Secret Name Heresies

There are a lot of name that everyone on this site loves that I just don't get. Here are a few:

Jasper-just dont like the sound of this one
Otis-Too hickish for someone who lives in rural Nebraska and gets labeled a hick for that alone
Oscar-Too Grouchy

Clementine-Too hickish..again. And the sound. Ugh!
Matilda-Just dont get this one
Jemima-The lady on the syrup bottle
Poppy- Makes me think of that scene in the Wizard of Oz

Those are all the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I know there are more out there.

Good subject. I am often ok with other people using a name I could not imagine on a child or wouldn't want to have as a grown up, but I sometimes wonder why:

GIRLS:
Daphne - It is eccentric and old and wealthy, to me, a character, not a real person's name, despite the character on Frasier who was only 1 out of 3, or a full half, depending on how you parse my list.

Elizabeth - To me, a very long name. I have a short name, and once upon a time, I did think having a long, elaborate name with many syllables was in some way "prettier" but I don't like Liz or Eliza or Beth, the whole name just has syllables put together I don't like very well.

Isabella/Isabel/Isobel - I don't like Izzy. To me, that is a weird thing to be called.

Isla - no matter what you say it's pronounced like I-la, it is "La Iss-la Bonita" to me. Only not so Bonita. Eye-la is a pretty *sounding* name, however, so if that's the trend, go with it.

Clementine - I don't think Clem is cute. Why would someone want to be Clementine to be offbeat when they can be Caroline, which sounds very nice? It's "clumpy."

Josephine - I do like Josie, I do not like Fifi (that is a poodle's name). I used to love this name, but I met someone named Josefina (Ho-sef-ee-na) and I hate her guts too much to consider this name! I still like Joseph.

Hazel - I used to secretly consider this name a winner in my book. I really don't like it very much anymore, it is very old lady. There are a number of old lady names people consider, some are nice, some just seem batty. Beatrice I like, Gloria I like, but Hazel and Agnes, there's too far a line to cross for me. I think the appeal of Hazel to me was "haze" and sort of a mystical quality that all faded.

Lilac - I love the flowers, it wouldn't be spring without them, but I don't feel that word as a name. Li-lackk is what I hear.

Penelope - another along the lines as Elizabeth, fancy equating with lots of syllables, which is not to say I don't love some names with lots of syllables, but that's not why I should like them.


BOYS:
Sebastian - I really once a long time ago, thought this the most perfectly handsome name ever, dramatic handsome prince-like magical qualities, a little too much so, then I was glad I never got a chance to use it! I am more likely to favor the more standard names for boys lately, maybe a little flair, but Sebastian has a little too much flair.

Jasper and Oscar - I think the same issues as Clementine above, these are hipstery choices, I listen to them and can't understand how anyone thinks they sound adorable. They are too obviously ironic. There are names which should come back because they sound nice, but they don't, and then there are names that sound bad to me that get chosen because they don't sound nice at all. Or because "Scar" would be a cool nickname.

Declan - there is only one Declan and he changed his name to Elvis. I can manage to see the positive here and why people would think it's jaunty or something, but I don't think it's the best name ever. I would add to this, any boys' names than have a lin sound at the end, except maybe Colin. I don't think Lachlan or Quinlan - let's say it's sort of become the -bert of today for me. Hubert, Delbert, Robert. Didn't like Bert then, don't like Lynn now.

Jack - I don't hate the name Jack, but I prefer John. If I had a son named John, he might be the only John, don't-call-me-Jack John. I don't even "get" Jack from John - when I was a kid, old guys named Jack had that name for no reason I could decipher. I am in favor of boys named Jack if that's what you want to call them, just name them Jack.

Elijah or Elias - seem a little close to feminine sounding names.

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I guess that's about it and me about my long, non-succinct explanations.

Matilda: Love Matilda. So cute and spunky while being old fashioned too.
Imogen: I like when it is said Em-a-jen, hate when said Em-a-jean
Felix: This is a cat's name only.
Gus: Don't like Gus. Love August, but he will be called August, not Gus.
Sadie: Never cared for Sadie.
Isla: Love Isla. So Pretty.
June: Not my style.
Georgia: I like Georgia. Not a fave, but I think it is a sweet name.
Sebastian: Crab from Disney movie.
Cora: This is growing on me.
Elijah: Ok. Love the nn Eli.
Dahlia: Hate
Ezra: Hate
Clara: Hate
Amelia: I think Amelia is a very pretty name.
Ophelia: Nope.
Daphne: Cute
Daffodil: Nope.
Lachlan: OK
Barnaby/Barnabas: BIG NO
Freya: Don't see the appeal.
Edith: No
Delilah: Pretty
Adelaide: Pretty
Charlotte: Pretty
Lily: Love, wish it wasn't so popular
Atticus: Cool. I love To Kill A Mockingbird.
Clementine: I want to like this name, but I find that I don't.
Estella: No
Willa: No
Willow: Like Willow.
Olive: Love Olive, but didn't until I knew one personally.
Oliver: Cute
Oscar: THE GROUCH
Daisy: Cute
Bronwyn: No
Guinevere: No
Viola: No
Astrid: NO
Dashiell: Love Dashiell, nn Dash.
Killian: Why would you want Kill in your baby's name?
Jasper: Love Jasper.
Emmeline: Pretty.
Arabella: Pretty
Duncan: I like Duncan.
Poppy: This is what we call my Dad instead of Grandpa, so no.
Eloise: NO
Jude/Judah: Not crazy about it.
Theo: Cute
Beckett: I like
Malachi: No

