Name Teasing: How much should you worry?

How much do you worry about teasing potential when you consider baby names?

Would you take Astrid off the table, for instance, because you’re concerned about how that first syllable might be spun into a tease? (A discussion about Astrid and name teasing over in the forums sparked this blog.)

Would you or did you rule out a name that’s too unusual or unfamiliar for fear it would lead to teasing? How about a name with teasing potential because of its ethnic or gender identity?

Were you ever teased because of your own name and how did you handle it? Do you think things have changed around name teasing or bullying, with a wider range of names better accepted these days– is teasing largely a thing of the past?

I hope we can all agree that name teasing or bullying should never be tolerated, but does it happen anyway and would it influence your choice of a baby name?

And here are some intriguing posts spotted by Katinka on the forums this week–just follow the links:

— Would you call your daughter “Girl”, even in another language? If Donna and Elle can work… how about this unconventional option?

— Royal names like James and Elizabeth are timeless classics, never far from the top of the popularity rankings. But how do you feel about the new wave of royalty-related baby names?

— If you love nature names like Rose and River, but want something much rarer, you’ll love these suggestions for totally unique names drawn from the natural world!

— And do you agree with this list of Names No Girl May Be Cool Enough For? Can you see any of these making a comeback?