How much have changed your names style over the years?

General Name Discussion
1

I think it would be funny to talk about how our names lists have changed over the years. Probably there were names we loved when we were younger and now we realise they weren’t so good as we used to think. Or maybe not.

For example, I used to like [name_u]Bentley[/name_u] and now I just can’t stand this name. [name_f]Maureen[/name_f] was on my girls list, too. And I had an insane obsesion with [name_m]Jedediah[/name_m], but now no more (although I still like the nickname [name_m]Jed[/name_m]). On the other hand, [name_u]Rory[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] has been a name that comes and goes to my list.

What about you?

2

I have a fairly long list of names like that (these are only some of them)
[name_u]Wyn[/name_u]
[name_m]Thomas[/name_m]
[name_m]Gunther[/name_m]
[name_u]Shane[/name_u]
[name_m]Asher[/name_m]
[name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_m]Tobias[/name_m]
[name_m]Brandt[/name_m]

[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]/[name_f]Alessandra[/name_f]
[name_u]Cassidy[/name_u]
[name_f]Violeta[/name_f]
[name_u]Madison[/name_u]
[name_u]Logan[/name_u]
[name_u]Blake[/name_u]
[name_u]Haley[/name_u]/[name_f]Hayley[/name_f]/[name_f]Hallie[/name_f]
[name_f]Heather[/name_f]
[name_f]Peony[/name_f]
[name_u]Max[/name_u]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
Hadysin
[name_f]Samantha[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Chloe[/name_f]
[name_f]Alyssa[/name_f]/[name_f]Alessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecilia[/name_f]
[name_u]Avery[/name_u]/[name_f]Ava[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_u]Ash[/name_u]/[name_f]Ashlyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Caylie[/name_f]/[name_f]Caitlyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]/[name_f]Cadie[/name_f]
[name_u]Calypso[/name_u]
[name_u]Kelsey[/name_u]/[name_u]Chelsea[/name_u]
[name_f]Crystal[/name_f]
[name_u]Dylan[/name_u]
[name_m]Austin[/name_m] [name_f]Loyce[/name_f] (Double barrel)
[name_f]Evelin[/name_f] (I was still gushing over this one when I made my username.)
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]

3

I think [name_u]Bentley[/name_u] is cute :slight_smile:

I used to love so many names, it’s unbelievable. So here is a little summarize:

  • At 4 years old I wanted to name my little brother “[name_m]Basile[/name_m], [name_u]Walker[/name_u] or McGyver”. ([name_u]Walker[/name_u] [name_u]Texas[/name_u] [name_m]Ranger[/name_m] & McGyver, the American TV shows my dad was watching haha)
  • At 12 years old, I was dreaming about “[name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], Lohan, [name_u]Neo[/name_u], [name_m]Matteo[/name_m], [name_m]Lorenzo[/name_m], [name_f]Elisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Trinity[/name_f]”
  • I started to go on the forums at 14 years old and to love a looooot of names. I was particularly loving “Matilio, Milovan, Titouan, [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], Similian, [name_m]Levi[/name_m], [name_m]Alois[/name_m], Zadig, [name_u]Shiloh[/name_u]/[name_m]Silo[/name_m]é, [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_u]Eden[/name_u], Ysée, [name_f]Anna[/name_f]”
  • Between 15 and 17, my favorite names became “[name_u]Elliott[/name_u], [name_m]Archibald[/name_m], [name_m]Gaspard[/name_m], [name_m]Augustin[/name_m], [name_m]Nils[/name_m], [name_m]Felix[/name_m], Arsène, Solal, [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], Zéphyr, [name_m]Milo[/name_m], Esmée, Ysée, Bohème, [name_f]Elinor[/name_f], [name_f]Cerise[/name_f], Automne, Louve, [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Maxine[/name_f]” Still my list today, almost 10 years later.
  • At 20 I moved to [name_u]America[/name_u] and at 21 I met my fiancé. Which means the list became much smaller and some names had to change ([name_m]Augustin[/name_m] became [name_u]August[/name_u]).
  • I started to love ore nature names after 20/21: [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_u]Everest[/name_u], [name_u]Orion[/name_u], [name_m]Oslo[/name_m], [name_m]Azur[/name_m], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Lark[/name_f], etc.
  • About 1,5/2 years ago I started to like more “American names”: [name_u]Hunter[/name_u], [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m], [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m], [name_m]Griffin[/name_m], [name_u]Presley[/name_u], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u], [name_f]Blythe[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]. Names that I will never be able to give to my kids.
4

My boys list has rarely changed, but my girls, oh my! I’ll see if I can remember all the stages!

