Baby names

[Chin Strain]

It does seem very trendy these days to select Irish or Celtic names for newborns. Maybe the OP could consider some old english names like Cuthwulf or Ethelfleda...........

 

I can assure you that we didn't choose Niamh because it's 'trendy'. There may be a few more 'Niamh's' around now, but 8 years ago there were none, and we liked the name. It's also not particularly difficult to pronounce. Those that can't pronounce it are very much in the minority.

[Chin Strain]

And your reservation would be totally warranted - even with LGTL's explanation, I still have no idea how to pronounce it. (knee ave / nee ve ?)

 

Even though your location is Northern Ireland?

[Micky]

Even though your location is Northern Ireland?

 

Indeed, Englishman working abroad taking advantage of thier fantastic country. Unfortunately though, as I struggle with accents from Liverpool, Newcastle and the like - listening to some over here is like hearing a completely different language sometimes...!

 

Being slightly illiterate as well, I struggle with words that have spelling that do not follow the normal rules of pronounciation. My wife likes the Irish name for Marie, which I believe starts with a V, or something like that - totally baffling to me.

[Dr Who?]

Me and the wife are tend setters in names.

 

2001 we named our first daughter Holly, and it 2002 it was the most popular girls name. We called her Holly because we loved Buddy Holly at the time, and it just turns out she was born on Christmas Eve.

 

2008 our second daughter was born and we called her Olivia, and in 2009 Olivia was the most popular girls name!!

 

Now we have a baby boy due on January 3rd 2012, now what should we call it???

 

I would like to call it King Kev II.

[Dimond Geezer]

Whatever you choose, make sure the initials don't spell anything contentious. For instance I used to work with Timothy Ian Tonner. It is common place for draughtmen to initial their drawings, Tim would only use TT.

[Dr Who?]

I have an HS and OS or if I middle name them HLS and ODS!!

[Trader]

What's awful? Ruth or Bridget? I didn't have much say in the matter. Strangely, the reason for my user name is complex, but part of it is because my dad used to call me Bridge (short for Bridget) for some strange reason.

 

Bridget - Ruth's OK

[Lord Duckhunter]

 

 

 

2008 our second daughter was born and we called her Olivia, and in 2009 Olivia was the most popular girls name!!

 

Now we have a baby boy due on January 3rd 2012, now what should we call it???

 

I would like to call it King Kev II.

 

If you're following the popularity thing, it'll need to be Mohammed

[Robsk II]

Why oh why you would ask a bunch of anonymous idiots advice on something as important and personal as this is beyond me. No offence.

[Viking Warrior]

How about

euan or ewan or kyle (Jools afrer our new centre back)

Erica or Bethanie or ishbel

[ecuk268]

Used to work with a guy called Jim Brown - middle name Charles.

 

Inevitably ended up being called Digger.

[Ken Tone]

Some serious advice, Bridgey, since you seem to be asking seriously. All the research shows that you really can damage a child's future by giving it a silly trendy name, so first rule is go for solid and mainstream.

 

Also, don't forget to consider how names sound or look with your surname or initials. Someone earlier suggested Arthur for example -- a fine name in itself, but avoid Arthur with any surname that could go with 'half a ....' eg Arthur Legge, Arthur Day, or Arthur Mow, will get irritating nicknames all their lives.

 

So practise saying the name out loud, with and without any middle names, and surname. Think about how the name might be shortened.

 

Consider initials. It's amazing how many people give their kids the same initials as themselves without considering the confusion it causes when they are older and get letters, bank cards, etc at the same address with the same initials. ... or whether the initials spell a word, eg George Ivor Truscott.

 

And maybe controversially, if you give a child a name that is usually restricted to a particular ethnic, religious or national group, you may lay the child open to future discrimination. So Niamh may be fine in Ireland, but is it traditionally associated particularly with Catholic or Protestant Irish? I don't know, but it may well matter in NI.

Edited 19 September, 2011 by Ken Tone

[bristolsaint29]

Luke Francis, just liked the name. Ian Anthony my partners late father and my middle name.

[Rasiak-9-]

Don't call him Todd...

 

[landford.saint]

It depends where you live.

 

Wayne or Waynetta, Shane, Sharon, Tracy etc are essential for certain areas of the city.

[Dr Who?]

If you're following the popularity thing, it'll need to be Mohammed

 

No as it is the year after that they are most popular.. like setting a trend!! But again I do not think that King Kev II is going to be top, I would be suprised!!

