Unique VS Traditional

[ladybird11]

I need your help!

I have two fave names for this bubba on board, one is a unique name, the other quite traditional.

I'm torn between having an 'memorable name that most will not know how to spell, which will no doubt leave the child to have to spell out their name for life' vs the option of picking 'a popular name where the child will be one of 3 or 4 in any given group of children and their surname initial may need to be used to differentiate each child'.

I keep going back and forth between the two options.

So tell me, what helped you decide - unique or traditional???

[*LittleMissSummer*]

i went with unique as there is nothing worse than having 3 or 4 other children at school in their class with the same name! but thats me :P but then traditional isnt bad as well as some names aren't used as much nowadays.

[Glamourcide]

I vote traditional every time. The scenario of your child being one of 3 or 4 in the same class is going to last only a few short years in the long run - whereas a 'unique' name leads to a whole lifetime of having to repeat yourself, spell it out loud, correct people when they pronounce or spell it wrong, or have to work twice as hard to 'prove' him/herself to people who are going to judge based on a name... things like job applications come to mind. We as a society may be moving forward but I can't help but feel that an older employer is going to take a resume from Madeline Smith more seriously than a Maddah-Lynn Smith, kwim?
I personally feel that a child is going to have an individual personality and be known for WHO they are, rather than what people call them, so I'd concentrate more on practicalities. My own name is technically 'traditional', but my parents did it in a way that is 'unique' and I have resented it for over 20 years - I don't think I'll ever get past it. The only saving grace is that 99% of people in my life now know me as Donna, not Donna-Lee as I was christened. It may be 'memorable', but it is actually quite humiliating when I bump into an old school friend and they shriek, 'OMG Donna-Leeeeee!' in front of everyone... yurgh! It's just Donna now, for the love of God! I just want to blend in and be normal! Donna's unusual enough in a generation of Melissa's, Carly's and Angela's!

Of course I only speak from my own personal experience, and there are lots more 'unique' names out there these days so chances are your LO won't be the only kid with a 'different' name in his/her class, but even so, I don't think a traditional name is a bad thing, even if a last-name initial has to be used for a couple of years, kwim? JMO, but I'd vote for traditional - saves a heck of a lot of frustration when LO grows up and can't get anybody to spell/say it right!

[Ginger]

honestly, i take it on a case by case basis itms? some names i love are super traditional- but i have to be honest, i am get a little 'over' all the traditional names around atm and sometimes like something a bit unusual. for me, it really comes down to liking individual names over other ones rather than traditional vs unusual. not that that probably helps you at all!

[Peach*]

Im more for unique names... but not one's so bad they cant be spelt properley iykwim? Still to this day no-one I meet can pronounce my name properley so I introduce myself by my nickname, I dont mind though Id way rather that than a boring common name.
Im not naming your baby though, you are so good luck!

[~clover~]

I used to hate my name coz it was so different when I was a kid. Then someone went to my high school with the same name for a few months & I hated it! i liked being one of a kind, no matter what comments I got (ground, cloud, etc)
These days its more common (I have 5 on my FB friends list!!)

I wanted unique, but not hugely different for my kids. Something a little different, but not something they could get teased about. I'm happy with them Brianna was alot more common then I planned in the next few years, but there aren't too many.

Most people have to spell their names these days, no matter what they are. Sarah/Sara, Brianna/Breanna/Breeanna...

Its hard, but its only a decision you can make

[MissM]

I vote unique. No matter what your child is going to have to spell their name out anyway because of all the different types of spelling ppl have now.

EG: Ashleigh, Ashlee, Ashley, Ashly etc ....

[No.5]

I'm another case by case basis person. DS has a common name but it spelt different. Yes he will have to spell it out for everyone but I've had to my whole life and I've survived. DF even has to and his name is ridiculously common.

[luna moth]

I like traditional names that aren't very common. My DD has landed a name with an ambiguous spelling (Eleanor) but it's a real name that has stood the test of time. My name has ambiguous spelling too, and I have grown up to be awesome at spelling. Could be coincidence, but I'm going to stick with causality

[ElleJay]

I have a traditional name, and I was the only person with my name when I was in primary school. There was another one with my name in high school, but she wasn't even in very many of my classes, so it never bothered me.
I'd go traditional names, but that's because DS has a traditional name too

[Amity]

Traditional.

Trust me.

[Taurean]

but to me it is just stupid to have a Moon Unit and a Katherine, iykwim.

[LionsandBears]

Cherished1 - i think the term bogan has expanded to include the kath & kim types. Cashed up bogans i think is the term. It's not very nice of us to denigrate people for their choice of baby names. There is, however, research into the effect of names on kids' futures. I'm sure Spencer wouldnt have as much trouble as Benson and Hedges for example.

Personally, i'm a spelling nazi so weird spelling sends me up the wall. Epponnee ffs! It's both made up and horrible spelling.

But each to their own.

[LimeSlice]

Cherished1 - i think the term bogan has expanded to include the kath & kim types. Cashed up bogans i think is the term. It's not very nice of us to denigrate people for their choice of baby names. There is, however, research into the effect of names on kids' futures. I'm sure Spencer wouldnt have as much trouble as Benson and Hedges for example.

Personally, i'm a spelling nazi so weird spelling sends me up the wall. Epponnee ffs! It's both made up and horrible spelling.

But each to their own.

Yes, the made up spelling gets under my skin!

[OceanPrincess]

Yes, the made up spelling gets under my skin!

Me too ack!

[smiles4u]

I'm a fan of ' Unique names, my own name is not common and it never bothered me at all to spell it out, if anything it kind of made my feel more special in having an unusual name ... So in having said that I didn't hesitate to name my DD a unique name ... Only thing is Im not a big fan of is spelling a name totally different, in a wacky way IYKWIM !!

[catetay]

i go for uncommon traditional! My kids are Magnus and Evangeline, both the only ones i've come across, tho there are lots of Evie's. I was one of 5 girls in my year with my name (Catherine), and have ended up with a MIL with the same name! So i go by Cate And in our circle of friends there are 2 Michaels and 3 Matthews, dooming them forever to be "my Matt, her Matt" etc!
not keen on wierd spellings or ones that are obviously American and have way too many syllabyls (bad spelling there!)

[Arimeh]

I like unique, obviously. But some names are considered unique here in aus, but common in other parts of the world. Like Aricyn. Unique here, probably common as anything in Scandinavia since that's where it's from. But I'm sure I'll be classed as a bogan because I like my kids to have different names, and if that's what classes you as being a bogan - meh - so be it.