got to weigh in on this one...
I HAVE one of those romance-novel names: Carlisle Elizabeth. My first name is pronounced CAR-lye-el. It's an old family name, although the last Carlisle in the family, my father's aunt Carlisle Florence, hated it so much she went by her middle name.
It's been interesting growing up with an unusual name. I'm okay with it now that I am an adult, but when I was a kid I couldn't stand it...I'm wavering as to whether I'd recommend that anyone else give their kid that name. To this day, people can't spell it, and often they ask me what my first name is. Guess I fall into that "How About Another Last Name" category
And forget personalized anything. I guess the name you grow up with colors your perspective on baby names. I think my kids are going to be named Michael and Emily, or Harry and Hermione (Her-my-oh-nee), ha ha.
Edited to add: From someone who has a non-gender-specific name, give your kid one that is. I get a lot of mail addressed to Mr. Carlisle ____, and I got a letter from the Selective Service in high school asking me why I hadn't registered. Sorry, sir, I couldn't pass the physical.
Threaded Mode