I live in a small [name]Texas[/name] town, I never thought I’d meet a little [name]Lyric[/name] or [name]Legend[/name], and then I did! I never expected a friend to actually name her girl [name]Pandora[/name], and then she did, and her sister named her son Thackary. I thought I’d only ever meet one little girl named [name]Andie[/name], but I know two, and I know a little girl named [name]Charlie[/name], and a girl named Wrigley. There is nothing wrong with any of these names, they just surprised me with their boldness (or their out of the box-ness) and they reminded me to step up my game before having kids! (Thus, my [name]Berry[/name] membership!!) Has anyone else been surprised by a name they came across that was attached to a ‘real kid’, and not just on a list?
I met a real [name]Waylon[/name] at the store I work out. I mean, I live in Arkansas and have heard some really, for lack of better terms, redneck-sounding names, but I never thought I’d actually meet a little [name]Waylon[/name]. A few years back, I knew someone who chose [name]Waylon[/name] [name]Amos[/name] for her baby if he was a boy, but ended up having a little [name]Kinley[/name]. I didn’t like it before then, but when I saw that cute little baby, it made [name]Waylon[/name] seem like a real name. It was the Name of the [name]Day[/name] on my blog 
[name]Oceana[/name]! Someone I know from college named his daughter this. It’s one of those guilty pleasure sort of names for me. It’s pretty but not something I’d ever use. Also, [name]Aria[/name]. [name]LOVE[/name] it. Again, not one I’d use though since I used to work at a place called [name]Aria[/name]. A girl at my current job just named her daughter this (boy pick was [name]Chase[/name] if anyone is interested).
I met an adorable little girl named [name]Arwen[/name]. It was my favorite name at the time, but never thought I would ever meet one in my day-to-day life. I have since met a grown woman named [name]Arwen[/name] as well.
Once, about a year or two ago, I was reading the newspaper when I spotted a picture of a family with a young daughter named Providence! I was elated to see such a rare colonial name being used in the modern era.
[name]Miranda[/name] and [name]Amelia[/name]. My town is really into “popular” and “trendy” names. Everywhere you go there is an [name]Ava[/name] or a [name]Mackenzie[/name] so it was refreshing to meet children whose names are not in the top 30.
I just realized that I love [name]Waylon[/name] lol, but I’ve never met one! Significant other would NOT go for [name]Waylon[/name] though!! It seems adventurous!
[name]Oceana[/name], that’s pretty! Makes me remember a girl I knew once named [name]Atlantis[/name] (I think, or something like [name]Atlantis[/name]).
[name]Arwen[/name] is soooo pretty, wish I saw it more!!
Providence is cool, I like it! Reminds me of [name]Prairie[/name]
I’ve always thought [name]Miranda[/name] was a pretty name, it’s my [name]SIL[/name]'s name!
(Sorry for my delay in replying, I’m on my cell phone)
[name]Dashiell[/name] nn [name]Dash[/name]…
[name]Lennox[/name] on a little boy. I like the name, but I have to be honest. It just seemed odd on a child once I actually met one. It’s usually the opposite for me- I like a name more once I see it in real life. Strange!
I heard a boy called Tolkien in a store the other day.
My friend’s baby sister’s name is [name]Zelda[/name]…and I thought that it was a witch’s name…
[name]Zelda[/name] abd Tolkien, I love knowing their are kids with those names out there
[name]Lennox[/name] does seem unusual sounding for a baby name! I wonder if they call him [name]Lex[/name]!
A few weeks ago at the library I heard a mom call for her daughter, [name]Calypso[/name] [name]Skye[/name]. It was pretty unique for small town Oregon, where ever kid under ten seems to be named [name]Rylee[/name], Reagn, ect. Though there is a town about 30 minutes out that’s pretty liberal. Oh well, I was stil surprised.
- [name]Athena[/name]
Czarina. Bless their hearts.
That initial Cz, though…gotta admit that’s pretty arresting.
I heard a father chasing a toddler at a farmer’s market call out, “[name]Thor[/name]! Stop right there, [name]Thor[/name]!”
My 3 year old had a [name]Wolfgang[/name]/ [name]Wolf[/name] in her soccer class! [name]Wolf[/name] seemed a little aggressive for a little boy.
I took a call at a toy company for a girl named [name]Wiley[/name]. I thought it was not feminine at all. I had students, siblings, named [name]Mecca[/name] (girl) and [name]Lenox[/name] (boy). I love both names, especially [name]Mecca[/name].
A girl I grew up with named her daughters [name]Meadow[/name] and [name]Winter[/name]. These were surprising choices for the midwest.
Tolkien is very surprising, but I like it!
My daughter played with a little boy on a playground named [name]Winter[/name]. He had white blonde hair too. Very unusual, but his hair made him wear the name well
I met a little girl named [name]Echo[/name]. I never liked it before, but it was darling, and fun to say!