On my list, I can't stand . . .

Coco
Stella
Sophia
Frances
Alice
Louisa
Rosalie
Nora
Beatrice
Margot
Fern
Maude
Josephine/Josie
Jemima

For boys...

Parker
Colin
Otis
Hugo
Rex
Winston

Matilda
Imogen
Felix- I think this is a cool name and I find its underused in real life lol
Gus
Sadie- i dont know why im kind of drawn to it but wouldn't use it
Isla- kind of a cool "i" name
June
Georgia
Sebastian
Cora
Elijah
Dahlia
Ezra
Clara
Amelia- I think Emilia is nice
Ophelia
Daphne
Daffodil
Lachlan
Barnaby/Barnabas
Freya
Edith
Delilah- I <3 this name
Adelaide
Charlotte
Lily- Not bad
Atticus
Clementine
Estella- Not bad
Willa
Willow
Olive
Oliver
Oscar
Daisy
Bronwyn
Guinevere
Viola- Not bad
Astrid
Dashiell
Killian
Jasper
Emmeline
Arabella
Duncan
Poppy
Eloise
Jude/Judah
Theo
Beckett
Malachi

I just had to comment on the names you picked! I'm sure I will think of some to add myself, later, too ...
Matilda - I love this, because of the cute film, and the lovely nn - Tilly
Imogen - this is really ... ordinary. I'm also not a big fan of the j sound.
Felix - I knew a really annoying boy called this when I was younger, and it sounds like something you would name your cat (actually, it is a type of cat food, isn't it?). It makes me think the parents are trying to be clever and classy, but have picked an over-used name.
Gus - Just ugly, and not right for a little boy. Always reminds me of Augustus Gloop ...
Sadie - not bad, but not particularly good, either. It's really easy to say in a grating voice, too ...
Isla - I like this, as it is pretty, simple, and not too common
June - month names are a little boring, to my mind, and June especially seems dated (and that's coming from someone who normally loves old-fashioned names)
Georgia - not pretty at all - I really dislike this one
Sebastian - the Seb nn is boring, and this goes with Felix on the try-hard scale, but I don't particularly dislike it.
Cora - I love this, as it is cute, but would also suite an adult. Pecularly hard to say sometimes, though.
Elijah - see Jonah.
Dahlia - not very fond of this.
Ezra - I like, especially as a twin to Ophelia (they share the same meaning).
Clara - pretty and traditional. Possibly a little fussy.
Amelia - okay.
Ophelia - I adore. Good alternative to Sophie and Olivia.
Daphne - love, love, LOVE. Classic amd beautiful. I like the boys' form too, Daphnis (although perhaps not as a first name).
Daffodil - my least favourite flower name. It just sounds a little silly, in my opinion.
Lachlan - not the best of Gaelic boys' names.
Barnaby/Barnabas - too comical-sounding, like a character in a children's book.
Freya - I don't think it has a very nice sound.
Edith - somewhat dated, but a good choice if you want to be individual without choosing a long name.
Delilah - individual, with a nice choice of nns. Perhaps too popular since the song? Not a great original namesake, either.
Adelaide - I like this one.
Charlotte - I like the nn Lottie, but the 'char' sound is not my favourite.
Lily - lovely, but too common.
Atticus - a great namesake, but over-used. Too close to attic, as well.
Clementine - I love this, and the nn Clemmie, although I'm kind of tempted to name my child Tangerine whenever I see it ... (you know, the fruit thing)
Estella - I think this sounds tackly, and the 'ella' ending is too fussy for me - why not just Estelle? I think a better alternative is Estrella (ess-tray-a) - Spanish for 'star'.
Willa - never heard of it.
Willow - this would be a massive problem if she was chubby. Pretty, though, but overused. I want to see people choosing more individual tree names!
Olive - I just don't understand why you would name your daughter after a small, green appetiser. Reminds me of Pop Eye's girlfriend, and is obviously the choice for people who like Olivia but want to be different.
Oliver - okay, but not my favourite. Too close to Olivia for me (I know that's the point, but I don't like it ...)
Oscar - nice, and classic. Personally I wouldn't pick it, but I can see why people would.
Daisy - cute (I adore flower names), but over-used.
Bronwyn - I hate. It's a horrible sound.
Guinevere - I like it, but I'd hesitate to name a real child this ... (even though I love unusual names).
Viola - I hate the 'Vi' sound when people pronounce this 'V - I -ola' rather than vee-ola (like the instrument).
Astrid - It's okay, an reasonably unusual, but not very feminine. I prefer it as a middle name.
Dashiell - I've never even heard of this one, but I find it odd. I know a dog called Dash (also, the name sounds a little like 'dash ill' ...
Killian - Um ... 'kill'. That's all I have to say about this one.
Jasper - I love, as it is not over-used and quite handsome.
Emmeline - I love, especially with the nn Emma.
Arabella - a little too fussy, and overused. Try-hard-pretty.
Duncan - ugly. Also, sounds like Dunkin' Doughnuts ...
Poppy - one of my favourite names. A beautiful flower, and I really like 'p' sounds.
Eloise - nice, ladylike and traditional. I like this one.
Jude/Judah - Coming from England, where it is derided as something stereotyped over-zealous Alabamans do, I find Biblical names other than the common Josephs, Matthews etc., very odd, and generally dislike them. (Having said that, I do like Ezekiel.)
Theo - I like Theodore, but only for the Teddy nn. Thea, however (nn for Theodora), I like much better than Theo.
Beckett - I didn't even realise this was in use as anything other than a surname. It's boring, and a very harsh sound.
Malachi - a great name for a character in a book or some such, but I can't ignore the fact that this starts with "mal" - a little bit too negative for a real person, in my mind.

