Will using an "out there" name hurt my child? - Page 3

[mags]

I wouldn't worry about it. I think that your children's names do sound different, in a good way, but they are not, "out there" as much as some other ones I have run across. FWIW, I was given a very out of fashion, "classic" name and omg, I was teased soooo badly from elementary all the way through high school. Don't ever name your dd, "Margaret." I wince when I hear ppl saying that it's back in style to go with classic names, b/c growing up as a "Margaret" in the 70's and 80's really sucked. Oh and would you believe that only ONE person spelled my name correctly in my senior yr book? The only reason he spelled it correctly, was b/c his grandma was a, "Margaret." So, don't let spelling worry you either, b/c apparantly ppl can't spell, "classic" names if their life depended on it. Even my own father spells my name incorrectly...

[philomom]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

It happens all the time. One of my life-long friends changed her last name to Rodriguez after she got married, and both of them are VERY caucasian looking (Her DH is like 1/8th hispanic, but he carries on the last name). She gets overlooked all the time because of her last name. But, when she goes by her English maiden name she gets called back much, much more frequently.

Yes, and I have to admit when I'm searching for a new doctor or care provider, I always dismiss the ones with very odd or "too ethnic sounding" names.

[1littlebit]

i have an unusual name and i think i got teased for everything but that. in a perfect world i think fable is a really pretty name and i think if i ever had a unicorn that is what i would name her (not an insult it just seems really pretty and whimsical to me)

my main concern with names are what are the possible nicknames, how does it sounds with my last name, and what are the odds of it causing snap judgements great enough to influence their lives.

i think fay as a nickname for fable is cute ... the only one i could think of for Zeplin is zippy so that would rule that one out for me but if your family isnt prone to nicknames it might not matter for you

i think for the most part name related humor is an elementary school thing so as far as feeble, lies, hindenburg, and 80's bands i think your safe there. more then likely i see fable being associated with a horse.. maybe b/c it rhymes with stable but i am sure that will not scar her for life. i think your safe with zeplin since the 10 yr old in me is drawing a blank.

career wise i think it could go either way... i can definitely see someone passing over a person because of their name. adults would make the connections to the name that children wouldn't and it could subconsciously influence a decision. or they could read it and say fable? um no, next applicant. but then they might not even read the name or they might not care yk?

[LibertyBelle]

I think Fable is very pretty sounding.

Zeplin, I'm not so sure about this one. I don't mean this in a rude way, but it sounds like a name someone would pick to try and pick a cool hipster name for their kid. Very hollywood.

Either way, you've got to go with what you can picture yourself calling your child every day. Don't worry about future careers. A weird name isn't going to hold them back, it'll just help them stand out in a crowd.

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

Originally Posted by philomom

Yes, and I have to admit when I'm searching for a new doctor or care provider, I always dismiss the ones with very odd or "too ethnic sounding" names.

This is a good example. When you know nothing about someone and are trying to decide to hire them (whether as an employee or a doctor or what have you) you only have what's on a piece of paper. I've skipped over doctors because of their sex (male gynecologists scare me), therapists because of names (I have some serious family abuse issues and I know from personal experience that certain cultures are more supportive of family abuse than others), and other professionals because of stated interests. The fact of the matter is that often in this society we have to go by at a glance impressions and can't really look at the whole person.

[Shabbers]

Originally Posted by sunflwrmoonbeam

Being a Pagan, I know many people who name their children after Pagan Gods. In my mind there's little difference between Mary and Joshua and, say, Apollo and Persephone.

Heh. If the baby we're TTC is a girl, she'll almost definitely be named Athena.

There was a boy a year behind me in HS named Apollo. Sadly, his name wound up being almost a cruel joke - while the god was known as an ideal of physical beauty, the Apollo that I knew was seriously one of the ugliest guys I had ever met. Both inside and out - he was also a serious racist.

Sorry, kind of off topic there. >.>

[JorgieGirl]

I think naming your baby something different this day and age is doing them a favour! Fable is beautiful!!

Believe me, there are enough normal, average named people in the world. It's time to change it up and get creative. (and I don't mean that in the u-neek kind of way, like changing Addison to Addyson - that doesn't count).

I have a friend who named her dd Isis. Gorgeous girl with a very memorable name. She wont be forgotten or overlooked anytime soon.

If you love it, do it! And those people who give you grief can blow it out their arses.

[melamama]

I don't think either name is that out there. There are a lot of crazier names, and if you live near a large city there will be way more unusual names, add to that all sorts of unfamiliar (to Am. ears) international names.

I think Fable is lovely. I do think boy names can be harder, but I like your middle name choices, and if Zeplin is too much for him, he can always go by the middles or his initials. My boys have nontraditional names but they have slightly more trad. ones for their middles.

Also both names have clear spellings and don't remind you of other words spelled differently (though you might get that extra p with Zeplin). I think that is also a big plus.

