There are plenty of names that are too “out there”, but I have never seen most of them in use, so they don’t really cross my mind that often. Like, as much as I love Snapdragon for a boy, I know that it has very little real world usability, so it doesn’t even make the top 20. That being said, my daughter has a new little friend in her play group named Earthchild (apparently her mn is [name_f]Antonia[/name_f]). I do think it is quite lovely, however it feels too out there even for me. I have met two other people with “child” names in my life, both are now adults who love their names (Honeychild is in her 50s and Moonchild is 31).
It’s interesting to see people have “weirder” name tastes than me.
I think “Earthchild” would be a rather interesting nickname, but never never never as a given name!
By the way, I think Rosemint is perfectly useable. Certainly a little “strange,” but it is nowhere near over-the-top! Rosaminta is an accepted name, and Rosemint is basically the same thing, just a bit simpler.
Larkspur would also be rather interesting.
Also, looking at your Boys names…it is rather funny. I know siblings named [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] (girl) and [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] (boy). You know of the saint? Aurelias Ambrosias (or something like that).
I just recently saw a birth annoucement for a little boy named “Eagleboy”. I’m with you, I like some weird names, but sometimes they’re too much.
Also, commenting on your guilty pleasure list, I know a little girl named Larkspur. She’s Larkspur [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f] and her brothers Peregrine Tempest. Her mother has asperger’s (it’s an austism spectrum disorder and they don’t tend to have very well developed social skills or understanding). She calls her nothing but Larkspur and insists others do too. She’s the second person I’ve met with this disorder and I read a book by [name_m]John[/name_m] [name_m]Elder[/name_m] [name_m]Robinson[/name_m] who has it and he named his son Cubby.
So…kind of went off track there, but yea. Earthchild is strange but I do think Larkspur works
I wonder if Earthchild’s parents just wanted to ensure mere mortals like us that although they were “strange beings”, their issue was an earthling and wasn’t a “mutant being” from another planet. Ok, so just call her [name_f]Antonia[/name_f] then and I’ll believe you!
She has a 14 year old brother named [name_m]Zeus[/name_m]. Is it weird that I can find Earthchild on babycenter, but not half of the names on my signature.
I think [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] is acceptable btw.
Oh and I really should color coordinate my GP’s too. I like Larkspur on a boy. Rosemint and [name_f]Plum[/name_f] go back and forth for me. I just feel that everyone would just call her [name_f]Rose[/name_f] , which to me, defeats the purpose of picking an unusual name. I still love it, but doubt I would use it kwim?
I have 2 brothers in the autism spectrum (one who has Asbergers and the other is moderate-severe autistic). I use to go to support group with the brother who is autistic and one of the women in the group was OBSESSED with horticulture. Her botanically named children put my names to shame. She had 2 daughters names
Mulberry Pennyroyal and the other was an infant she used to bring to group named Hemlock [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f].
Oh that’s so weird. I know some young, darling twins who used to go to the daycare. the girl was [name_u]Penny[/name_u] ([name_f]Penelope[/name_f]) and the boy was [name_m]Royal[/name_m]. O_o We also had a [name_f]Forsythia[/name_f] at the daycare for a while. That kid was a genius.
I think Larkspur would be awesome on a boy (I think [name_f]Lark[/name_f] on it’s own is cool on a boy).
Earthchild doesn’t appeal to me. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t care for ‘child’ names. Unfortunately, I don’t run into many interesting names but I know a 30-something guy named [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]. He goes by [name_u]Jazz[/name_u]
I used Snapdragon as a mn for a boy in a game; the nn was [name_m]Draco[/name_m]. And his brother had the mn Dandelion with the nn [name_m]Leo[/name_m]
Larkspur is on my boy list too! I also have [name_m]Sol[/name_m], Foxglove, and [name_u]Yarrow[/name_u]. Everyone I tell thinks [name_f]Lark[/name_f] is too girly yet Larkspur, nn [name_f]Lark[/name_f] somehow gets a pass.
Oh, [name_f]Forsythia[/name_f]. I love it so much but could never use it. (Apparently one of my great aunts married a man with the last name Forsythe and he was not a very nice man. I think my family would publically shun me if I used anything related to Forsythe. It would almost be like using [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] to my nom’s family). [name_m]Royal[/name_m] is interesting. I love, repeat [name_f]LOVE[/name_f], your daughter’s name. I know a lot of interestingly named children because of the circle of friends that I keep. Only one has what most would call normal names.
[name_m]Ah[/name_m], hippies, bless. That said, in my more religious past I liked Evensong for a girl. Any Anglicans/[name_f]CoE[/name_f] peeps out there…you’re welcome
It’s always interesting to see where people draw the line. There’s a rather contentious thread on the name [name_f]Mandolin[/name_f], and that plus this post have gotten me wondering why some names seem usable and others don’t. My personal favorites include [name_f]Marigold[/name_f], [name_u]Sailor[/name_u], Valkyrie, and [name_m]Waldo[/name_m], all of which have gotten mixed to incredulous reception here on Nameberry. And yet Earthchild – and [name_f]Mandolin[/name_f] – seem outright ridiculous to me.
I think the way we interpret names has so much to do with how we perceive their parents’ intentions. Earthchild, for instance, seems to solicit eyerolling and accusations of hippy pretension. My first thought was “Ugh, seriously? Your kid is not that special.” I know that nothing gets on my nerves more than names that seem ignorant ([name_f]Mandolin[/name_f] seems like a phonetic mistake: [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] misspelled).
I’m not sure where I’m going with this. I’m certainly not going to abandon my prejudices: Earthchild and [name_f]Mandolin[/name_f] are ridiculous. But it helps to know the perspective from which I make that judgment.
Thank you! I think she has a beautiful name, but I’m biased.
I know a good number of interestingly named babies and people because of my circle too. We’re mostly pagans, artists, musicians, writers…you know, those people. So I know a good number of boys with girl names, people with unusual word names, things like that.
augusta_lee – I think it’s interesting too. See, I am cool with really ancient names other people find ridiculous, like Archimedes or Beowulf. Hell, I’m beginning my transition and when I picked my male name it’s [name_u]Remy[/name_u] Archimedes…but yea…Earthchild, [name_f]Mandolin[/name_f], Eagleboy…these names make me go “what?!”
I like Larkspur a lot actually. I’m a sucker for never-popular flower names and obscure gemstone names.
Yeah, gemstones are where I have to admit: I like Lazuli too, and [name_f]Peridot[/name_f]. I knew a gorgeous girl named [name_f]Topaz[/name_f] once and I’ve never forgotten it.
I [name_f]ADORE[/name_f] mentioned-upthread [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]. But, and this is a bit overboard for even most Berries, I also secretly like Peacemaker.
So I know a good number of boys with girl names, people with unusual word names, things like that.