“I’m lucky I’m not a lawyer or an accountant or something professional,” says Peach Martine, a 23-year-old musician whose Instagram feed is a vibrant mix of colorful faux fur and leopard-print outfits. “People sometimes have trouble taking my name seriously.” First, there are the joking comments (“Is your sister named Papaya?”) and then the assumption that she must be “a bit silly.” And don’t get her started on going to Starbucks. “They always put Paige on the cup!”
Martine wouldn’t dream of changing her first name, though. She likes having an unusual name. As a singer, she says it has helped her stand out. If she had children, she would consider giving them unique names as well.
Martine is not alone. According to a study analyzing 325 million American babies born between 1880 and 2007, the use of common baby names has steadily decreased since 1983, with the most significant shift in the 1990s. In 2023, the UK’s Office for National Statistics reported that 64,560 unique names were registered each year—double the number from 1999. This year, the US parenting website BabyCenter noted that Juniper, Malachi, and Emersyn entered the top 100 names for the first time. In Japan, the trend toward unique names has been so widespread that the government recently restricted “kirakira” (shiny or glittery) names, after parents faced criticism for naming children after brands or famous characters like Pokémon’s Pikachu, Naiki (Nike), Pū (Winnie-the-Pooh), or others such as Akuma (Devil), which made headlines.
What’s driving this trend? Some attribute it to celebrity culture. Apple, the daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, is starring in a Gap fashion campaign with her mother. Pixie Geldof, daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates, and Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, Yates’s daughter with Michael Hutchence (later adopted by Geldof), are celebrities in their own right. Then there are Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s children: Riot, RZA, and Rocki; and rapper Cardi B’s daughter Kulture. Model Nara Smith recently announced to her Instagram followers that baby Fawnie Golden has joined her family, which already includes Rumble Honey, Whimsy Lou, and Slim Easy. YouTuber Trisha Paytas gave birth to Aquaman in July, adding to her other children, Malibu Barbie and Elvis. And who could forget Elon Musk and singer Grimes’s first child, X Æ A-12?
Kevin Schürer, a researcher at the Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, says, “In the last 20-odd years, we’ve seen that anything goes in naming children. More individualistic names are emerging, using older names with new spellings or drawing from popular culture. We’re moving away from a standard set of names.” The tradition of naming children after godparents or family members declined from the 18th century onward in the UK, as populations became more mobile during the Industrial Revolution, and parents felt less bound by custom and extended family opinions. Now, Schürer notes, parents choose “names they like because they’re appearing on social media, television, and media sites.”
A name matters. Research suggests it can influence who we date, how well students perform in university (those with surnames later in the alphabet were found to receive lower grades), and in China, it has been linked to the likelihood of committing a crime. In fact, names are so important that an industry has developed around choosing them. Taylor Humphrey, who founded her company What’s in a Baby Name in 2015, charges over $1,500 for a list of potential names. For $30,000, she offers…The concept of “baby name branding” is gaining traction. Websites like Nameberry, My Name for Life, and Namerology offer parents guidance on the dos and don’ts of naming. On TikTok, influencer Emily Kim predicts what celebrities and influencers might name their children and also charges for her baby-naming advice.
Duana Taha, author of “The Name Therapist: How Growing Up With My Odd Name Taught Me Everything You Need to Know About Yours,” believes that a name reveals more about the people who chose it than about the person who bears it. For example, she explains, “If you’re named Sarah, that’s a fairly traditional and easily understood name. It’s biblical but also literary, straightforward without much frill. Parents who choose Sarah might value different things compared to those who opt for something more fanciful, like Seraphina.”
Taha suggests that a child with an unusual name, such as Seraphina, might grow up more confident. “You’re already getting more attention that you didn’t necessarily choose,” she says. “As an adult, I’ve come to terms with this, but it happens to three- and four-year-olds. I think they become very used to advocating for themselves and realizing there’s something that sets them apart.”
A 2020 study in the Strategic Management Journal, which analyzed the names of CEOs from 1,172 public firms over 19 years, found that CEOs with unusual names tend to see themselves as different from their peers and are more likely to pursue strategies that deviate from industry norms.
