One in seven parents regret their choice of child’s name, survey claims
Bear, Harper and Kai among most unpopular celebrity baby names, according to poll
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One in seven parents believe they made a mistake when naming their child, a survey claims.
Commissioned by parenting website ChannelMum.com, the poll of 2,000 parents found that many parents end up regretting their choice.
And one in ten of the parents polled said that their children have even told them they do not like their name.
While one in five say they dislike their child's name because it went on to become too popular with other parents, almost one in 10 said it is because a celebrity has chosen the name for their child.
One respondent said they began to worry they had made a mistake after naming their child George, with people mistakenly believing he was named after Prince William and Kate Middleton’s child – despite him being born months before the royal baby.
Another one in 10 said they started to regret their child's name after someone with the same name went on to become famous.
SJ Strum, baby names expert from parenting website ChannelMum.com, said: “Picking your baby name is one of the most important parts of becoming a parent – and its’ also something which everyone from friends and family to total strangers has an opinion on.
“Celebrity trends mean there are an ever-growing list of baby names to choose from, but this also means more opportunities to choose a name which you, or your child, then learn to loathe.”
The study of 2,000 parents found one in three of those who regret their child’s name tried to choose something which was unique, but now find many other children have the same name.
The survey also found that one in 20 parents end up calling their child something different to the name on their birth certificate because they no longer like it.
And 14 per cent said they have even considered officially changing their child’s name.
One in two parents said they would be put off a name if a celebrity chose it for their child. Half of those polled said they would not chose to name their child Bear like the child of Cheryl Cole and Liam Payne.
Other celebrity baby names parents said they would be unlikely to choose include Harper, made popular by David and Victoria Beckham, along with Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s choice of Kai and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Shiloh.
Teddy, picked by Robbie Williams for his daughter, Mason, the name of Kourtney Kardashian’s son and Eric, chosen by Simon Cowell for his son were also unpopular choices.
But Donald came top of the list of famous names parents would be most put off by, thanks to the American president, followed by Paris, after the socialite, and Rihanna, after the singer.
Another 24 per cent of people polled said they would be put off a name because it was made famous by a book character or gadget.
Top 10 reasons for regretting your child’s name
1. It became really popular
2. I was pressured into choosing a name by my partner/ family member
3. I’ve just gone off it
4. I no longer think it fits them
5. My friend chose the same name for their baby
6. It’s too unusual
7. It’s difficult to spell
8. Someone with the same name became famous
9. A celebrity named their child with the same name
10. It sounds like something rude or awkward when you put it with their middle name/ surname
Unpopular celebrity baby names
1. Bear (Cheryl and Liam Payne)
2. Harper (David and Victoria Beckham)
3. Kai (Wayne and Coleen Rooney)
4. Shiloh (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie)
5. Harvey (Katie Price)
6. Teddy (Robbie Williams and Ayda Field)
7. Mason (Kourtney Kardashian)
8. Parker (Mario from TOWIE)
9. Nelly (Billie Fairs)
10. Penelope (Kourtney Kardashian)
11. Eric (Simon Cowell)
12. Luna (John Legend and Chrissy Teigen)
13. Willow (Pink)
14. Cooper (Danny Jones, McFly)
15. Miles (John Legend and Chrissy Teigen)
16. Louis (Prince William and Kate Middleton)
17. Arthur (Billie Fairs)
18. George (Prince William and Kate Middleton)
19. Mia (Zara and Mike Tindall)
20. Charlotte (Prince William and Kate Middleton)
Top 20 unpopular celebrity names
1. Donald
2. Paris
3. Rihanna
4. Kourtney
5. Cheryl
6. Miley
7. Kylie
8. Zayn
9. Khloe
10. Coleen
11. Jordan
12. Kim
13. Theresa
14. Meghan
15. Justin
16. Taylor
17. Joey
18. Liam
19. Zac
20. Harry
SWNS
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments