I’m considering giving my son an unusual name, and I’d appreciate opinions on the names I am trying to decide between… Also, I was wondering what other people’s unusually-named children have experienced - any excessive teasing (we are quite an eccentric family, anyway) or annoyance at having to constantly spell/explain it?
The names are Pegasus, Adrastos, Tarka, [name]Peregrine[/name], [name]Ezekiel[/name], [name]Cato[/name] or [name]Marmaduke[/name].
Thank you!
All of these are unusual, but some are more accessible than others. I’d stay away from Arastos and [name]Marmaduke[/name].
But, Pegasus, [name]Ezekiel[/name], Tarka and [name]Cato[/name] seem ok. I wonder if the root [name]Peg[/name]- will lead to teasing (i.e., [name]Peggie[/name]?) in school?
Honestly some of those names are kind of hard to picture a little boy growing up with.
[name]Marmaduke[/name] could be a long version of [name]Duke[/name], but it would be better to just name him [name]Duke[/name]. The name that I really like though is [name]Ezekiel[/name], but I don’t think that it is really that unusual since it’s 241 on the ssa list.
I can look up some more simple unusual names if you would like?
I like [name]Ezekiel[/name] nn [name]Zeke[/name] the most on your list. My great grandfather was named [name]Marmaduke[/name] and he went by [name]Duke[/name]. My grandfather’s middle name was [name]Marmaduke[/name]. He didn’t like it. His younger brother’s name was [name]Duke[/name] and he liked that name.
Pegasus: I’d stay away from this one due to inevitable [name]Peggy[/name] teasing that was already mentioned. I also think teasing may arise from being named after a magical flying horse.
Arastos: I think this one is handsome on an adult, but I can only picture it on a little boy who gets pelted in dodge ball games on recess. I just think it may be a source of teasing.
Tarka: Tarka sounds really feminine to me, and a lot like a parka.
[name]Peregrine[/name]: I think most people know of the falcon, but I do think pronunciation issues may arise. ([name]How[/name] do you feel about the [name]Perry[/name] nickname? I imagine people will call him that.)
[name]Ezekiel[/name]: This one is my favorite from your list, but like other said, it isn’t unusual anymore… I think it’s pretty cool! 
[name]Cato[/name]: For me [name]Cato[/name] is [name]Kato[/name] [name]Kaelin[/name], that permanent houseguest featured in [name]Nicole[/name] [name]Brown[/name] [name]Simpson[/name]'s murder trial. [name]Kato[/name] lived with [name]Nicole[/name] and OJ, and was all over the media for years.
[name]Marmaduke[/name]: [name]Marmaduke[/name] is 100% cartoon character to me, but I think the [name]Duke[/name] nickname is interesting.
From your list, I’d go with Ezekial, although that kind of defeats the unusual name goal. I suppose I’d go with [name]Peregrine[/name] and Arastos in second and third places.
I think all of the names on your list could definitely be used in the middle, where you can be as unusual as you want (within reason) without your little boy having to pay the consequences.
Best wishes to you!
I want to add that [name]Pam[/name] once posted a great idea: If you’re wondering how a name will be perceived in the real world, you (or your husband) can always introduce yourself to people using the given name in question, while paying attention to their reactions.
Some more names from Greek mythology (although they may not be unusual enough):
[name]Cadmus[/name]
[name]Evander[/name]
[name]Jovan[/name]
[name]Leander[/name]
[name]Orion[/name]
[name]Ulysses[/name]
Good luck!
My pick would be [name]Ezekiel[/name] (nn [name]Zeke[/name]).
I’d have to vote for [name]Peregrine[/name]. I knew a boy in grade school named that and he was really nice. He got in trouble a lot, but that was because he was constantly thinking up things that never occurred to anyone else. He was called [name]Perry[/name] sometimes, but not too often. Great name.
I’m sorry but I think at worst a boy with these names would be teased mercilessly, at best he would go by a nn and when asked for his given name… he would be teased mercilessly.
