By Alison • 13 Comments
Are you thinking of giving your child an unusual name? Choosing a name for your baby is rarely an easy process; if you pick something popular, your child may be one of many, and if you pick something more original you may saddle your child with a name that stands out too much. Here are some reasons to be cautious about giving your child an unusual name …
One reason to be cautious about giving your child an unusual name is that it may lead them to be the target for teasing. Of course, kids can be mean to each other and will always find some reason to do so, but an uncommon name makes them stand out, and most kids just want to fit in.
It's not just their school days that you have to think of though. What about when they're an adult? A name that sounds cute and unusual when your child is young may be completely inappropriate for the adult world. Think about how the unusual name will sound if they want to be a lawyer or businesswoman - in most professions you need to be taken seriously, and an unusual name may make that difficult.
Also consider that your child may well be embarrassed by having an unusual name. Some people get past that and learn to love their name eventually, but for others it continues to be a source of embarrassment and they never get used to it.
Some parents choose a fairly common name but give it a twist with an unusual spelling. The problem with that is that your child will spend the rest of its life correcting the assumption that it's spelled the conventional way. And a name that really is unusual will be even more problematic. Nobody will have any idea how to spell or pronounce it.
It's difficult picking a name that you can be sure your child will like, and this is even more of a challenge if you pick an unusual name. Though admittedly you don't know if they'll like a more common name either! Some people grow to love having a more unusual name, while others hate it.
If you pick a name that isn't in common use, you may be saddling your child with awkward associations. If you call them something like Rebel or Flash, people are always going to link the name with certain ideas. Rebel Wilson can pull off the name because of her personality and profession, but could Rebel the judge or accountant be taken seriously?
Finally, you don't know what kind of personality your child is going to develop. Unusual names tend to demand unusual personalities to carry them off. A less outgoing child can find an uncommon name excruciating.
Of course, people will have to get used to the name you choose, however unusual it is. And it's your choice. But do consider your child's future. A good compromise could be to give them a more common name as a middle name, so that they can use that if they prefer. Or you could give them an unusual nickname. Do you have an unusual name, and how do you feel about it?