Names that Children Like?
Find a Conversation
Names that Children Like?
| Fri, 11-23-2007 - 3:53pm |
Like a lot of people, I like uncommon names -- not made-up names, mostly, in my case, but names with some history that I don't hear frequently.

I think you are right in most cases. From my experience as an elementary school teacher, it doesn't bother most kids to even have another kid in their class with their same name. Often they become the best of friends.
Also when you are little there's all those personalized pencils and things that more unusual names find harder to find and that bothers many people when they are kids. For my own part, I NEVER had a hard time finding Stephanie things unless they were already sold out!
Another thing that kids care a lot about is the gender of their name. They identify themselves very strongly with their name and gender and from my experience it is very tough on kids when others make fun of them having a name related to the opposite gender.
That is just my experience as a teacher and mom!
Steph
The PP makes some excellent points! I think if you absolutely adore a name that you know others will consider to be strange, or other people have expressed concern that your child will hate it, you could always choose a "tamer" middle name, or they can use a nickname if they decide they do hate it.
I'm 22, and I've been good friends with a girl since we met in middle school. She loathes her first name with a passion, so a good way to know how close a friend she considers you to be is if she tells you what it is. Of course, after that, you are sworn to secrecy on pain of death. LOL!
I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if worrying your child will hate their name is the only reason you hesitate to use a name you love...try to give them options with their middle name, or just trust that if they do grow to hate it, they'll switch to a nickname on their own.
My real name is very common and I always had to share it with classmates, roommates, co-workers, even in-laws, and I HATED that.
Well, I have an extremely uncommmon name and the main problem I had with it as a child is that people were not sure of the pronunciation or spelling. I remember sitting in class every new school year bracing myself for the incorrect pronounciation and ready to correct the teacher. As an adult, I love having an uncommon name, and
Andi
With my experience as a former Nanny. Kids with unusual names like Grey,
Well, I have taught, but older "kids" (like 17-19ish). In my experience (and as a mom) I think you're right about the fine line.
I have a friend named Emma who HATED her name growing up. She's 39, and the only comment people ever made about her name was "oh, my grandmother's name is Emma!" Funny how things change!
My name is quite common (I always had 2-3 in my class) but stoopidly spelled (IMO). I hate it and I've always hated it. It doesn't match me, but more to the point I just always kind of felt like my parents didn't put any effort into it. They liked the sound of it was all. Yeah, and so did lots 'o' other parents.
DH's name (Mike) is even worse. Hello - BORING. It's almost like you are just a generic person when you have such a common name, and like your parents just glanced at a list of "most popular" and went with that.
My mother thinks I obsess over names, but I'd rather my kids think I thought long and hard about their names than that I just randomly picked something!
Siggy by the AMAZING Alicia at Momsquawk.com! Thanks!