Possibly risking offending some, but genuine question.

grandMattie, Kane I like - but then I am a Tottenham Hotspur supporter ... Even so, I think ok for a middle name, but not a first name.

I've always thought it interesting that we had a very definite 'feel' for what would make good middle names for our children and yet would NEVER have contemplated them being first names. This seems to be the case with DD1 and SIL too - my DGs' middle name is rather unusual and I would have disliked it as a first name, but feel it adds a certain dignity in the middle - odd really!

Their chosen name was Chlamydia,

Surely that's an urban myth!

A relative wanted to call her son Arthur, some 28 years ago. There was a cat food advert at the time featuring a cat of that name. The midwife was horrified, and talked her out of it. His given name was not a common name at the time, either, but has since become much more so, but as already been said, so has Arthur!

Only recently I discovered that a midwife was to blame for my own name, too. Apparently, I was going to be Karen, but the midwife who attended my home delivery made another suggestion, saying it was much ''softer' than Karen. After very little thought, my mum (not sure my dad got a say ) agreed, and the midwife's suggestion used. While I don't actively dislike my given name, I have never really felt that it was 'me', and perhaps now I know why!

When my DS2 started at primary school, he had a brown uniform with brown and yellow striped ti. In week 2 he proudly announced to us that he had made a friend and would point him out at drop off time.

We stood in the playground with 300 children running and skipping before our eyes.
"Which one is he then?" H asked.
^The one in the brown!" he replied.

Who needs a name!

Mrsmopp, Arthur is very popular amongst DS1's friends. In fact, he can't remember their names and calls them all "Edward/Arthur"Henry"

nannypink just read your post. That's so sad (((hugs)))

Imperfect, absolutely not! I think there was a song by Jim Morrison called something like "Cain was my brother", which both DSs liked very much and wanted for their own son! DS2 got his first... Just a very odd name to give a child. He says that there are two other Cains in his class - one a "Kane" and one "Cain"...

nannypink No words for such loss, but so sorry ...

Whatever names we choose, our children make them uniquely their own. I know a few people with the same names as I chose for my children, but they are, of course, simply my own dear ones. I guess it is all the collected memories and associations that make us hope to see some names passed on to a new generation.

Mrs mop. I know a 7 year old Elsie and a 2 year old Arthur.

I don't see it as anybody else's business how you spell your name or what you call yourself. Live and let live.

In my day it was all Janet John Peter and Susan.
My parents generation had Elsie, Doris, Wilfred and Arthur - nobody calls their children by those names any more.
Some of the daftest names today amaze me - having said that my brain has died and I can't think of any examples. Celebrity childrens names for example. Poor kids...

I actually like unusual spellings...My son is called Marc....i lost two daughters unfortunately my eldest called Sonja and my youngest called Kirsti.

I've met an Abeygayle and a Zakkahryah. As the OP says, some of the spellings makes one's brain do pronunciation somersaults.

'Lincon' and 'Jawgee' anyone?

In a similar vein - Daughter is secondary school teacher and once had 8 boys called Mohammad in her class. All spelt differently!

I have a friend who was a registrar. He once had a couple who came to register the birth of their new daughter. Their chosen name was Chlamydia, because they thought it was different and pretty. He did ask them if they were sure that they wanted to go ahead, but they could see no reason to change it...

grandMattie - I hope I did not offend! I think not many people of a younger generation would make / know the biblical connection. In itself, I think Cain is a lovely name - just the association which makes it feel tricky. I guess that is so for many, many names - we all have our reasons for preferences. I often hear teachers say it is very difficult to choose a name as they always conjure up a picture of other children and this has led to many 'once favourites' being abandonded!

I am used to non-English names both within the family and having taught in inner London for many years so I do not think I am being xenophobic at all when thinking that some parents who choose to create names for their children do not think carefully enough about what it sounds like with Auntie or Uncle in front of the name. Though tbh we all get used to the names after a day or two!

Know of a French lady called Doreen - pronounced Doh rine... not very attractive. lots of Kevines in France after the "home Alone" star/film.

DGS is called Cain - unfortunately! Have to be very careful as his parents love the name... Fortunately he has the choice of two other names should he decide not to keep it.

GD has an Army or is it Armi in her class, not sure if it is made up or a foreign name as she does have Polish and Russian children in the class.

My eldest daughter's three little girls all have Welsh names, Seren, Carys and Efa. Not many others with the same names where they live. My youngest daughter has Amelia which I think is a very pretty name, just wondering what the new baby, due in January will be called.

Here in France a mother and father were taken to Court and denied the use of their chosen name for their new daughter,,,,Nutella !!! (which, in case you haven't seen it, is a chocolate and hazel nut spread !)......Although modern names are creeping in, in years gone by most girls names began with Marie after the Virgin Mary ..as in Marie Claire, Marie Paul, etc et and boys were Jean ,,,Jean Marc, Jean Paul, etc ....most people I know have now dropped the Marie or the Jean and call themselves, as in my neighbours, Celine, Yvette, Annick, although most males still use the Jean pre name !Latest names in popularity seem to be Soanne, Claudie, and various versions ...saw one new born the other day with the name Freddie ! Not sure if maybe his parents were British !...my name defines me as having been born in the late 40's as there are so many of us about !

I have never understood why someone would want to name a child 'Cain'. Biblical, yes, but he did murder his brother!

Also think of Carrie and Damien as 'creepy' names after the horror movies, but have family members (same family) with these names.