unusual names for children these days:

My granny was also Ida; her sister was Ethel as was my mother. I'd like to say that the names stopped there but my cousin is also Ida.

Yes - there was an Auntie Ethel of a similar age to my Gran as well.

My had an aunt called Ethel and I think there may have been another Aunt Ethel as well who was a very formidable person apparently. My godmother's best friend was called Ida.
I once worked with someone who christened her oldest son Aragorn (all the other children had quite ordinary names). I found him recently on Facebook and he's still using the name.

What about the post Civil War (in America) when lots of children of ex-slaves were called names such as Emancipation. Equally, a number of posh girls were christened Diamond when their births coincided with Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. However, it's difficult to understand quite why a child my late father met in Africa in the 1950s was called Kodak.

In our school in Kenya there was a girl called Census. Luckily she also had a much prettier African name.

Forzanonna, I used to have an Auntie Fanny, she had a fish and chip shop.

It is not uncommon among some Spanish-speaking countries for boys to be christened Jesus. Even as an atheist, I sometimes found this one a bit difficult, especially, for some unknown reason, on the telephone.

I had a great aunt Fanny who in her 80s decided to change her name to Margaret.
She also always cooked with a hat on

Wonder why she suddenly decided to change her name at that age!

maybe she'd been on a trip to the US? Though it's less 'rude' a term in US than in UK.. though said more! e.g Fanny bag

I know someone whose middle name is Finalia, because she was definitely the last child.

My DD3 is named Imogen - last born daughter which was quite appropriate, if somewhat 'archaic'!
My Mum was at school with a Pearl Button and my MIL went under the delightful moniker of Gladys Edith

I love the name Imogen, Gally.

Gally was your mum at school with my mum..she claimed a Pearl Button too in her class!

But my brother did go to school with Neil Down..I met him!! I knew Henrietta Bullock too!

She went to Sir William Perkins School - think it's in Chertsey

Oh my mother was at Arthur Pease in Darlington... maybe Pearl moved!

I once knew a woman called Fanny, She called her daughter Fanny. They were known as big Fanny and little Fanny. I never knew what happened when the daughter became a teenager but I would guess there was a change in this.

My five year old GD's name is Imogen too. The name originates from Shakespeare's play Cymbeline (1609).

The thread has now gone full circle – from Moth and Cobweb (A Midsummer Night's Dream) to Imogen (Cymbeline). How satisfying.

Faye it was originally 'Innogen' but for various obscure reasons eventually metamorphosed into Imogen
Nanaej
Jess

I actually never knew that. Imogen is a lovely name and D1 loves Shakespeare.

A friend who is a Vicar tells about the occassion when he was taking several christenings in a rather deprived area. The families here used to give the children somewhat flamboyant names. When the last child was handed to him he was told the name was "just Tina" You may have guessed what happened. The child got christened Justina ! I think every body was quite happy about it.

My mother went to school with a Pearl Button in a County Durham mining village.

Heavens, that Pearl Button got around a bit

harrigran we are getting closer!