Which naming trend is your least favorite?

[Minnie&Nana]

It's hard for me to think of "Sophia" as a trendy name...it's my grandmother's named - DD named her first baby after her..so we have a Sophia, which never strikes us as trendy.

I know it's out there more these days and DD took that into account, but how sad that baby Sophia's name may always be considered a trendy choice when she was named for someone so dear.

Not crazy for made up names I can't pronounce...as a preschool teacher, we've had a few over the years....maybe not as many in a Catholic school though.

 

[joyjoy]

It's funny when people say they really like unusual names and then list things like Declan, Riley and Caleb. I don't find any of those names unusual at all, in fact, I know serveral of each and they were all born under 6 years ago. That is exactly how names get so overused. Certain sounds are appealing at certain times in our lives - the influence is music, literature, movies, etc. So some lady who thinks she actually made up the name Aiden may not know another child with that name when she had her baby, but something about the ring of it was pleasant to her, and thousands of other moms that year. When my kid was born in the 80s, I thought the name Lauren (not what I used) was so pretty and unique. Imagine my shock when she got to kindergarten and every other kid was named Lauren. (The rest of them were named Megan). Also, even when people say "My daughter's name is Vivian but it's not trendy! It's my grandmother's name!". Yes, it is trendy. The very act of naming kids after grandparents is trendy. Anyway, I really throw no stones as my poor kid's name is Jordan Leigh. (Jordie). I think I violated half the offenses mentioned on this thread. Hey, I was 24, what can I say? My boyfriend named HIS kid Kira MONET. Tell me that isn't worse.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It's funny when people say they really like unusual names and then list things like Declan, Riley and Caleb. I don't find any of those names unusual at all, in fact, I know serveral of each and they were all born under 6 years ago. That is exactly how names get so overused. Certain sounds are appealing at certain times in our lives - the influence is music, literature, movies, etc. So some lady who thinks she actually made up the name Aiden may not know another child with that name when she had her baby, but something about the ring of it was pleasant to her, and thousands of other moms that year. When my kid was born in the 80s, I thought the name Lauren (not what I used) was so pretty and unique. Imagine my shock when she got to kindergarten and every other kid was named Lauren. (The rest of them were named Megan). Also, even when people say "My daughter's name is Vivian but it's not trendy! It's my grandmother's name!". Yes, it is trendy. The very act of naming kids after grandparents is trendy. Anyway, I really throw no stones as my poor kid's name is Jordan Leigh. (Jordie). I think I violated half the offenses mentioned on this thread. Hey, I was 24, what can I say? My boyfriend named HIS kid Kira MONET. Tell me that isn't worse.

I disagree. This practice has been going on for centuries. Trends don't last very long.

My son has a trendy name, too, though I didn't know it at the time (I was frequented baby name boards). I knew it was popular in the UK, but had never heard of anyone using it here except for a 60 something year old guy who is a realtor. I've still only met one other child (boy) with the name, but I hear people wanting to name their daughters it more often than I'd like.

 

[HelenePA]

My son has a trendy name, too, though I didn't know it at the time (I was frequented baby name boards).

I had no idea Abby & Aidan were popular.. Its like I lived under a rock or something.. there are 2 other Abby's 2 blocks down... I had no idea

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just got an email which I am sure has been around awhile. I checked in on Snopes and they have it as "uncertain".

Le-a.


LeDASHa. My, aren't we clever?

Oh, wow. My middle name is similarly designated. You mean I've been pronouncing it wrong all these years?

I know an Eckhzayvyhurr and a Vhirraunnekkah. Yes they are brother and sister.

Oh! I've got it! Xavier and Veronica!

I've always said I want my first daughter to be Ananda, a name I read in a Swiftly Tilting Planet (fourth book chronologically in the Wrinkle In Time series).

Just be prepared for her to be called Amanda, and have to constantly correct people.

My own name falls under this catagory too....Marie-Claire.

Respectfully, it's (per an earlier post) Mariedashclaire

THen, she was having a baby last January. I am so glad she had a boy -- if it was a girl, they were naming it "Aryan." I tried and tried to explain to her why that would saddle the kid with issues among the races.

Perfect example. She probably intended for it to be pronounced Air-ee-ann (standard spelling being Arianne )

Ditto this. I automatically spell my first name for people now, though I've gotten used to pretty much everyone (including some relatives) misspelling it anyway. At least everyone knows how to pronounce it!

My name is pronounced exactly as it's spelled; unfortunately, the 'standard' spelling has an additional (and according to my mother, entirely unnecessary) letter.

At least you recognized that most people in the US would have some sort of problem with it. <snip> It's may be the "correct" spelling of the name, but in English, it's the the phoenetic spelling.