The earliest I can remember is basically the same as my girls list is now; [name_u]Kennedy[/name_u] was definitely number one! I also remember loving [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_u]Addison[/name_u], [name_f]Ella[/name_f]-[name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], [name_u]Meredith[/name_u], [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f], [name_f]Chelsea[/name_f], [name_f]Kelly[/name_f], [name_f]Courtney[/name_f] and [name_f]Kaitlyn[/name_f] as a 10 year old.

At about 15 or so, my list adapted and had a lot of “creative” spellings - Irelynne, Meghanne, [name_f]Katheryne[/name_f], [name_f]Brooklynne[/name_f], etc. Also, [name_u]Bristol[/name_u], [name_f]Braelyn[/name_f], [name_f]Averie[/name_f], [name_u]Emerson[/name_u], [name_f]Everleigh[/name_f], [name_u]London[/name_u] and [name_f]Kaelynn[/name_f] first appeared around now.

By 16, I started following the UK name stats solely, and the majority of previous names (except maybe [name_u]Addison[/name_u], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Rosie[/name_f] and [name_f]Poppy[/name_f]) fell off the list. I then liked [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f], [name_f]Gemma[/name_f], [name_u]Nicola[/name_u], [name_f]Holly[/name_f], [name_f]Kirsty[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Martha[/name_f], [name_f]Millie[/name_f], [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], [name_f]Darcie[/name_f] and [name_f]Harriet[/name_f].

Shortly after that I got into more frilly names - [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Acacia[/name_f], [name_f]Freya[/name_f] [name_f]Melisande[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] Illyria, [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f]Fiorella[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f] [name_f]Pomeline[/name_f], [name_f]Ariana[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] [name_f]Fiammetta[/name_f], [name_f]Maude[/name_f] [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], etc., but I soon realised that frilly wasn’t really my thing.

Then I got into more vintage names - [name_f]Millicent[/name_f], [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Agatha[/name_f], [name_f]Florence[/name_f], [name_f]Doris[/name_f], [name_f]Edna[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], etc.

Eventually, after meeting S/O, my name style came full circle. I guess you could say it’s kind of a mix now, but I lean to more “American” names now.

5

I cant say over years, but it sure has changed since I joined nameberry a few months ago
I used to love grandma names such as [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] and [name_f]Louise[/name_f] and didnt mind popular names like [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
My style was still weird but the names I choose now are more unusual and the combos are more balanced
I also have added more Nordic names to my list, and I try to have a theme
There are some names I still love, like [name_f]Marlene[/name_f] and [name_m]Lukas[/name_m] though

6

I loved the names [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f] when I was younger. I still like [name_u]Mackenzie[/name_u] and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] but they’re too common and don’t really fit my style whereas the name [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f] just doesn’t sit right with me anymore.

Apart from these three, my naming style has barely changed (that I can recall) - I always seem to focus on fluidity and variety of consonant sounds with subtle honourings for family members.

7

My naming taste has not changed dramatically. As far as I can remember, I have always liked names that are not used for both genders and are not invented. I preferred and still prefer traditional names. I have used and would use names with personal meaning.

