Favorite "non-Nameberry" names?

[emag08]

Adalyn, which does get its share of negative responses, Elliott for a girl, Haven because it's celebri-baby, and Jackson because it's popular.

[kala_way]

Well I haven't posted my boys list yet but I'm anticipating bad reactions to:

Bertram

You know names that many consider the equivalent to pasting a sign on their backs that say, "Kick me!"

I actually really like the name Bertram! From your others it's true there are some I dislike, but some are simply more European than what's generally used in my area. They are fine names and I would like them in the right context.

Boy
Ender
Huxley
Zen

Girls
Nova
Sonnet
Alaska
Emmalina
Lyric

I like Ender and Huxley a lot. Also Nova and Alaska and Lyric. I've never heard Zen as a name, but I love Zeal

I love this thread. Nameberry definitely has a certain aesthetic when it comes to names. I think it's the aural equivalent of Anthropologie -- luxe without being preppy, quirky without being weird, and vintage without being fusty. Generally my tastes match up, but definitely not always.

Three of my favorites that are decidedly out of step with Nameberry tastes: Rhiannon, Sasha, and Waldo. Yes, Waldo. I absolutely adore Waldo. But my number one Nameberry no-no name has to be Susan. Not Nameberry-approved Susannah or Shoshannah: just plain, sweet, old-fashioned Susan. How cute would Suzie be on a little girl?

I totally agree with your description of the NB style, lol. I actually like the name Susan. I wouldn't use it myself, but it reminds me of Chronicles of Narnia.

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I think the thing that's surprised me the most apart from the commitment to some decidedly unique names is how freaking crazy people are in how strongly they express their opinion. It's one thing to say "I hate that name" that's completely your prerogative and a totally valid opinion. Even something like "Wow, in my area that would be seen as a masculine name. Where are you located? Does that bother you?" even that to me is a fair assessment. And again even the strong encouragement against really crazy spellings I can understand, but when people say things like, "You will be scarring your kid for life if you dare to use that name as their middle name. I can't believe you're even considering spelling/pronouncing/using that name in that way. I will now proceed to write 5 posts talking about how crazy and stupid you are for even thinking to do something that so goes against my opinion." !!! lol

It's just soooo intense! I wanna say, go make some tea and have a bath and the world will be a happier place.
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As for no-no names. I was chewed out to the fences for saying I liked Noel for a girl. I've known 2 girls who used the spelling and never even realized the male name (mole style) was used. I still like Noel, but I've started spelling it Noelle on NB just to avoid the screaming.

There are a few stranger ones that I like: Quinalyn, Rigel, Thessaly, Caspia, Meribel; that don't get good reactions most of the time. But opinions are always very mixed on the less normal names.

[saramee]

Oh, augusta_lee - a big one of mine is Sasha, too! I've always had a huge crush on that name.

Just once, I want someone else to *not* love: Beatrix/Beatrice, Genevieve, Vivienne, Gwendolyn/-len, Wren, Penelope, Hazel. I don't like any of them, and am kind of tired of seeing them (there, I said it).

I definitely do NOT love Beatrix, Beatrice, Penelope, or Hazel. Nor do I like Olive, Winnie, Pearl, Ruby or Josephine. I find them horrible beyond words. And there - I said it too.

However, I now can be on the receiving end of the "ughs" and "how can you like that?" when I reveal that I love the following names:
Heather
Jenny
Susan
Betsy
Megan
Amy

All seemed to be plucked right out of the seventies or eighties but I find them so lovely.

I also love Joanna, Jacqueline and Rachel. More "dated" names. Can't help it. They are timeless to me.

[stripedsocks]

@saramee, I admit I love Beatrice, Penelope, and Hazel. Not the others, though. However, I equally like: Megan and Amy. I can't figure out how to use Jenny, as I love it, but not Jennifer.

Jacqueline is lovely, I don't love Rachel but I love Raquel. I have never seen Raquel get approval on nameberry, I actually don't know that I've seen it at all.

[alzora]

@saramee, I love Jenny too! My only problem with it is that I find the nickname Jen so boring, and I know that's what she'd end up getting called. :/ It's unfortunate, because Jenny is so cute.

Also, the name Amy Augusta has been on my list for a long time. I love eighties names!

[southern.maple]

I love Jackson and Susan which have already been mentioned. Jackson is a family name, but there's such a large number of boys in my area named Jackson that it makes me want to scream. Not to mention I have three cousins with Jackson in their name, all after our great-grandfather. Susan appeals to me because it's simple. Susannah, Shoshanna, etc are too elaborate for me. I just like Susan.

I dare not mention on Nameberry that I've perused lists of obscure surnames looking for new inspiration. I also dare not mention that I love some of my family surnames as first names... for a girl! I just so happen to adore nicknames as given names too, which is a major Nameberry no-no.

[bettyblowtorch]

I think the thing that's surprised me the most apart from the commitment to some decidedly unique names is how freaking crazy people are in how strongly they express their opinion. It's one thing to say "I hate that name" that's completely your prerogative and a totally valid opinion. Even something like "Wow, in my area that would be seen as a masculine name. Where are you located? Does that bother you?" even that to me is a fair assessment. And again even the strong encouragement against really crazy spellings I can understand, but when people say things like, "You will be scarring your kid for life if you dare to use that name as their middle name. I can't believe you're even considering spelling/pronouncing/using that name in that way. I will now proceed to write 5 posts talking about how crazy and stupid you are for even thinking to do something that so goes against my opinion." !!! lol

It's just soooo intense! I wanna say, go make some tea and have a bath and the world will be a happier place.

I must admit I regret some of the things I said.

It's one of those odd things that you don't really know about yourself until you find yourself in the middle of it. At least in my case. The reason why I think it gets so heated has to do with the fact that it ties into ones philosophy on child raising. So it quickly turns into a political party style battle.

Most of those boys names many would say I can't use because I'm an American mutt. I have some slightly less out there names for boys, but girls names grab me more.

Dated female names I like include:
Deborah
Barbara
Bernadette - I haven't looked through Nameberry's archives, but on most forums it's apparently the equivalent to naming your daughter Hortense.

Some dated male names I like:
George
Bernard
Herbert

As much criticism Nameberry's getting, I've been on some forums that are more strict regarding what names are acceptable. They really chew into when you suggest a name they don't like for a child. Nameberry actually has the reputation of being fairly liberal. Most would think I was smoking something with Amaryllis and Virelai.

A name that I really haven't seen mentioned that I like is Fredrick.

[ballerinagirl]

my name actually gets alot of "dont like, too outdated, overused, trashy" comments about it whenever i ask but i didnt think that Tarra was actually that bad. also i really like Cohen but that gets heaps of "its disrespectful, hate it, never use it" sort of stuff. my list that gets "hate"
Avabelle - "too mushed up and cutesy
Peyton - "hate, overused"
Elizabelle - "mushed up, made up"
Analaya - "made up, stupid, hate"
Jai - "not finished, dumb"

[artemis815]

I love Huxley! Sonnet is a guilty pleasure for me.

[artemis815]

Oh, augusta_lee - a big one of mine is Sasha, too! I've always had a huge crush on that name.

Just once, I want someone else to *not* love: Beatrix/Beatrice, Genevieve, Vivienne, Gwendolyn/-len, Wren, Penelope, Hazel. I don't like any of them, and am kind of tired of seeing them (there, I said it).

I have an irrational hatred for Genevieve and Gwendolyn. Vivienne and Wren don't do a lot for me. Love Beatrice/Beatrix and like Hazel and Penelope though.