David Figlio, a professor of economics at the University of Rochester in New York, studied how names can influence outcomes for schoolchildren in the early 2000s. He notes, “Jews often say that your name is your first gift.” His research revealed that American boys with names that sound more feminine, like Ashley or Courtney, were more likely to misbehave upon entering sixth grade. Meanwhile, girls with masculine names, such as Morgan and Taylor, were more inclined to pursue advanced studies in science and math compared to their siblings with more feminine names like Emma or Isabella.
Figlio explains, “From the very first moments of their lives, Isabella and Taylor were receiving different signals from people in society who had no idea they were doing it. Parents absorbed those signals too and may not have been surprised when Taylor wanted to play with trucks and Isabella wanted to play with dolls.”
He adds that even today, a substantial majority of people on both sides of the Atlantic still give their children gendered names. However, the rise in unique names is partly due to more girls being given names traditionally associated with boys, like Taylor, thanks in part to certain celebrities. Parents are often more willing to choose unconventional names for their daughters while sticking to traditional ones for their sons. Yet, Figlio points out, “We have names that are relatively new, such as Kehlani, which is in the top 100 this year, and you know it’s a girl. We’ve become accustomed to associating certain linguistic features with masculinity and femininity, even as there’s a growing desire for uniqueness in both the U.S. and U.K.”
Could a name set you up for life? In 1985, Belgian psychologist Jozef Nuttin discovered that people tend to prefer letters that appear in their first or last names. This “name-letter effect” is linked to “implicit egotism,” an unconscious preference for things associated with oneself. It leads to “nominative determinism,” a term popularized by a column that highlights cases like Sarah Blizzard the weather presenter, Ellie Cook the pastry chef, and David Limb the orthopedic surgeon.In 1994, New Scientist explored a phenomenon that might explain why Sara Blizzard—a BBC weather presenter—was drawn to her career, Chris Moneymaker became a famous poker player, Ellie Cook works as a pastry chef, and Mr. David Limb is an orthopaedic surgeon.
David Limb and his sons, Richard and Christopher, who also entered the medical field, published a short paper in 2015 on this topic after frequently hearing comments about their surname at work. They analyzed 313,445 entries in the UK medical register and found that names related to medicine (like Doctor, Nurse, and Ward) had a median frequency of 1 in 149. For names tied to specific medical specialties, the frequency was 1 in 486. For example, urology included names such as Burns, Cox, Dick, Koch, Balluch, Ball, and Waterfall, while obstetrics and gynaecology featured New, Bourne, and Child. The paper noted that Dr. Pain appeared most often in general surgery, adding, “but fortunately not Dr. Handslip.”
At the Ettington Park Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, where Ellie Cook works, her colleagues and customers often point out the connection between her name and her profession. Her front-of-house team even joke with diners that the food is especially good because she was born for the role. “I used to teach at Le Cordon Bleu, and the students loved it,” she says.
Cook grew up in Solihull in the Midlands, where she baked with her mother as a child. She left nursing to attend culinary school, hoping to open an ice-cream parlor one day. “Maybe there was an unconscious draw,” reflects the 33-year-old, whose great-aunt (née Cook) fed soldiers during World War II. “I suppose if the name comes from your family, it’s genetic to some degree.”
Surnames emerged in the Middle Ages as populations grew, helping to distinguish people with common first names for purposes like collecting poll tax in England. Forenames were also recorded around this time. The earliest poll tax records from 1377 to 1381 provide historians with the first evidence of English names, showing a preference for West Germanic, Frankish, and Christian saint names introduced after 1066, such as John, William, Thomas, Alice, Agnes, and Joan. With the Reformation in the early 17th century, biblical names like Elizabeth, Mary, and Anne grew in popularity, followed by Puritan names in the latter half of the century, such as Faith, Hope, and Love—and more unusual ones like Helpless, DieWell, and FearNot.
Names can reveal much about a person’s class and identity, as well as our own biases. Caoimhe (pronounced Keeva) McMonagle, 26, never thought much about her name until she moved from Northern Ireland to Manchester a year ago. She recently shared on TikTok some negative reactions she’s received, especially from men on nights out, who have said, “What kind of name is that?” or “That’s made up.” McMonagle, who works as an anti-money laundering analyst, says she hasn’t faced issues in the workplace and loves her name. “I’m really proud to be Irish,” she says.