When I was in elementary school, my first name {[name_f]Rea[/name_f]} was often mispronounced (and I have never understood why). I hated it because it was too short. I would like to be named something longer. I started using my middle name {[name_f]Eleonora[/name_f]} then. And gradually it became [name_f]Nora[/name_f].
Girls: “strong” and long names with “harsh” sounds - [name_f]Odelia[/name_f], [name_f]Christina[/name_f], [name_f]Marcella[/name_f]
Boys: traditional names - [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m], [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], [name_m]Victor[/name_m]

During my teen years, my family used to travel a lot. I started liking “foreing” names, somewhat softer.
Girls: [name_f]Antonia[/name_f], [name_f]Amedea[/name_f], [name_f]Leopoldine[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] {my grandmother had a cat at that time and I have named her [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]}
Boys: [name_m]Amedeo[/name_m], [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], [name_m]Domenico[/name_m], [name_m]Matteo[/name_m]

After my daughter’s birth (10.1998) and my boyfriend’s death (08.1998), I didn’t care about names for a while. My sister (who has recently welcomed her 8th and -hopefully- last child) has asked my help for naming her children (two of them are older than my daughter). She never let me use two middle names, which I like a lot.
My nephews: [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m] (1996), [name_m]Brendan[/name_m] [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] (2002), [name_m]Stephan[/name_m] [name_m]Marcello[/name_m] (2004), [name_m]Victor[/name_m] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m] (2009)
My nieces: [name_f]Olga[/name_f] [name_f]Irene[/name_f] (1994), [name_f]Annemarie[/name_f] [name_f]Theresa[/name_f] (2002), Freyja [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] (2007), [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Leopoldine/name_f

I have lived for some months in Turkey and [name_f]India[/name_f] as well as a few years in Greece. I liked names native to those countries and I still do. Some of them would be out if I had a baby, some would be on the list (like [name_f]Callista[/name_f]).

After I have registered on Nameberry, I started liking more names. I would never use some of them even if I had 20 children because of pronunciation problems (like [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], [name_f]Claire[/name_f] and [name_m]William[/name_m]). I still like traditional names, I still don’t mind popularity (my daughter’s first name was number 1 in Germany for some years, as well as in 1998), I still dislike unisex names. But I have added a variety of names, variations of them, feminisations and nicknames.

9

I used to [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] unique/trendy names. I had planned on using the names [name_u]Brayden[/name_u], [name_m]Ryker[/name_m], or [name_m]Gannon[/name_m] one day. But these names, and variations of them became popular in my area. Now I’m loving [name_m]Henry[/name_m], [name_m]Luke[/name_m], and [name_m]Jack[/name_m]. A big difference in style!

10

I cringe at my taste in names when I was younger. My list of favorite names was a combination of odd misspellings of names, such as [name_f]Kennadie[/name_f], [name_f]Kaela[/name_f] and Aeden, of out-there place names, like [name_u]Brooklyn[/name_u], Manhattan, and [name_f]Olympia[/name_f], of Disney princess names ([name_f]Aurora[/name_f] and [name_u]Ariel[/name_u]) and [name_f]Barbie[/name_f] movie names (like [name_f]Isla[/name_f] and [name_u]Hadley[/name_u]). Now, I would never even think about naming a child something like that, and prefer, subtler, more classic names such as [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], [name_f]Julia[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] for girls, and [name_u]James[/name_u], [name_m]Simon[/name_m], [name_u]Jude[/name_u] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] for boys.
I have always had a soft spot for Gaelic girl names consistantly throughout my life, such as [name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f], [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] and [name_f]Aoife[/name_f]. That is the only thing that has remained the same

11

I was definitely into more basic/“mainstream” names than I am now. [name_m]Even[/name_m] since I joined NB almost three years ago (woooooooooooooow), my taste has evolved dramatically.

My list from [name_f]May[/name_f] 7, 2014:

