Odd Baby Names

Although not all odd baby names are necessarily bad names, they may raise an eyebrow or two when everyone hears the big announcement.

Names that sound gorgeous to you and your spouse may sound like a train wreck to everyone else who hears them. If you are looking for an uncommon baby name or want to avoid one, keep in mind that choosing a name with particular characteristics will make people scratch their heads.

Love Harley Davidson motorcycles? Did a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey contribute to the conception of the new cutie pie? Win a college track championship in your favorite pair of Nikes? As the world becomes more tuned into brand power, some parents may be tempted to give their bundle of joy a name that reflects the prior love of their life. Though it may seem like the perfect blend of your favorite things, it really is only making your child a walking, talking advertisement for the company. And if you end up switching loyalties, your new baby will be a constant reminder of a time gone by.

If you must bestow a corporate moniker upon someone in the family, stick to the family dog or cat.

People, places, events and material items can all be a sign of the times, but naming your child after the Olympic Games because she was born during the opening ceremonies can be a bit much. Think twice about naming your child after political figures or celebrities who are still alive—after all, you never know what scandal is likely to pop up next. Likewise, little Gandalf may not share your love of Lord of the Rings when he turns 15. Instead, save a newspaper from the day to put in the baby book.

Spelling and pronunciation are essential to the understanding of the English language, and are a key component in the school systems. Yet even the most educated amongst us might consider tossing out those rules in favor of a name that is spelled or pronounced strangely.

For example, a classic name like Jennifer might be appealing. You may want to avoid a "commonplace" name—after all, your daughter is special, so you bestow a special spelling to make her name unique. Jennifer thus becomes "Genifyr," instantly sentencing her to a lifelong spelling bee.

Some parents may fancy themselves wordsmiths. They cannot decide between several names, so of course, the best course of action is to combine them. Rienatt (combo of Rick, Ben and Matt) may not find the idea so appealing. If you like too many names, try hyphenating the middle name to include more of your favorites. This is also a good way to include family names from both sides of the tree.

Others may put a spin on that idea, taking a word or name they like and writing it backwards. Voila, a brand new name! If you like Amen as a name, why bother with Nema? Just name the child the original word. It is still odd without being unpronounceable.

Although certain names are ambiguous (Terry, Chris and Jordan), many have a particular gender assigned to them by society. When you name a girl George or a boy Ashley, it can lead to some potentially embarrassing situations. Though some names slowly evolve from one gender to the other (like Addison, which is often given to girls, despite originally being a boy’s name), it is unlikely you will turn the tides yourself.

Parents-to-be often agonize over what to name their child. What one partner thinks is a cute and unusual name, the other thinks is totally outrageous. Many hospitals require you to fill out the birth certificate paperwork before leaving, giving you anywhere from 24 to 72 hours to compromise if the issue has not been settled before delivery.

Children today often have a middle name (or two). If you or your partner insists on using an odd baby name, make it the middle name. This way, you are not making the child suffer, while still honoring the wishes of your partner.

Despite the negative stigma attached to peculiar names, you may still want to give your child a unique baby name. Use the world around you to generate ideas, or check out these websites:

• Baby Names Heaven Top Odd Names: Over 25 names are listed for boys and girls, though some may not be so much odd as they are out of fashion (Dianna and Broderick, for example).
• Baby Names Generator: This program searches out odd names and even invents some, too!
• Name Voyager from The Baby Name Wizard: The popular baby naming book has a feature on its website that allows you to search by decade or name for popularity ranking of names. Use this tool to double check that your favorite name is offbeat and rare.

While unusual names often get a bad rap, it is important to note that you and your partner have the final say when it comes down to it. If you have a special reason for loving the name or it just seems to "fit" your new darling, then you should use the name. Take any misspellings and mispronunciations in stride—after all, you were looking for something out of the ordinary.

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