Respectfully disagree. My impression is that most people in the US would know how to pronounce Siobhan. The correct spelling is the correct spelling - not the phonetic one. As for Saorse? Not the first time, no - but tell me once... How do you pronounce Ralph Fiennes?

One of my best friends at work is Jimmy, he's 24 and already thinking of changing his name because no one takes him seriously when he applies for jobs. In the meantime he spells it Jimi so that it at least seems like there's a story behind it...

Or he could just start calling himself Jim...

Jahna'Bonet (creeeepyyyy),

Was this just a strange coincidence, or was the child young enough to have been named for Jon Benet Ramsey

First thing that came to my mind is Lisa Bonet (note spelling).

 

[GoodFairies]

I disagree. This practice has been going on for centuries. Trends don't last very long.

My son has a trendy name, too, though I didn't know it at the time (I was frequented baby name boards). I knew it was popular in the UK, but had never heard of anyone using it here except for a 60 something year old guy who is a realtor. I've still only met one other child (boy) with the name, but I hear people wanting to name their daughters it more often than I'd like.

I believe she actually meant popular when she wrote trendy.
It is very popular now, and classrooms will soon be populated, if they aren't already, with Vivians, Alices, Sophias, Helenas, and the like...names our grandparents and greatgrandparents had and names our parents considered to be 'old lady names.'

Everything old is new again; just think, the grandchildren and of our generation will be naming their kids Jennifer, Lisa, Stephanie, etc. because it was dear old granny's name! (shudder)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, among my siblings (and offspring, including stepkids):
Me: standard name spelled 'differently', plus that hyphenated middle name I've been pronouncing incorrectly all these years
one sibling: nickname as given name
one sibling: sorta normal name
two siblings: unexpected twins, so my parents "split" the intended name - not alike at all
one sibling: multi-gender name
one child: nickname as given name
two children: traditional/Biblical names
one child: female spelling of male name
two children: no idea where the names came from
one child: named for a flower
one child: named for a desert

 

[robsmom]

Gee, my grandmas (born in the 1890's) were named Sarah and Elizabeth. Are those OK with you? I used different old family names for my kids - Margaret and Hannah. They're all grandma names to me.

I also love Grandma names. I really liked Isabelle or Isabella if I had a girl. My Mom had an aunt Isabelle who never had any kids and no one had used the name. I thought that was a pretty name.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I had no idea Abby & Aidan were popular.. Its like I lived under a rock or something.. there are 2 other Abby's 2 blocks down... I had no idea

Yeah...when I named Kayleigh....I just wanted something NOT so individual like my oldest daughter Rayden.. didn't realize how popular it was.

Then, well Ella, I just found it its the 7th most popular name in Ga this yr
Ohwell...since her real name is Ellasen...I guess I'm safe

 

[Fintastic]

I never hear it anymore, but when I was younger ('80s), I knew a couple of boys whose names were spelled Sean but were pronounced "Seen," FWIW. I don't know if that was a temporary trend or what.

I'd doubt it! Sounds like ignorant parents to me. People who like how a name looks but have no idea how to pronounce it (but it doesn't stop them from using it anyway).

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Was this just a strange coincidence, or was the child young enough to have been named for Jon Benet Ramsey If the child is younger than 12, well then I really have to wonder what the paretns were thinking given the horrific nature of Jon Benet's story

My best friend and her husband was having trouble trying to figure out a name for their daughter (will be 10 in December) and because of hearing of this story for a while, they decided to name her Ramsey. At least it wasn't JonBenet.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Respectfully disagree. My impression is that most people in the US would know how to pronounce Siobhan. The correct spelling is the correct spelling - not the phonetic one. As for Saorse? Not the first time, no - but tell me once... How do you pronounce Ralph Fiennes?

Uh...No one I know personally knows how to pronounce Siobhan. And I have a very large family spread out across the US. I've never really known how to pronunce it until this thread. Unless you live in an area that has a lot of Gaelic speaking people or you know someone who's used it, you're generally not going to know how to pronouce it.

As for Ralph Fiennes, I pronounce it as ralf fine only becuase I've heard it pronounced that way and knew who they were talking about. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to pronounce his last name.

It's the same thing as Bret Favre. How the family ever got the pronunciation as farve with that spelling, I'll never know.

 

[Laura]

My sister's students have included "Mona Lisa" and a name pronounced Fe-ma-lee......get it? The child's name was "Female". Her mother read the bracelet on her newborn's wrist and thought the hospital had named her child for her

Hehehehe... at the hospital where I gave birth, the bracelet read "Girl of Laura ___________". I wonder how many girls were named Girl?