[name_u]Aiden[/name_u] [name_m]Jeremy[/name_m] - I don’t like either one of these names now. At all.
[name_m]Beckett[/name_m] [name_m]Foster[/name_m] - Ended up being a character’s name who isn’t being used. I like [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] nn [name_u]Kit[/name_u], but I’m not keen on [name_m]Foster[/name_m].
[name_u]Dylan[/name_u] [name_m]Caleb[/name_m] (ended up being one of my characters’ names) - Both far too common for me to enjoy.
[name_m]Clark[/name_m] [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] - I like [name_m]Clark[/name_m], but not [name_m]Daniel[/name_m] now.
[name_u]Jay[/name_u] [name_m]Trevor[/name_m] - Nope. I still like [name_u]Jay[/name_u] as a nickname for [name_u]James[/name_u], but I’m put off by it due to a certain person I know.
[name_u]Lex[/name_u] [name_m]Sean[/name_m] - Dear [name_m]Lord[/name_m]. So much is bad about this. [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Sean[/name_m] with the nickname [name_u]Lex[/name_u] might not be so bad, but this one is a nightmare.
[name_m]Patrick[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] - I don’t mind this one too much, but the reasoning behind [name_m]William[/name_m] is BAD. The guy I wanted to honor turned out to be awful and destroyed my best friend after they broke up. Also, he lied about being my friend for, like, a year.
[name_m]Raphael[/name_m] [name_u]Orion[/name_u] - One of the only ones I still like. I enjoy both of these names together and like them individually as well.
[name_m]Seamus[/name_m] [name_u]Dean[/name_u] - I still like [name_m]Seamus[/name_m], but I can’t stand [name_u]Dean[/name_u]. That’s actually one of my managers’ names at work and I can’t stand him.
[name_m]Zachary[/name_m] [name_u]Michael[/name_u] “[name_m]Zach[/name_m]” - [name_m]Just[/name_m] too basic. Common and basic.

[name_f]Deirdre[/name_f] [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] - I don’t mind [name_f]Deirdre[/name_f], and [name_f]Michelle[/name_f] is an honor name since that’s my mom’s name.
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Diane[/name_f] - Still like [name_f]Felicity[/name_f], am not keen on [name_f]Diane[/name_f].
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] [name_f]Lona[/name_f] - I like [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] still, but I honestly have no idea where [name_f]Lona[/name_f] came from. I’m not even sure it’s a real name.
Liara [name_f]Jane[/name_f] - I actually still like this combo, but Liara is literally the name of a blue alien video game character.
[name_f]Nova[/name_f] [name_f]Wednesday[/name_f] - Two kinda weird names put together. I still like them both individually.
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]Sojourner[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Sojourner[/name_f], don’t like [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] because it’s extremely common and overused.
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_f]Ines[/name_f] - I still like both names, and [name_f]Ines[/name_f] was an honor name for my best friend, whose middle name is [name_f]Ines[/name_f].
[name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] [name_f]Flora[/name_f] - I would actually keep this as a combo, although I might flip it to [name_f]Flora[/name_f] [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f].
[name_f]Winona[/name_f] [name_f]Kirsten[/name_f] - No. No no no no no no no. [name_f]Kirsten[/name_f] is not at all my style anymore, and to tell you the truth, neither is [name_f]Winona[/name_f].

12

I started going on name forums when I was about 14. I used to love funky spellings, mostly gothy / fantasy sounding names.

Then I got into super obscure names I would pull from census records circa 1300-1700.

Then I became a bit more mainstream and vintage - [name_f]Ramona[/name_f], [name_f]Dottie[/name_f]…That kind of thing. Boys names stayed traditional at this point.

Then I got out of names. I went to college, I became very active in social movements and I became aware that attitudes towards names, especially in the “naming community” were overall harmful and not something I was interested in perpetuating.

I got the name bug again maybe a year ago? But my tastes and opinions have morphed and changed a hell of a lot. I used to be extremely uptight about made up names, alternative spellings, sticking to traditional ideas concerning gender, and I realize that a lot of those views are not only sexist, but also racist (I’ll own up to it- calling names ghetto, shitting on names I deemed as made-up, holding people up to European beauty standards, even when it came to names, exceptions were what I saw as “ethnic”, then it was fine…with no real grasp on power dynamics, institutionalized racism and oppression, sexism…I was a hot mess and I’m actually super embarrassed about it, but I’ll own up to it and hope that other people start considering these factors as well))

My name style currently sticks with what I consider softer sounds, I no longer adhere to traditional ideas concerning gender and names, I also tend to like more modern, sometimes made up, sometimes funky spelled, names. I’m 100% ok with that.