Hello Berries!
[name_f][/name_f]I’ve been reading the “How I Named my Baby” series on Nameberry and one of my favorite questions that the interview asks is: How do you feel about your own name, and how has that influenced your taste in names?
[name_f][/name_f]I’d love to know your own answers to this!
[name_f][/name_f](I think someone posted a similar question a while back but I couldn’t find it)
Thanks!
I have a name that is easily mistaken for other names and easily misspelled because there are so many variations of its spelling. I don’t know that it’s influenced my naming style but I definitely don’t want super common names.
My first name is a rare spelling of a common first name… the professors at my university argued over the origin of it without a clear “winner”. While I don’t mind my name anymore when used within the family, I am not a fan of the spelling of it. Most people can’t spell it, even when looking at it, and the majority of people can’t say it properly when reading it out loud from its written form. After working with the same 20 people for six years and them not knowing who I was on paper when I was leaving and my getting called by my last name more than both my brothers and 2 male cousins combined, I now use a nickname in everyday life and professionally, but whenever I’m around my family I have to use my name in its full form as my mom won’t recognize a nickname for either of her biological children (and the relatives and longtime friends follow suit). While I can’t imagine changing my first name to a different spelling anymore, and can’t legally change my first name to my nickname, I do prefer my nickname over my legal name most of the time.
As for my middle name, it is an honor for an amazing person. Unfortunately, with the spelling of my unpronounceable first name, it looks like a male’s name and makes it that much more difficult. I do plan to change my middle name to add on a second honour name which will make my name appear much more feminine at first glance. Both middle names are 3 letters, so I won’t be adding on much length to my legal name.
This short change will be good because I will be hyphenating my surname, not by choice but due to the legal requisites being put into place in my area. Now I have to figure out how to do so…
As for my own future name choices for my children, my name (and the names found in my family) has certainly had a big influence. I want names that are fairly intuitive, both in spelling and pronunciation, as well as the ability to use nicknames. I also want names that will give my children an individuality within the family while still honouring family, friends and things that are important to us. While I do love family names, I don’t want my children to be one of six or one of sixteen within the family… variations for first names or using honours in true form in the middle has become important to me. Also, as my own name is a rare spelling of a common name, I do have trouble spelling the standard spellings of the name… therefore, I will not put mine or my SO’s inability to spell my children’s names on them [filling out forms and not being able to spell your child’s names is a big no-no in my mind, especially since my dad can’t spell my name 90% of the time (I’m being generous here) and he’s the one who gave me the spelling].
As a whole I do like my name, it’s very common so I always had quite a few around (always at least 4 in my grade and again in my extra-curriculars in school [name_f][/name_f]- I even have another one in my uni class this semester) and it’s usually misspelled because of how many variations there are [name_f][/name_f]- but honestly neither of those things ever really bothered me. [name_f]My[/name_f] only contention (if you can even call it that) is that my family almost exclusively calls me by my nickname so I hate when they call me my full first name but on the flipside, I also don’t use my nickname at work or uni [name_f][/name_f]- (with my friends it’s about 50/50, though I think on the whole I prefer my nickname just for being less formal).
[name_f][/name_f]I have never really liked my middle name – I can’t really explain why – but I share it with an aunty on both sides which I think is kinda cool so it’s ok.
[name_f][/name_f]As far as how it’s impacted by naming style, I suppose it has on the whole [name_f][/name_f]- I almost exclusively choose names with nicknames but also being conscious of not creating such a distinct separation between using full first name and nickname that future child/ren would become detached to their full name. I also think I’ve started favouring towards more uncommon names as well and if it is a name that has possibilities for variations, there’s only a couple rather than excessive amount like my own.
[name_f][/name_f]In regards to my first name, I swing between disliking my name and feeling just, not much, about it. It’s an okay name, short, well-established and recognisable. It’s just, there. I’ve also begun to encounter a lot more people with it as I’ve started working with the year groups born around the time it was a top name in the UK which makes me feel less connected to it?
[name_f][/name_f]I like my first and middle name as a combination [name_f][/name_f]- they flow well and sound elegant together [name_f][/name_f]- and while I like my middle name more than my first, I’m not sure I’d want my middle name up front because it has a few intuitive nicknames that Idon’t[name_f][/name_f] like.
[name_f][/name_f]Has that influenced my taste in names? I think it has swayed me to look for names that I find interesting and distinctive rather than classic choices
I don’t like my name. I don’t mind it on other people and it is tailored and has a good meaning, but it doesn’t feel like me, it’s pretty dated, has not great nickname options, and it never pops up as a name people like or would recommend. My middle name is Eloise which I would have loved for a first - it’s spunky and a little magical to me - though I was at least spared the nn Ellie (which I don’t warm to at all). The name I think I’d suit is Frances nn Franny/ Francy/Frannypants. My name woes have influenced me to be more outgoing in my name choices and preferences. Usually the other way around, parents were really adventurous with their sons and safe with their girls - and somehow I got the dud girl name. It’s definitely a non immaterial burden having a name you don’t like. So yeah, go for pretty/handsome, distinctive and spunky! Give them some pep to their step! 
