Unique Names Day

Hannah_Alumni

Yesterday, 5th March 2024, was unique names day and it made me think of all those times when a baby is born into the family, how difficult it can be to choose a name.

It also creates so many different discussions of do you chose a unique name? is it a unique name? or is it just a trendy name of the times?

With researching my family history, I see branches where the names are, to me, unique and old fashioned but were probably just very popular for the time. 

So, I thought I'd ask all of you  

• What is the most unique name you have come across? 
• What do you think makes a name unique? 
• Is there a unique name that you would use? Whether for yourself or for someone else.
• Do you believe giving someone a unique name could be a help or a hindrance in life?

66Mustang

I have a couple of names I have loved for ages, one girl and one boy name, but feel awkward sharing them and I don't know why lol they are both uncommon but I have heard them used very occasionally 

My name is a really common name just to say but it's spelt differently and I've never come across someone with the same name and only know of one famous person with it (who is a rock star!!!!)

Jimm_Scope

I have an incredibly common first name. Though I think when it comes to help/hindrance it depends on the name. There's something that makes a name sound like a name and I'm not sure I can put my finger on it. Something about it needing to not require "unnatural mouth/sound movements" maybe. To use an extreme example, Elon Musk trying to name his kid "X Æ A-12" is not a good name because trying to say that doesn't feel 'right', but like a word that feels 'natural' like uh... Locaccia (like Focaccia but with an 'L'), I just made that up, sounds like it could be a name. I am finding this hard to explain I think, sorry if it's just been more confusing :P .

I am struggling to come up with a unique name that I myself would use. I've used some interesting names in my Dungeons and Dragons characters. Durandel and Vivanviel (shortened to 'Viv') are the two that I always remember as they were my 2 most played characters. 

But yes, I don't think unique literally means one-of-a-kind but those rare names that when you hear them make you think "wow I've not heard that name before" or "wow I've never met someone with that name before". I think it's quite cool, but I can understand having a unique name can be a blessing or a curse, and the person rarely gets to choose. Thankfully in the UK getting your name changed is quite a bit easier compared to places like the United States. Makes it easier to change to a more unique name or drop a more unique name if you dislike it

bookrabbit

My eldest child's name was really unusual in this country when they were a child and people always thought it was something else and I had to repeat it over and over. Now it seems as though every family has a child with that name!! 

My youngest child's name is usually a surname and their full name is often recorded backwards by accident as a result.

So it can be awkward choosing an unusual name.

But I hate my own common name because it sounds prissy to me and I always wanted people to use my surname when I was at school.

Hannah_Alumni

Some really interesting points!

I agree that some names can be seen as "common" but unique because of their spelling. @bookrabbit I actually really like names more commonly used as surnames for first names. Like Anderson.

I have come across unique names in a fantasy setting, like in books or in gaming, used a lot more in movies and TV shows. I find they also show different cultural names, and they can be seen as unique to another country like you mentioned @bookrabbit.

There are a few names I love but won't share just in case But thinking back to my ancestry. I have ancestors called Decimus, Jeremiah and Urban which I found unique. 

Albus_Scope

I have ancestors called Valentine and Anguish which seem fairly unique.  A friend named their daughter "Ripley" which I adore.

UKDJ

What an interesting Thread/Post...

I have always had the opinion that giving a child a unique/unusual name is cruel - life can be difficult enough, without the complications of bullying and ridicule - but that may just come from my 'disabled mindset' and life experience?
I have always been immensely grateful that my parents gave me very normal, even 'boring' First and middle names...

I never had kids, so didn't ever need to consider the 'problem' myself. I would, however, have liked to be quite 'creative' with pets names, but living in a flat I feel it would be cruel to have a cat/dog - although several neighbours do have them!

rubin16

I have an unusual name, my name is Rubin and I've never met anyone else with the same name. I do get people sometimes mistaking me for Reuben (The jewish version) and have ocassionally been asked if I am jewish but I love my name.

Zimba

Person in work daughter has just had a baby she named her Ava Peach, my Daughter disliked her unusual name until she got older and now she love it..

Hannah_Alumni

@UKDJ I definitely think there are some names that you know, kids on the school ground will tease / bully about. For example, Talula, a girl whose name was just... I'm glad the judge gave her a chance to change her name! 

@rubin16 I always thought the spelling Reuben was American! Learn something new everyday  

@Zimba I do think as kids, we all have a dislike for our name at one point! Ava Peach is a lovely name. 

@woodbine I always find that interesting with parents. My mum named me, and my dad named my brother! I think it's easier when you have the same taste in names. I can definitely see some parents not trusting their partner!

Sammyjayne74

I wanted an unusual name when I was pregnant 21 years ago the dad wanted Alex for Alex Ferguson were both huge Man utd fans and I read this name in a that's life magazine so therefore his name is Trafford what do people think?

Hannah_Alumni

Lovely name! It's almost like a last name and I like last names for first names. 

bookrabbit

I agree Trafford is a really good name.

Just to clarify when I said I didn't like my common name I meant frequently used not common as opposed to posh. And I dislike the sound of it not that lots of other people have it too.

I really like naming animals which is just as well as having run an animal sanctuary I have named hundreds. I always gave guinea pigs human names because they talk so much and rabbits natural names because they are less tame than dogs or cats. I even used some of the more unusual names out of Watership Down such as Hyzenthlay and Thethuthinang as well as Hazel, Strawberry and Bigwig etc.

Hannah_Alumni

@bookrabbit That's amazing! I know some sanctuary's name their penguins after fish I like naming animals too. Although my friends laugh because when it comes to male dogs' names, I always seem to suggest an American president! Have always wanted a corgi called Lincoln. 

bookrabbit

I named a number of guinea pigs after American presidents. We had Roosevelt and Washington but not a Lincoln, although that would have been a good one.

Hannah_Alumni

It's not just me! I think American presidents make great pet names! Aww I love guinea pigs but know they can be lots of work. Especially as they are better in pairs! 

WhatThe

I was born on Unique Names Day so that's pretty special and I shall remember this next year!

I was the only one not given a middle name because my first name is quite long so I've adopted the middle name my mum considered giving me. 

My first name is often misspelt though it's not rare so I can't imagine how teachers cope with unique names in the classroom!  

Hannah_Alumni

Happy Belated Birthday! @WhatThe 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Did you have a nice day? 

Aww, is the middle name a family name? I find a lot of people do have middle names as passed down names. My friend worked as a geography teacher, the most common issue she found was silent letters! 

WhatThe

Thanks Hannah, I received a beautiful bouquet by delivery 

Mine isn't though my siblings got a Scottish middle name and one was the clan name, yes 
 

Hannah_Alumni

Lovely When researching my ancestry, I found my middle name is used quite a few times!

WhatThe

Yes, my mum's middle name was passed onto my brother and his first name is the Scottish version of our English dad's first name which has been handed down for generations..