I, personally, don't like location names, no offense. But hey, if you can call my son's name "boring" well then. I also don't like your daughter's name (again, no offense). Is it even legit? Too me, It sounds like a poison or a number. If I read it, I wouldn't know what gender she was. It also sounds like you made it up.

My Thomas is far from boring. When I think of someone with his name, I think of handsome, strong and smart. He is all of these things and so was my father who he isnamed after.

I love the name Thomas. But I also love place names. Lots of common names come from places. Luke, Brittany, Jordan, Kimberly, Florence, Shannon, Erin, Sebastian...

 

[joyjoy]

As for Ralph Fiennes, I pronounce it as ralf fine only becuase I've heard it pronounced that way and knew who they were talking about. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to pronounce his last name.

Actually, his first name is pronounced "Rafe".

Favre is a French name. They kind of Americanized it to make it easier to say, but the actual pronunciation has the "re" sound on the end like the "re" sound in louvre.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Actually, his first name is pronounced "Rafe".


Favre is a French name. They kind of Americanized it to make it easier to say, but the actual pronunciation has the "re" sound on the end like the "re" sound in louvre.

Well, I've never heard Ralph pronounced that way. And I don't really follow the actor. So, whatever.

I'm aware Favre is French name. I only studied the language for 4 years. But, if you hear it pronounced, it farve not fa-vre or fav-re or fa-ver. When I first saw it, I pronounced it the French way until I kept hearing it pronounced farve.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I didn't read the whole thread so I'm not sure if this name has been mentioned but my Dsis works in the court system and called me laughing/in shock one day.

Seems this woman had named her child a very odd name. It was pronounced "Sha thead" but spelt ****head. Why would you do this to your child??

ETA: Okay the name got filtered but its another word for "poop".

 

[robinb]

I'm aware Favre is French name. I only studied the language for 4 years. But, if you hear it pronounced, it farve not fa-vre or fav-re or fa-ver. When I first saw it, I pronounced it the French way until I kept hearing it pronounced farve.

That's how we pronounced it up here in Wisconsin . "Farve", with the "r" and the "v" transposed from how it's written.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Well, I've never heard Ralph pronounced that way. And I don't really follow the actor. So, whatever.

I'm aware Favre is French name. I only studied the language for 4 years. But, if you hear it pronounced, it farve not fa-vre or fav-re or fa-ver. When I first saw it, I pronounced it the French way until I kept hearing it pronounced farve.

I didn't know, either, until he became famous, but that's how Brits pronounce Ralph. I think it's much nicer.

I hate Americanization of names. Why does everything automatically have to become the way "we" do it? I enjoy hearing names from other languages. It kills me when people from another country move here and then change their name to something "American."

When I was little I had a best friend named Monique. She was born in Montreal and her parents moved here when she was a baby. They figured Americans wouldn't be able to say her name, so they started pronouncing it Muh-nick. Until we were older I never knew her name was actually Monique. She had a cousin Alain who would come here every summer and the family introduced him as "Ah-lay" because they didn't think we'd be able to pronounce Alain correctly. Well, teach us!

 

[kaytieeldr]

As for Ralph Fiennes, I pronounce it as ralf fine only becuase I've heard it pronounced that way and knew who they were talking about. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to pronounce his last name.

It's the same thing as Bret Favre. How the family ever got the pronunciation as farve with that spelling, I'll never know.

Ralph Fiennes = Rayfe Fines. Pronouncing it as it's spelled would be Ralf Fee-inn-ess, so I'm not sure I understand how someone would pronounce the last name Fine without some prior knowledge.

Brett Favre = Bret Fah-vr, pretty much exactly as it's spelled.

Well, I've never heard Ralph pronounced that way. And I don't really follow the actor. So, whatever.

Attempting to demonstrate that simply because one, or several, DIS persons don't know how to pronounce ANY particular name, doesn't make the DISer right or wrong, or the nameholder wrong.

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, I've never heard Ralph pronounced that way. And I don't really follow the actor. So, whatever.

It's pronounced that way because he is British. That is the standard British pronunciation of Ralph, and has been since at least the 17th century. It's a VERY old name with Norse origins, and the version with the L pronounced is more German; the Americanized spelling of Ralf.

Another name like this is Evelyn: The British say EVE-lynn, and use it as a male name. Americans say EV-uh-lyn and use it exclusively for females.

As for Sean/"seen", it isn't only Gaelic names this happens to. In certain parts of the American South, it is very normal to pronounced "Rafael" as RAY-feel.

My favorite Irish name for illustrating a difficult gulf between how it looks and how it sounds? Caoimhe. It's pronounced KEE-va. Aoife is fun, too -- that's the same as an American "Eva" (well, technically, it's really EE-fa, but it tends to come out as Eva. There is also Aiobhe, which is normally pronounced as Eve.)