Secret Name Heresies

[beatrix]

Are there any names that seem to be super popular among the posters on this site (and/or others populated by name enthusiasts) that you secretly dislike? I have a lot...apologies in advance. :) Feel free to defend any names you think are included unjustly.

Matilda
Imogen
Felix
Gus
Sadie
Isla
June
Georgia
Sebastian
Cora
Elijah
Dahlia
Ezra
Clara
Amelia
Ophelia
Daphne
Daffodil
Lachlan
Barnaby/Barnabas
Freya
Edith
Delilah
Adelaide
Charlotte
Lily
Atticus
Clementine
Estella
Willa
Willow
Olive
Oliver
Oscar
Daisy
Bronwyn
Guinevere
Viola
Astrid
Dashiell
Killian
Jasper
Emmeline
Arabella
Duncan
Poppy
Eloise
Jude/Judah
Theo
Beckett
Malachi

[lyndsayjenness]

Matilda
Imogen- I think this is so pretty
Felix- I used to love this one, but not so much anymore
Gus
Sadie- cute, but a little too cute for me
Isla- I'm just starting to get the appeal
June- I love June because I love the movie Walk the Line (I like the movie more than the real deal). And June is a character in one of my favorite video games.
Georgia- I don't like this either, I prefer Georgiana
Sebastian- This is one I'd never consider using
Cora
Elijah- hate Elijah Wood
Dahlia- aww, I love Dahlia
Ezra-
Clara- I think this is just sweet
Amelia- I love this one, but it sounds a little too popular for me.
Ophelia- I think this is pretty
Daphne- I Love Daphne, but it's on my "Probably Wouldn't Use" list
Daffodil- Yuck, I like a lot of flower names, but this one just seems silly to me!
Lachlan- I don't like it either
Barnaby/Barnabas-
Freya-
Edith
Delilah- I think Delilah is really cool
Adelaide- I like it more than Adeline
Charlotte- sweet, but a little boring
Lily- I'm so tired of Lily
Atticus
Clementine- I LOVE Clementine!
Estella
Willa
Willow
Olive
Oliver- Used to be my favorite, but I'm starting to get tired of it
Oscar
Daisy- I find this one a little cheesy
Bronwyn
Guinevere- I think this is beautiful, can't imagine it on a real person
Viola- love this one too
Astrid- I liked this before the Office
Dashiell- this is my son's name, and I love it!!! But honestly I didn't like it for a really long time, my husband has loved it forever (since The Incredibles came out, that is), and that's how he ended up with the name. I expected to only call him Dash, which I did like. But I ended up liking Dashiell in full, and now I find myself calling him Dashiell more often than Dash, which I really never ever expected. FYI it's pronounced Dash-ull, not Dash-ee-el or Duh-sheel!
Killian
Jasper- seems like a girls name to me
Emmeline- boring
Arabella- I don't find this pretty at all! Don't know why!
Duncan-
Poppy- I love Poppy, but feels too popular, even though it's not
Eloise- I know a little girl named Eloise, and every time I hear her name I think it sounds weird
Jude/Judah- I think Jude is awesome, but I always think it sounds like "Jew", but I don't like Judah
Theo- I hate Theo! I love Theodore but won't use it because I hate Theo!
Beckett- This sounds a lot like my last name, but I like this more
Malachi- I used to like it in high school



I'll have to make a list later! But one I HATE that everyone loves is Evelyn! I really, really hate that one.

[teabee]

Rufus. I just finished reading "Kindred," so that didn't improve my image of a name I already didn't care for. There are several names on your list that I also dislike, and several I like. Most of them I'm indifferent to. There's no accounting for taste; I'll give the frequent Nameberry posters credit for looking into a broad range of names, for generally favoring real names, and for sharing my obsession. :) As a general rule, I'm far more conservative with boys' names, so that's why you'll see more of them listed here.

Others I'll cop to disliking:
Felix
Hudson
Jasper
Rex
Gus
Finn/Finnley
Beckett
Winston
Hugo
Harper
Imogen
Jemima (Special note here: Is it correct that this is common outside the U.S.? It has some serious baggage here but I wouldn't object to it elsewhere)
Edith

If it makes anyone feel better, I'm fond of the name Yvonne, which is totally trashed on this site.

[rosie]

Arabella, Bronwen and Evelyn.
Arabella is just so so pretentious, and the soft "ella" sounds out of place next to the rather has "rab" sound (and this is coming from a huge proponent of the name Octavia), and the whole thing just sounds like some made up Disney princess who lives in Arabia.
Bronwen and Evelyn are rather ugly (although I do like the nn Eve/Evie for Evelyn) and Evelyn is a boys name!
I'm really really sorry, I know some lovely people with these names and I can definitely understand why people use them, and I'd much rather meet Arabella than I would yet another McJaidynneLyn, but I just have weird biases against certain names.

