Very Unusual Name

[Ratty2E]

What do you do when someone names a baby what you consider to be a very odd choice. Obviously you don't want to upset them, but will have to make some sort of comment eventually.

[yogasun]

I just say 'Oh, that's different'
Could I ask why you have to make a comment eventually?
I know it's difficult not to sometimes!!

[MadMen]

What have they called it?

[bookbinder]

Don't say anything. Wait until you're asked for your opinion.
Then make one up, just to keep the peace.

[2sp_]

I usually just say "Oooh, that's unusual."

I resist the urge to say "Seriously?" Mr P on the other hand is not so diplomatic.

I take it someone you know has called a new baby something strange? Do share...

[bednobs]

wait a while - the name may grow on them. Obviously this only applies if it's not a super way-out name (i read an article yesterday about a woman who took her 4 month old baby, django, to a rave - it took me a while to realise that was the baby's name)
My sister called her baby isaiah but now he's a nine year old it really suits him.
Otherwise just say "wow, what an unusual name"

[Ratty2E]

OK well, I will have to comment at some point because the person concerned is family. They have called the baby Darwin

[2sp_]

Boy or girl?

[MadMen]

Ahh, that's lovely.
I thought you were going to say something like Morpheus!

[Ratty2E]

BTW it's a girl

[bednobs]

oh dear, actually i like that - and it's better than django, let's face it!

[2sp_]

It's not a first name I've ever come across, but think it would suit a boy more than a girl. Maybe that's just me though.

You could just ask them how they decided on that particular name?

[MadMen]

Oh. For some reason I assumed Darwin would be a boy.
Hmm. Not sure I like it so much for a girl, but I still wouldn't say anything.

[ummmm]

That's a pretty cool name.

Hope she lives up to her name.

[factor-fiction]

Someone told me they'd names theirs Pretty. I wasn't sure what to say and found myself mumbling "oh that's pretty"

[Barmaid]

Just don't do what my mother did when her friend (a serial practical joker) called up to give her the news of his new son.

Mum "and what will you be calling the baby"
Friend
Mum: bursts out laughing and says "ha ha very funny, Tom, what's his real name"
Friend "that IS his real name"

[factor-fiction]

Pretty was a girl by the way- I would have been completely stumped otherwise

[Barmaid]

Sorry, not sure why the second line is blank, but Tom told her the name (which I won't repeat because it is SO unusual, it might come up on google).

[DTCwordfan]

One of mine has an unusual name and it really suits......actually the middle name is odd as well, being a family name.

[Ratty2E]

ok well I will obviously have to get used to it a bit longer and hopefully can avoid commenting until I have.

[bookbinder]

Parents who give their child an unusual name ought to consider that, at some future date, the child's name is going to appear on the computer of someone who doesn't know the child, and cannot work out from the name if it's male or female. I have an uncommon first name, and I once accompanied a school party to an outdoor activities centre. The names of pupils and teachers were sent on a few days beforehand to the centre, so that the staff could allocate male and female accommodation. Nobody there could figure out if I should be put with the males or females, so they tossed a coin, and put me with the females. When I arrived, and they saw my bristly chin and manly physique, I was quickly moved to the male accommodation.