[Ianthe]

I heard somewhere that girls with less common and more unique names have a better time with it that males who do. But I don't remember where I read or heard that.. maybe I'll try to look it up later

[philomom]

Originally Posted by sunflwrmoonbeam

This is a good example. When you know nothing about someone and are trying to decide to hire them (whether as an employee or a doctor or what have you) you only have what's on a piece of paper. I've skipped over doctors because of their sex (male gynecologists scare me), therapists because of names (I have some serious family abuse issues and I know from personal experience that certain cultures are more supportive of family abuse than others), and other professionals because of stated interests. The fact of the matter is that often in this society we have to go by at a glance impressions and can't really look at the whole person.

Thanks. I posted this to be honest about names. It was nice not to be flamed.

[kawa kamuri]

your name choices are rad

[Mal85]

I think Fable is a beautiful name and kind of wish I'd thought of it myself *mental note for next child*. I picture Fable as a very kind woman. I can imagine a child, a young woman, a middle aged person, and an elderly lady with this name.

Zeplin sounds cool but I can't imagine a grown man with that name. Well, yes I can... a grown man that plays a lot of video games. Maybe he'd go into the gaming industry or be really into computers. But if he wanted to do something more distinguished (politics, etc), he may resent the name. But the middle name would be an option... I dunno. I just tend to go with names I like and figure no matter what, by the time he/she is an adult they will have adjusted to it, having lived with it their whole life.

[Ceinwen]

I Fable - LOVE it!

Unfortunately I'm gonna have to steal it for my short list.

[NYMama27]

I am one of those people who will try to deter you from naming your child something that is really "out there," however your names sound just fine to me. That said, Beatrix is my favorite girl name of the moment.

[Ms. Cellaneous]

There have been studies that show that people with unusual names have a tougher time in the job market. Hiring managers make split second decisions and names do count. That's certainly not right or fair, but it is reality. Here are some links to research:

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insigh...tentId=1662901
"Findings – Results indicated that Common names were seen as least unique, best liked, and most likely to be hired. Unusual names were seen as most unique, least liked, and least likely to be hired. Russian and African-American names were intermediate in terms of uniqueness, likeability and being hired, significantly different from Common and Unique names, but not significantly different from each other."

Article with more links: http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...874955,00.html

That said, and while I'm pretty much a traditionalist with names, I do like Fable and I don't think it's too out there. I think it's pretty and easy to spell/say, and I can see it working with a range of different ages and personalities. The meaning of "a made-up story" does give me pause, but overall I like the name.

Zeplin -- I just see the Hindenberg, sorry. Big ball of flame, massive casualties, etc. I wouldn't do that to a kid.

[holyhelianthus]

I have no doubt those studies are true but the point is we need to change societies narrow perceptions not pander to them.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by mags

I wouldn't worry about it. I think that your children's names do sound different, in a good way, but they are not, "out there" as much as some other ones I have run across. FWIW, I was given a very out of fashion, "classic" name and omg, I was teased soooo badly from elementary all the way through high school. Don't ever name your dd, "Margaret." I wince when I hear ppl saying that it's back in style to go with classic names, b/c growing up as a "Margaret" in the 70's and 80's really sucked. Oh and would you believe that only ONE person spelled my name correctly in my senior yr book? The only reason he spelled it correctly, was b/c his grandma was a, "Margaret." So, don't let spelling worry you either, b/c apparantly ppl can't spell, "classic" names if their life depended on it. Even my own father spells my name incorrectly...

I don't know about you but people like to spell my name Margarete or Margarita because apparently Margaret is just too hard to believe.

[holyhelianthus]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

It happens all the time. One of my life-long friends changed her last name to Rodriguez after she got married, and both of them are VERY caucasian looking (Her DH is like 1/8th hispanic, but he carries on the last name). She gets overlooked all the time because of her last name. But, when she goes by her English maiden name she gets called back much, much more frequently.

Again, no doubt, but why are we talking about making this more acceptable instead of saying it's wrong and putting a stop to it? To me it's like not homebirthing because people will look down on you for it because it's not acceptable in mainstream society. If we stand up for HB this will someday no longer be a case. I dunno, I just dream of a world where people are judged on character and credential (for employment) and not their name- first or last.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by magstphil

Again, no doubt, but why are we talking about making this more acceptable instead of saying it's wrong and putting a stop to it?

I don't think it should be acceptable at all. But the reality is the reality.. there is no sense trying to ignore reality just because we don't like it. I hope that our children's generation will be more accepting of differences.. and I don't think anyone here is trying to tell the OP that she is making the wrong decision for her baby names.. she asked for honest opinions.

I LOVE unique and different names.. but I choose not to use them for my own children for the reasons mentioned here. I think someone can still use a unique name that is still "normal" However, I am not the OP and she gets to make the final choice

[soso-lynn]

Originally Posted by philomom

Yes, and I have to admit when I'm searching for a new doctor or care provider, I always dismiss the ones with very odd or "too ethnic sounding" names.

I will not flame you but I just need to point out how racist and ethnocentric that is, especially odd coming from someone with the username philomom. I thought it had to do with philosophy, but I guess it might just be that you have a daughter named philomena (which is a great name).