[jill]

Matilda: I think it's a spunky name...

Imogen: I love its feel, but wouldn't use it...

Felix: I think it's a cool name, but wouldn't personally use it...

Gus: I like it as a nickname for August or Augustin...

Sadie: I think it's a cute nickname for Sarah...

Isla: I do like Isla (knew one growing up), but wouldn't use it myself...

June: I'm not a fan of June, but love Jane...

Georgia: I love Georgia's combined spunk and elegance, but prefer Georgiana.

Sebastian: I think it's handsome, but as a middle name...

Cora: I love Cora, both on it's own, and as a nickname for Cordelia. I love its old-fashioned, elegant feel.

Elijah: Not a fan of Elijah...

Dahlia: I think Dahlia is regal..

Ezra: I do love Ezra, not only because it's a Biblical classic, but because it isn't heard often. That said, it's too close to Eliza for me...

Clara: I personally wouldn't use it, but I think it's a lovely name...

Amelia: I think Amelia is great!

Ophelia: I'm not an Ophelia fan, not only because of the "I'll feel ya" teasing, but because I have a habit of putting the prefixes "hem" and "ped" before it...

Daphne: I love this name's sophistication, but wouldn't use it due to Daffy...

Daffodil: I hate this name, and haven't seen it suggested on Nameberry. I've seen it used in some games, and couldn't believe it...

Lachlan: I personally wouldn't use it, but wouldn't think it awful if someone else did...

Barnaby/Barnabas: See Lachlan..

Freya: I HATE Freya! I only think of frayed fabric.

Edith: I'm not an Edith fan, either, but it's growing on me...

Delilah: I'm not a Delilah fan. If I'm not reminded of the Biblical story, I'm reminded of that annoying radio host, Delilah.

Adelaide: Not an Adelaide fan...

Charlotte: I do love Charlotte, due to its classic roots, elegance, and simplicity.

Lily: I used to love Lily, but its popularity has ruined it for me. Lillian, on the other hand, I think is awful.

Atticus: I do love it, but as a middle name, due to To Kill A Mocking Bird and Atticus Finch's morals and ethics.

Clementine: I think Clementine is very sweet, but I'd keep it in the middle.

Estella: Not a fan...

Willa: I love Willa! There's something quite elegant about it for me.

Willow: HATE Willow! It's 100% Palin to me, and just...ick...

Olive: I think it's a cool, quirky name, but not on my child!

Oliver: Oliver is one of my favorites..

Oscar: Oscar is still 100% Grouch to me.

Daisy: I think Daisy is sweet, but I love floral names (just not Daffodil)..

Bronwyn: I think it's a nice Irish name for someone looking for something Irish and different.

Guinevere: Guinevere is really regal to me, but I wouldn't use it, personally. Genevieve fits the bill for me!

Viola: I think Viola is charming...

Astrid: I highly dislike Astrid, and when I hear it, I think of two not nice words...

Dashiell: LOVE Dashiell! I think it's handsome, masculine, professional, classy, etc...

Killian: Not a fan of Killian or any name beginning with a synonym of murder...

Jasper: I'm neutral on Jasper...

Emmeline: I've loved Emmeline since I was a little girl, but wouldn't use it now due to Emma, Emily, and Amelia's popularity.

Arabella: I think this one is really elegant, but I personally wouldn't use it...

Duncan: Donuts.

Poppy: I'm not a fan of Poppy as a first name, but don't mind it in the middle....

Eloise: I LOVE Eloise! I think of a spunky little girl who grows up to become and elegant attorney.

Jude/Judah: Not a fan..

Theo: I think Theo is a great nickname for Theodore...

Beckett: This one's with Bronywn for me...

Malachi: Ick

Like Lyndsay, I don't care for Evelyn. It's still 100% nursing home to me, although I did think it was pretty for a few days. I like Eve, Eva, Evangeline, and Genevieve, though.

[susan]

[quote="beatrix"]Are there any names that seem to be super popular among the posters on this site (and/or others populated by name enthusiasts) that you secretly dislike? I have a lot...apologies in advance. :) Feel free to defend any names you think are included unjustly.