Matilda
Barnaby/Barnabas
Gus
3 names I really do not like. The boys names in particular, and I think I have been pushed for dislike to hate on them because they are so popular on this site. The site has Barnaby listed as a name kids would consider cool, but I really think a kid would be picked on more for having the word BARN in his name than being named Pilot.

I also think a kid named GUS would be picked on, but moreso I dislike it because it sounds so gutteral. August is an ok name, but actually seems a little feminine to me.

Matilda
Barnaby/Barnabas
Gus
3 names I really do not like. The boys names in particular, and I think I have been pushed for dislike to hate on them because they are so popular on this site. The site has Barnaby listed as a name kids would consider cool, but I really think a kid would be picked on more for having the word BARN in his name than being named Pilot.

I also think a kid named GUS would be picked on, but moreso I dislike it because it sounds so gutteral. August is an ok name, but actually seems a little feminine to me.

beatrix wrote: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 like becouse it's a family name, but that would be the only reason..lol..
Imogen..still on the fence never heard this name said outloud
Felix..DISLIKE
Gus...OK
Sadie..DISLIKE
Isla...loved it when I though it was pn "is-la" but don't like eye-la
June...DISLIKE
Georgia....LOVE
Sebastian..DISLIKE
Cora....DISLIKE
Elijah...DISLIKE
Dahlia...OK
Ezra...OK
Clara....LOVE/SWEET
Amelia.....LOVE
Ophelia....DISLIKE I think of the alaskan crab "Opilia"
Daphne...LIKE
Daffodil....DISLIKE
Lachlan.....LIKE
Barnaby/Barnabas...OK
Freya....LOVE
Edith...LOVE
Delilah....LIKE
Adelaide....OK
Charlotte....LOVE
Lily...LOVE
Atticus...DISLIKE
Clementine...DISLIKE
Estella.....LOVE
Willa.....LIKE
Willow......LIKE
Olive.....LOVE/CUTE
Oliver...OK
Oscar...DISLIKE
Daisy...OK
Bronwyn...OK
Guinevere...??
Viola....SASSY/LOVE
Astrid....DISLIKE
Dashiell.....DISLIKE
Killian...LOVE/RUGGED
Jasper.....DISLIKE
Emmeline.....LIKE
Arabella.....LIKE
Duncan...DISLIKE
Poppy.....CUTE/LOVE
Eloise.......LIKE
Jude/Judah....DISLIKE
Theo......OK
Beckett....OK
Malachi

OK

These are the names you listed that I love:

Elijah
Clara
Amelia
Willow
Oliver
Emmeline
Beckett
Malachi

Isabella--- I just dislike it, its just plain to me.

Naomi--- I just don't like it! Am I really the only one!? Despite the fact backwards its 'I moan' it reminds me of moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter.

Lee--- ew

Hunter--- its my sisters cat...and it reminds me of men running through the woods trying to kill Bambi's mother!!!!

Lola--- just don't like it.

Hannah--- too plain.

Mattie--- seems like a name for a matted dog.

Elsa--- I really like this name but I think of a maid when I hear it.