[name_f]My[/name_f] name (Mary) has grown on me! As a child I hated[name_f][/name_f] it [name_f][/name_f]- I thought it was so plain, old-fashioned and boring, and it attracted a certain amount of teasing (Mary the Virgin, [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Mary[/name_f] quite contrary, etc). But now I’m a bit older I’ve learned to love the old-fashioned, vintage vibe. I get a lot of compliments, particularly from older people, and I love the fact that it’s pretty unusual for girls my age whilst still being easy to recognise, understand and spell. It’s very special to have a name with so much history.
[name_f][/name_f]That said, I still prefer [name_f]Rose[/name_f], the other names my parents were considering for me. So there is that, haha.
Mostly negative, but not because there’s anything wrong with it – it just doesn’t fit me! I’ve talked about wanting to change it since I was 7 years old 
[name_f][/name_f] I like that it’s unique and that it reflects my culture, but the sound has never appealed to me (and the nicknames don’t make it much better).
I’d say it only influenced my taste in names in two ways. 1) No sounds/letter combinations that would only be pronounced intuitively in one language (in my case there’s an ει in my name, which in Greek makes an “ee” sound but when transliterated it’s written as “ei”, which confuses foreigners and has been annoying for me to deal with) and 2) I generally dislike girl names that start with the same initial as my name, maybe because of the negative feelings associated with it
I really like it. Honestly if my name wasn’t already [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], I might consider using it for my own daughter.
[name_f][/name_f]How does this influence my taste in names?
[name_f][/name_f]One of the things I like about my name is that everyone’s heard of it and knows how to say/spell it, but since it was in the 200s for popularity (at least when I was born… more popular now) I didn’t meet very many of them growing up. It was almost always just my name, it wasn’t until college I ever had to be [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] Lastname. It makes me want to look for other names in that sweet spot of familiar and likeable but not super popular.
[name_f][/name_f]I also like that my name has a nice meaning [name_f][/name_f]- I am always more likely to like a name that has a great meaning than one that doesn’t.
I didn’t grow up with anyone in my class having my name, but it was/is a well established name. I really enjoyed being the only one in my class throughout school/college/uni with my name, it made me feel pleased to share it. [name_f]My[/name_f] name uses an alternative spelling, which I am usually not a fan of, but I actually much prefer my spelling. Somehow it makes the name feel completely different, in the best way. Mostly I am referred to by my nickname, which is just a shortening of my name. I really like my first name, although I’m not so fussed about my middle name which is much more common.
[name_f][/name_f]I would say my feelings towards my name have impacted the names I like as I tend to be drawn towards names that are familiar but not well used. I also choose names that have intuitive nicknames that anybody can use. I never have to say I’m _ but I go by _ because everyone uses the most natural short form of my name anyway.
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is okay! I don’t have any strong negative or positive feelings toward it. There’s some pros and cons. [name_f]My[/name_f] name is Jenn@.
[name_f][/name_f]I like:
[name_f][/name_f]-I’ve only met two or three others in my generation since I’m a teenberry
[name_f][/name_f]-it originates from a welsh name and has a nice meaning (white shadow/white wave)
[name_f][/name_f]-I mean there’s nothing overtly wrong with it and it’s not common with kids nowadays the way [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f] are
It’s not my personal taste, but I don’t dislike it. When I was growing up I’d wished my parents named me [name_f]Jane[/name_f] instead, as I prefer [name_f]Jane[/name_f], but the name meant a lot to my mom so I’m really very fine with my name. I like HAVING a J name but I don’t like J names except [name_f]Jane[/name_f], if that makes sense.
despise it. absolutely hate it and will change it the moment I turn 18
I have come to peace with my name? [name_f][/name_f] I remember hating it when I was younger and until college vowed I would change it. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]My[/name_f] uncle’s brother’s name is also my name and that is definitely my least favorite part of my name! [name_f][/name_f] I wish I had a fully feminine name because I don’t see myself as tomboyish at all. [name_f][/name_f] I also don’t like my middle [name_f][/name_f]- it feels very filler to me and don’t like my strongest association to the first person I think of with the name (Marie Antoinette).
[name_f][/name_f]I have really come to love [name_m]Ashley[/name_m] though [name_f][/name_f]- I love being in nature and love that I have a name that’s meaning ties to nature and trees. [name_f][/name_f] I like that it’s a simple and straightforward name and spelled classically. [name_f][/name_f] I also love that I have a name that ties to a man of great faith [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]George[/name_m] Mueller had an orphanage called [name_m]Ashley[/name_m] Downs that was run entirely without requests for donations, he just relied on [name_m]God[/name_m] to provide donations. [name_f][/name_f] Sometimes they didn’t know where their meals would come from, but [name_m]God[/name_m] always provided! [name_f][/name_f] I really like that story and love that my name has a tie to it even though my parents didn’t specifically pick it for that tie.