[pedg]

Depends in part on the length of your surname. If you have a long surname you want a fairly short first name. Our surname is fairly long so went for Sam for our son. Also a good name for shouting loud when he is playing up!

[Doctoroncall]

Me and Mrs Colinjb found the best way was to just fire names we like at each other during car journeys, and then based on this go yes or no and explain why.

 

Sadly it meant that girls names were easy.... but boys names almost impossible, it seems we have met a lot of total ars*holes in our lives.

 

This. Apart from Matt it was difficult to come up with boys names which weren't associated with kn0bheads!

 

Also check the combination with surname that it is easy to say and if the first name is shorten it does cause problems... I knew a Jennifer Taylor and a Christopher Peacock at school. They had a tough time!

[pap]

Anyone else find it weird that Islam forbids the depiction of Mohammed Ali, but has no problem calling loads of its sons by that name?

 

Especially as the Qur'an has this to say about the matter :-

 

"Call them after their fathers. That is most just in the sight of Allah. If you know not their fathers, then call them your brothers in faith and your patrons. There is no blame on you if you make a mistake but you are accountable for what is done intentionally. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."

[SO16_Saint]

Why oh why you would ask a bunch of anonymous idiots advice on something as important and personal as this is beyond me. No offence.

 

Not asking for advice per se, but just saying how difficult it has been deciding.

 

And as someone said just above, picking the right name is important for long term satisfaction for the kid.

 

Molly is a new fav!

[Raging Bull]

Can I point out that Queen Victoria was given her name because she wasn't much wanted and her folks wanted to give her a joke/silly name and thats very straight down the middle now, pretty much like calling a daughter chardonnay or chlamydia today. Go on be daring...

 

On another not my sister's a riding instructor and often teaches a Porsha, I mean seriously!

[Badger]

Out of interest, Mrs Colinjb and I decided on the following names:

 

Male: Arthur

 

Female: Molly, Megan, Holly, Dotty, Evie.

 

Our Border Collie.

[bridge too far]

Can I point out that Queen Victoria was given her name because she wasn't much wanted and her folks wanted to give her a joke/silly name and thats very straight down the middle now, pretty much like calling a daughter chardonnay or chlamydia today. Go on be daring...

 

On another not my sister's a riding instructor and often teaches a Porsha, I mean seriously!

 

I know someone with that name except that she spells it Portia - a character from The Merchant of Venice. So quite an old name, in fact.

[pap]

I think the best policy is to give your kids a name that won't sound out of place in a professional environment.

 

I'm personally not fond of this actually calling your kids things that are already diminutives of other names, like "Alfie" or "Jamie". Call them Alfred or James officially, then just make sure everyone else knows them as "Alfie" or "Jamie" in a personal capacity.

 

Having a couple of names on the go isn't a bad thing. We were torn between two names for our first daughter, and before she was born, we didn't know which. As soon as she was born, we knew what we were calling her. Do what feels right at the time.

 

Just don't give your kid a name they can't live with :-

 

[Raging Bull]

I know someone with that name except that she spells it Portia - a character from The Merchant of Venice. So quite an old name, in fact.

 

Very true, she also teaches a Kitty & a Florence come to think of it, funny how old names often come back into vogue.

[hamster]

My sister has 5 kids, all called John, all by different fathers. I asked her why she had called them all John and she told me that when she wants them all to come in for dinner, she just shouts 'John'. Brilliant.

 

I asked what she did when she wanted just one of them. She told me that she uses their last names. Brillianter...

[Hamilton Saint]

Stick with the normal spelling. If you choose your Michael to have his name spelled Miykal (for example), for the rest of his life he will have to spell his name every single time he is asked to provide his name aloud for a form or application.

[Special K]

I can assure you that we didn't choose Niamh because it's 'trendy'. There may be a few more 'Niamh's' around now, but 8 years ago there were none, and we liked the name. It's also not particularly difficult to pronounce. Those that can't pronounce it are very much in the minority.

 

I'm sure there were some "Niamh's" around 8 years ago. But there is no need to get touchy CS, i wasn't judging, just passing comment. It bothers me not, only when i have to look up the spelling of a name for a present tag, when the kids go to a party.

[Chin Strain]

I didn't mean 'none' literally - clearly that would be ridiculous.

 

You said it seemed to be trendy to have Irish names, which is a bit of a sweeping generalisation that everyone wants to be trend when naming their kids. I wasn't being touchy, just pointing out that we didn't pick the name to be trendy. We liked the name, liked the way it couldn't be shortened, and liked the fact there every other kid wouldn't have the same name.

 

It was very much a personal decision for us, which is what it should be for everyone.