Matilda - I do love this. Love Tillie and Tilda, too. Would use it.
Imogen - love it, love Immy.
Felix - knew a very bad man by this name, so I don't like it.
Gus - don't like!
Sadie - don't like!
Isla - neutral
June - neutral
Georgia - love so much! My daughter had a friend named Georgia. So pretty and nice.
Sebastian - I adore this! My son's middle name. It really is a very handsome name.
Cora - love
Elijah - great name, I would use it for sure. Lijah is a fun nn.
Dahlia - I love the way it looks written, but don't like the way it sounds as much.
Ezra - don't really like.
Clara - one of my faves! It's fun to say. It isn't very long so it would be easy to fill out all the hundreds of forms in your child's life. Yet it is so feminine and sweet. My daughter's name is Laura and it has a similar sound. Very satisfying!
Amelia - my friend named her daughter Amelia. Very pretty.
Ophelia - a pretty name, but I think of the poor insane Ophelia in Hamlet.
Daphne - one of my faves
Daffodil - don't like
Lachlan - don't like
Barnaby/Barnabas - like it as a concept or for somebody else.
Freya - Nameberry has helped me develop a taste for this name.
Edith - don't like, but I would suggest it because other people sometimes really like it.
Delilah - don't like
Adelaide - I like it. Addie.
Charlotte - love
Lily - love as a nn for Lillian.
Atticus - love, but not for my own family
Clementine - ditto
Estella - love!
Willa - kind of like it
Willow - for someone else
Olive - I think it's fun on the one hand, but I fear it might get tiresome.
Oliver - adore!
Oscar - I know a hipster college student named this. He was named after his dad. He pulls it off really well. So handsome and quirky at the same time.
Daisy - I love this name but for a pet.
Bronwyn - knew a very odd Bronwyn in high school. I only ever think of her.
Guinevere - no, like Gwenyth.
Viola - sounds a bit like B.O.-la. Don't like that much. But my daughter loves it.
Astrid - adore!
Dashiell - adore!
Killian - sounds like kill. Would never use it or suggest it.
Jasper - love
Emmeline - neutral
Arabella - very pretty. Jackie O was going to name her second daughter that name but she died.
Duncan - doughnuts
Poppy - love as a nn for Penelope
Eloise - love
Jude/Judah - don't like that much
Theo - sincerely love, love Ted, too.
Beckett - don't like
Malachi - really don't like! Mal means bad.

You kind of have to develop a taste for many of these names. If you don't live in an area where people name their kids unusual names, these choices seem eccentric and sometimes silly. But I live in a place where lots of kids have unusual names. So they seem like a lot of fun. Even the kids in high school are named Oliver, Sebastian, Oscar, Lily, Elijah, Linus, and Amelia. We know a little baby boy named Conrad. My daughter knows an Esme. So these names seem normal to us. Whereas names like Matthew, Andrew, Meagan, Evan, Ava, and Jessica are very handsome or pretty, but overused to the point that I think, with all the fun and unusual names out there, why did you choose that? Of course I should talk. My name is Susan and I love it. There are a million zillion Susans in the world.

[hadapurpura]

Imogen - Where did this name come from?
Sadie - Reminds me of S&M (I know, I know... ¬¬)
Georgia - I love this name! and I don't mind Jorja either, but that's because I'm a fan of Jorja Fox...
Sebastian - This is neat for a boy
Amelia - I love Amelia!
Barnaby/Barnabas - Sounds too much like "Barrabas"
Clementine - Too old for me, I think.
Olive - Love it!
Bronwyn - Don't like
Viola - Means "rapes" in spanish.
Killian - Maybe Gillian is better (if we're talking about girl's names)

[susan]

This is a fascinating post! I love reading everyone's opinions. Maybe I'll think twice before I recommend the name Evelyn. No, I can't help it. Sorry, I really do love it. It's so warm and cozy. But the sad thing is, I probably wouldn't name my own daughter Evelyn. I would probably name her Cecilia nn Celia even though it means blind. My grandmother-in-law was named Cecilia and she was such a character. It would be so fun to have another Cecilia in the family. Cecilia May. My grandmother was named May.

[lyndsayjenness]

Aw, Susan, I don't think you should stop suggesting Evelyn, everyone likes different names! The main reason I hate Evelyn is because my husband has a very mean Great Aunt Evelyn, and I used to work at a preschool and there was this unbelievably bratty little 4 year old named Evelyn nn Evie. Since those are my only real associations with it, I just can't like. Like you with Felix. Cecilia May is so cute! I can't believe I never thought of that, my great-grandmother was Cecilia and her daughter (my grandma) is May Ann!

[rosypoesy]

hi, i'm new to this site, but an avid name nerd none the less. anyways...my son's name is beckett reed and i noticed that most of you have beckett in the "do not like" list. i'm just wondering why? most people really like the name when they ask what our son's name is, so i'm just curious why some of you don't like it, that's all =)