider it offensive, it's a bloody good thing considering this section is full of people swooning over names like Jessamy and Beatrix

zazen · 19/05/2010 11:10

I hear a lot of Ella Isabell/a Ava Jack and Oscar round my way, but they're all fine IMO.
It will identify a generation I think.

katiepotatie · 19/05/2010 11:11

My two Dc's are in here

sungirltan · 19/05/2010 11:13

isabella. i might start a permanent tally on fb listing how many people i know have named their child isabella. right now its the no.1 name choice if you have some kind of city of london job.

ConDemNation · 19/05/2010 11:13

There are loads of love,y lovely names on this thread. Just some people don't rate them. If my child's name was on here, I don't think I would care much - be surprised perhaps, because it's so unpopular as almost to be unmentionable! I know loads of people dislike it.

The thing is though, I used to hear a name such as Isabella and think gosh how beautiful - it was on my 'list' for a girl, from when I was about 7. It only fell off when I heard it given to several babies, while I was pregnant, and tbh I didn't suddenly hate it but it felt like having cake every day.

You just can have too much of a good thing. And if I'd used it too, it would have felt unfair on all the other good names

It doesn't stop being a good name just because it is popular. I hope nobody is too upset over their child's name being on this thread...I have been reallly surprised by some of the suggestions.

I also really like Gabriel. (for a BOY!)

5DollarShake · 19/05/2010 11:47

I don't really see the point at having a go at OP - plenty of other people have contributed to the thread, so they're just as much in the 'wrong'.

I think people have generally taken the thread in the spirit in which it's intended - not to slag off names (I don't see anyone actually doing that) - but sharing their opinion on names which seem to be popular, but which they just don't 'get'.

Whether we admit it or not, everyone has certain names which they just don't get, while the rest of the world seems to be falling over themselves for. It's not nasty - it's just down to personal taste - one man's meat being another man's poison, etc. We can't honestly expect everyone to all like the same names. And OK, yes, we could keep our opinions to ourselves, but this is a discussion forum, and the topic is baby names - discussion on names will therefore ensue!

For me, it's old man names - Archie, Alfie, Harvey, etc - there's nothing wrong with them, but I just can't like them for some reason! Also, flower names for girls and also a lot of the old lady names too, like Ruby, Pearl, Daisy, Violet, Ivy, etc. Again, try as I might, I just can't find the appeal in them. I'm not saying the names are bad or unattractive, just that I personally don't get the mass appeal of them. It's clearly a fault with me rather than the people who choose the name, since they are so widely liked and used! I know for a fact that some people won't like my DC's names - because once again, there is no name in existence that everyone likes!

WhatsAllThisThen · 19/05/2010 11:49

thank you 5dollarshake

OP posts:
Wanderingsheep · 19/05/2010 15:50

It's all very well saying that "it's a baby name forum so people are going to discuss children's names," but it's one thing if a pregnant woman is asking opinions on a list of names that she might want to use for her DC (which is what the forum is mainly used for) and another to start a thread intending for people to slag of names that they hate. Fair enough, people have their own opinions. There are lots of names that I think are really overated and I wonder why so many people use them.

I don't mind if people don't like my DD's name, it was a name I would never have chosen when I was younger but when it's constantly there in print (people saying that it's overated) it does start to make you think, "grr, shut up!"

swanandduck · 19/05/2010 15:54

Well, as already said, the thread title clearly indicated the subject matter. Just don't read it.

kittywise · 19/05/2010 15:56

Well there are always going to be names that when you hear them given to a newborn you think" God, couldn't think of something more original because every second child is called that at the moment"

But at the end of the day it's their choice, their child, not mine.

I don't mind 'contributing to the ":How about this name for my soon to be born baby" threads. But I don't like these kind of generic name bashing threads.

Pointless

CheerfulYank · 19/05/2010 15:58

I love Jack. I actually don't know any children named Jack...I know of three or four, but I don't know them personally. I love it, always have, think it goes well with DS1's name (Sam) and it's what I shall call a DS2 should I have one, and I don't care, I think this thread is fun.

Oh, and Olive. Hideous name IMO.

Wanderingsheep · 19/05/2010 16:04

It's hard not to read though. Threads like these suck me in just to see if DD's name is there .

WhatsAllThisThen · 19/05/2010 16:08

I happily concur for the fourth time it is a pointless thread. I had no point in mind when I started it.

OP posts:
Wanderingsheep · 19/05/2010 16:09

Cheerfulyank, I like Jack too. I know loads though . I used to look after one and he was the most beautiful little boy you've ever seen. The name really suited him!

WhatsAllThisThen · 19/05/2010 16:12

I'm not fond of Olive, but are there many around?

OP posts:
LuluF · 19/05/2010 16:21

So, WhatAllThisThen - you do mean popular, not over-rated?

WhatsAllThisThen · 19/05/2010 16:26

I guess I assumed popular although there are some names that everyone says they love but no-one actually uses!

OP posts:
LuluF · 19/05/2010 16:49

One thing I have noticed, reading some of these threads, is that, whilst a name like Evie is quite popular where we live, I've read some posts where people say it's not popular at all where they live. So maybe geography might be taken into account.

swanandduck · 19/05/2010 16:57

I agree with Lulu. When I go home to Dublin every second child seems to be Sophie, Ella, Jack or Conor. There are no Evies, Olivias, Millys, Freddies, Archies or Oscars. So those names would be very original and different over there, yet are really common in London.

IngridFletcher · 19/05/2010 17:05

I have a Gabriel. I think it is a lovely name for a BOY but mine looks like a girl. I am not sure I would have named him so if I had known just how much like a girl he would look. I might have called him Spike or Butch instead.

PheasantPlucker · 19/05/2010 17:38

Both my dds names are listed here.

Know what? Dd1 was given her name as she was so very ill in hospital the day after her birth that we were given the option of christening her, so chose the names of her 2 grandmothers, not actually expecting her to survive the next hour.

Dd2 was adopted and her name is the name her birth mum gave her, we wouldn't dream of changing it.

So laugh at us, and look down your nose at me and them all you like! I really don't care!