I guess think of what draws you to those names and then look for names in a similar style but are more “accessible” and would be easier for a child to live with? Nicknames are sweet but I don’t really understand the concept of giving a child an “out-there” first name just to have them go by a normal-sounding nn or middle name. Why not just give them the regular-sounding name in the first place? (Not saying this is your plan, just wanted to throw that in there.)
I like the idea of looking at other mythological names. Good luck!
Adrastos and [name]Peregrine[/name] are by far my favorites. [name]Both[/name] are lovely and strong in their full spelling but allow for nn too. Neither has any bad or painfully obvious associations.
- [name]Ezekiel[/name] is top 10 here in [name]Hawaii[/name], but a very good name.
- Pegasus would definitely get [name]Peggy[/name] as a nn. Plus I don’t think naming people after animals is a good idea (Pegasus was the proper name of an animal, as opposed to peregrine. This makes a difference to me somehow)
- [name]Marmaduke[/name] - no comment. It’s that bad. Sorry.
- Tarko - don’t mind but don’t love either. But then I don’t know the story behind the name.
- [name]Cato[/name] - OK but nothing special (I wouldn’t worry about the [name]Kato[/name] [name]Kaelin[/name] association at all)
Having grown up with a very common name I can’t speak to what it’s like growing up with an eccentric name.
But I can tell you that no one is immune to teasing or occasional mispelling. My name is [name]Nicole[/name], top 10 for my birth decade and I STILL get it mispelled as [name]Nichole[/name] and got teased as a kid (5 cents, Sicky [name]Nicky[/name] etc). Unless it’s truly obvious, like you name your kid Assman, I think it’s OK.
Is Tarka from the movie Tarka the Otter?
I [name]LOVE[/name] otters - and this makes me love this name, even though I said before that I didn’t think people should be named after animal’s proper names. I reserve myself in this case!
Tarka would be a great name for an outdoorsy little boy. Unlike previous posters I don’t think it’s too feminine at all.
So now my preferences a re (in order) Tarka, Adrastos, [name]Peregrine[/name] (3rd only b/c of the nn [name]Perry[/name])
Thank you so much to everyone who has left advice!
[name]Jill[/name], I love your suggestion of how to try names out - we’re going to give it a go if we get the chance.
We’re coming to a decision …
We’ve decided to stay away from Pegasus as a first name, because of the large amounts of weirdness attached to the nn [name]Peggy[/name] (which personally I love, but I can see it wouldn’t be great for him). I’d tricked myself into thinking it would be fine, as we know a [name]Gabriel[/name] (very unusual here in [name]England[/name]) who goes by [name]Gaby[/name], which is used by the much more common Gabriellas … but now I can see this isn’t really the same!
We will probably reserve [name]Marmaduke[/name] for use as a middle name, as it isn’t one of my absolute favourites, and is also a little, well, poncy is probably the best word! On the suggestion of just naming him [name]Duke[/name] - a nice nn, but I live in [name]England[/name], and we still have real Dukes here, so it would be the same as giving him a title name like [name]Prince[/name], and I am not so fond of that trend.
I am quite fond of [name]Ulysses[/name], but I think that perhaps, as the myth is so well known, this one is too obviously mythological (as with Pegasus).
moxielove - I totally agree with you about the teasing! I think most of the names are okay, anyway, it was just Pegasus which was such a problem.
[name]Ezekiel[/name] - I still love this. I am actually not sure about the [name]Zeke[/name] nn, but I don’t really want to choose a name just based on the nn, anyway. About it’s popularity - wow, top ten in [name]Hawaii[/name]? It’s extremely unusual here in [name]England[/name] (perhaps more so than [name]Peregrine[/name]), as people actively avoid giving their children obviously biblical names. As long as we do not name our other children [name]Zebediah[/name] or some such, it won’t prompt teasing, though.
[name]Cato[/name] - this is still one of my favourites. Here in [name]England[/name], the [name]Kato[/name] [name]Kaelin[/name] association won’t really feature (I actually had to Google that to know what you were talking about…), so I still love it.
Adrastos - I do love this name, and the meaning, but we don’t think the sound flows particularly well, and so we’re pretty sure it will be a middle name … also, there is no obvious nn, and a friend says it reminds her of asbestos (although, I’m not too worried about that last one). [name]Jill[/name], you paint a very vivid picture of the dodge ball game - now I’m reminded of it whenever I consider the name! I can see what you’re saying.