[name_f][/name_f]I do wish I had a name that has more meaning behind it; they liked [name_m]Ashley[/name_m], and thought [name_f]Marie[/name_f] sounded good with it. [name_f][/name_f] I wish I had a family honor name, like all of my siblings do. [name_f][/name_f] I wish [name_m]Ashley[/name_m] had more significance to them other than that they thought it sounded nice (and was unusual [name_f][/name_f]- boy were the wrong about that! [name_f][/name_f] lol). [name_f][/name_f] If I ever marry, I plan on changing my middle name and giving myself a second middle that is my grandma’s middle. [name_f][/name_f] She was like a second mom to me and I love the idea of doing something like [name_m]Ashley[/name_m] [name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_m]Ashley[/name_m] [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- the classic [name_f]Maria[/name_f] & [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] feel more suited to my personality I think and I would’ve loved growing up with my grandma’s middle.
[name_f][/name_f]I think because of my experience, I am very, very hesitant to use a gender neutral name; granted, any of my daughters could end up feeling like they’re all tomboys and love a name like [name_f]Avery[/name_f] or [name_m]Auden[/name_m], but years ago I vowed not to do it and I still stick to that today. [name_f][/name_f] Also the names on my list have a ridiculous amount of ties to family, my faith, stories I love, interests, etc.! [name_f][/name_f] As much as [name_m]Ashley[/name_m] [name_f]Marie[/name_f] was just a “we just liked it” name, [name_m]Caspar[/name_m] [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] [name_f]Eden[/name_f] will be named for my best friend who passed away in 2011 (who LOVED Caspar), my sister Natal!e (because we share [name_m]French[/name_m] [name_m]Christmas[/name_m] names like [name_m]Caspar[/name_m], and also because her name is similar to Nathaniel), and [name_f]Eden[/name_f] because of the song by the same name by [name_m]Phil[/name_m] [name_m]Wickham[/name_m], for this idea that we are all royalty in God’s [name_m]Kingdom[/name_m] and that my children are princesses and princes. [name_f][/name_f] And the idea that one day everything will be restored and all will be bliss and joy. [name_f][/name_f] I love that it also reminds me of a novel I read a while ago where a [name_m]Prince[/name_m] [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m] became a noble, kind, and generous king. [name_f][/name_f] And I even like that he could have the nn [name_m]Cap[/name_m] like [name_m]Captain[/name_m] America; I feel like a little boy would love that. [name_f][/name_f] Not all my combos have that much significance, but [name_m]Caspar[/name_m] definitely does.
The thing is that I have a birth name and I chose a new name for myself (pretty common in trans/queer circles) and both have affected my decision making.
My birth name - is a “feminized” spelling of a name that started masc/androgynous and then was used more for girls in the 80s/90s (think Lindsie or Robyn). I was almost always “Robyn C” or “Lindsie T” in class. It grew more popular a few years after I was born as well, so I’m constantly meeting babies and toddlers with my name. I did really like the meaning of the name, though, so there is that.
My new name - Interestingly, my first new name was almost exactly like my old one - a less traditional spelling of a popular name for kids being born now. I don’t mind spelling my name, but I’m a bit more bothered by the high popularity.
My new new name I also go by sometimes is Frey. Rare but similar in form to popular choices, soft masculine, from mythology.
For my baby - Meaning in a name is super important to me and I’m hesitant to go with a nontraditional spelling, though I will consider it in some circumstances.
Because I’ve known so many people who’ve chosen their own names, I’m far less worried about wearability or popularity - most adults I know choose names that are either hyper trending or very weird. I tend to go on the weirder side of things and don’t favor names that get too popular, but I don’t judge anyone for liking a top ten choice. I also am able to relax a bit more about naming in general - names can change and I’m very open to my kid choosing their own name if the one I gave them doesn’t fit.
Also, mythology names are just cool.
I hate my birth name.
[name_f][/name_f]It’s a unique name. Think like [name_f]Alani[/name_f]. It just doesn’t fit me. I’ve never met anyone with my name, thankfully, but my siblings all got more common names (one has a very normal name for a half black kid, one has an -Aden name and the other has a name in the top five for girls). I chose the name [name_m]Karson[/name_m] for myself at first, easy to pronounce, a unique funky spelling. Then I started feeling more gender neutral, and have since changed my name to something else—similar to my deadname—but my parents don’t support the name change.
[name_f][/name_f]I’ve got 4 more years until my mom will think[name_f][/name_f] about accepting my proper name as my name.
[name_f][/name_f]As for middles? I adore one of them but it’s too common/feminine for it to ever be a name I chose for myself, the other is a basic name you find everywhere. [name_f]My[/name_f] chosen middle names are El1as and I’m uncertain on the second middle but Ik I want a second middle
I love my name and if it wasn’t my name, I’d 100% consider it for a daughter. Although it’s very popular where I’m from (it was the second most popular name the year I was born) it never really affected me and now I haven’t encountered someone with my name in a while (which is a record for me lol). Over the years the popularity of my name has gone down A LOT so it’s becoming more unique for younger kiddos which is nice.
[name_f][/name_f]But I think my name is simple yet a classic. It’s grounded yet very soft and can fit many people. I also love the meaning which is “battle-mighty” and “powerful battler”.
[name_f][/name_f]I think the names I like for future kids are in the same style as my own name; vintage and unique but recognizable and easy to spell.