Names from other ethnic backgrounds can significantly impact careers. A 2023 King’s College London study conducted in Australia created over 12,000 fictional CVs in response to 4,000 job ads. The CVs were identical except for the names, which represented six ethnic groups: Arabic, Australian Aboriginal, Chinese, English, Greek, and Indian. The applications covered 12 different occupations, and the results were striking. For leadership roles, 26.8% of applications with English names received positive responses, compared to only 11.3% for those with non-English names. Such discrimination not only violatesThe study’s author noted that by discriminating against applicants based on their names rather than their qualifications and experience, businesses are violating anti-discrimination laws and reducing their chances of hiring the right person for the job.
While no names are completely banned in the UK, the UK Deed Poll Office has refused names it believed would subject a child to mockery, such as Martian, King, Princess, and Monkey. In 2016, a court of appeal prevented a Welsh mother from naming her twin Cyanide, after the poison. Germany prohibits names like Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden; the US has 11 illegal names, including Jesus Christ and Santa Claus; and Malaysia disallows names of plants, fruits, vegetables, animals, and insects. An Australian journalist once named her baby Methamphetamine Rules to challenge the country’s naming regulations.
Changing one’s name is always an option, and surprisingly, it’s often traditional names like James and Elizabeth that people are abandoning, not the more unusual ones. Research by MyNamesTags, which examined over 14,000 name changes via Deed Poll in the last five years, found Rebecca, Thomas, Muhammad, and David among the top ten most changed names, often replaced with Liam, Riley, Kayleigh, and Remiel. Some individuals alter their names to better reflect their cultural or religious background, while others choose names that match their gender identity. In 2025, one legal deed poll provider reported that one in six applications were from people seeking to live “more authentically” through a name change. Some, like actor Elliot Page, keep a link to their original name, but in the UK, nearly 70% of applicants opt for new names starting with a different letter.
The trend of unique names appears to be enduring. Peach Martine believes it will continue, noting that growing up with diverse names in books and TV shows makes it likely for Generation Z to name their children after popular series. She has observed an increase in number names, possibly inspired by the character Eleven from Stranger Things. According to Nameberry, names like Four or Six can serve as a contemporary way to honor family lineage, indicate birth order, or connect with culture. However, those with such names should be ready for varied reactions. Martine shares, “Sometimes it’s very charming, but sometimes people make jokes. I’ve had my name for 23 years, so that’s over two decades of hearing them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about having an unusual name with clear and direct answers
General Beginner Questions
Q1 What exactly counts as an unusual name
An unusual name is one that is rare unique creatively spelled or not common in your culture or region Its a name that often makes people do a doubletake or ask How do you pronounce that
Q2 What are the main benefits of having an unusual name
The biggest benefits are memorability and individuality People are more likely to remember you and your name can be a great conversation starter It often gives you a strong unique identity from a young age
Q3 What are the most common problems people with unusual names face
The most frequent issues are constant mispronunciation misspelling and having to repeatedly correct people Some also face teasing during childhood or unconscious bias in professional settings
Q4 Can an unusual name affect my career
It can both positively and negatively A memorable name can help you stand out in a good way However some studies suggest that unusual names can sometimes be subject to unconscious bias from recruiters though this is increasingly changing as unique names become more common
Q5 How do kids usually handle having an unusual name
It varies Some kids love the special attention while others may feel selfconscious or frustrated by the constant corrections Parental support in framing the name positively is key to a childs experience
Advanced Practical Questions
Q6 Im thinking of giving my child an unusual name What should I consider
Think about practicality Consider how easy it is to spell and pronounce potential for nicknames and how it pairs with your surname Also imagine your child introducing themselves in a classroom or a job interview
Q7 Are there any longterm psychological effects of having an unusual name
It can shape selfperception Many people with unusual names develop a strong sense of individuality and resilience from constantly explaining their name For others it can sometimes lead to a feeling of not fitting in especially during adolescence
Q8 Whats the difference between a unique name and a madeup name
A unique name is often a real but rarely used name from history or other cultures eg Cassius Ind