[name]Peregrine[/name] - this is one of our absolute favourites, with Tarka and [name]Cato[/name], but we’re considering having it as a mn, because I am really not fond of any of the nns - [name]Reggie[/name], Grin, or, most obvious, [name]Perry[/name]. There was a TV show (perhaps it was only on in [name]England[/name], I don’t know), but the two main characters were these teenagers called [name]Kevin[/name] and [name]Perry[/name]. The show was DISGUSTING, and I really hate the names now. But then again, the boy lmcw knew doesn’t sound bad at all - I just can’t get the association out of my head, especially as a member of our extended family is called [name]Kevin[/name].
Tarka - parka isn’t a word we use a lot in [name]England[/name], so I shouldn’t think it would be much of a problem - besides, we just adore the name too much! I can see that the ‘a’ is feminine, but I think the rest of the name is harsh enough in the sound of it that that is balanced out (and moxielove agrees :D)
Bizarre as it seems, yes, Tarka is from the books Tarka the Otter (I didn’t know there was a movie - wow). They are not very well-known at all, as they are very old (I haven’t even read them, as they are not sold in non-specialist book stores. My dad - the generation who knew the books - mentioned them and I fell in love with the name), so I don’t think he would be teased for the otter connection.
So here are some combinations we’ve been playing around with - opinions and other suggestions would be fantastic! (Two middle names is a family tradition.)
Tarka [name]Peregrine[/name] Adrastos
[name]Ezekiel[/name] [name]Daphnis[/name] [name]Peregrine[/name]
[name]Cato[/name] [name]Marmaduke[/name] Pyxis
(We also love [name]Daphnis[/name] and Pyxis - the latter is a constellation - but we think they are best as middle names, as [name]Daphnis[/name] is so close to the feminine form and I wouldn’t be able to stop myself calling Pyxis, Pixie for short - and there is too much invitation for teasing in that, especially as, going by us, it’s quite likely he won’t be very tall.)
Again, thank you all so much!
These are very interesting combinations, and I think you’ve done a good job picking something distinctive without making it flamebait on the playground!
I like the middle option the best, but all would work, I think. Good luck!
Tarka [name]Peregrine[/name] Adrastos: I prefer [name]Ezekiel[/name] and the flow of its combo, and do worry about Tarka’s safety during dodge ball games.
[name]Ezekiel[/name] [name]Daphnis[/name] [name]Peregrine[/name]: This one gets my vote! I picture a handsome, cool, bright boy who grows up to become a benevolent millionaire. (And he’ll be safe on recess!)
[name]Cato[/name] [name]Marmaduke[/name] Pyxis: [name]Even[/name] though [name]Kato[/name] [name]Kaelin[/name] isn’t known in [name]England[/name], thereby preseving [name]Cato[/name] for you, I’m thinking pronunciation issues may arise: [name]Cate[/name]-oh or Caht-oh.
Good luck!
I still love [name]Ezekiel[/name]!
Most boys named [name]Gabriel[/name] in the US go by [name]Gabe[/name], not [name]Gabby[/name]. I love [name]Gabe[/name].
[name]Ezekiel[/name] is a Bible Name and is my fav out of your list
[name]Ezekiel[/name] [name]Daphnis[/name] [name]Peregrine[/name] is a fabulous name! I think [name]Zeke[/name] is the common nn for [name]Ezekiel[/name] in the US but there is some teasing potential with the EZ- beginning.
Second choice would be Tarka [name]Peregrine[/name] Adrastos.
I like the names: Kailas, [name]Avidan[/name], [name]Caspian[/name], Asael ([name]Love[/name] it!), Aslan, [name]Kendrick[/name].
[name]Don[/name]'t forget, [name]Fielder[/name]! and [name]Caspar[/name] or [name]Gaspard[/name]
Kailas [name]Fielder[/name] [name]Caspian[/name]
Asael [name]Fielder[/name] [name]Caspar[/name]