And the ones that donβtβ¦ donβt.
Guilty pleasure names are not going to be β or intended to be β everybodyβs cup of tea.
This weekβs blog explored Wild Names Youβll Hear a Lot More Of β outlandish baby names that saw over a 100% increase in page views across the last six months.
This lineup of polarizing picks features nouveau word names like Tag, Covey, and Helix as well as undiscovered international treasures like Morfydd, Akatsuki, and Capucine.
Nameberryβs Hear Me Out Cake
You may or may not be familiar with the concept of a βHear Me Out Cakeβ. In this popular trend on Tiktok, friends take turns nominating characters or celebrities that they controversially think are attractive, with the premise: βhear me outβ before you form an opinion or make a judgement.
The concept is meant to be silly and unserious, with nominations like Shrek, Blueyβs dad, and a surprising number of cartoon foxes.
I asked my colleagues at Nameberry to each nominate two unconventional and controversial names to add to Nameberryβs first ever βHear Me Out Cakeβ.
These nominations arenβt your obscure-but-appreciated gems like Primrose and Pomeline, Laszlo and Lysander. No, these are the real wild and wacky wonders that we havenβt heard even whispers about from the most innovative namers.
These are names that you know will leave your dad shaking his head in disapproval and your sister cracking jokes in the family group chat β but at the end of the day, you just canβt help but love.
Hear us outβ¦.
Beryl β nominated by Madison
βFor a girl, Beryl. It is an antique gem name that brings to mind the elegance of the Art Deco era. Though it may sound like 'barrel' in some accents (including my own!), Beryl feels opulent and refined.β
Brosie β nominated by Grace
βBrosie feels friendly and cozy, but rough-and-tumble at the same time. A short form of Ambrose or Ambrosio, this is the nickname I use nearly exclusively for one of my guinea pigs and thatβs turned it into a totally normal name for me β though I am reminded that itβs not with the weird looks when I introduce him.β
Cameo β nominated by Sophie
βWeβre living in such a word name moment and Iβm shocked that Cameo isnβt a regular on the American charts. It conjures up romantic, artistic imagery, has that uncommon and upbeat O ending, and neatly shortens to the short form Cam. Are you convinced yet?β
Element β nominated by Brynn
I think that Element would make an out-of-this-world name for any gender, and the right nickname would help bring this word name back to earth. Personally, I favor Elle for a girl or Monty for a boy, but the options are endless. It brings to mind the natural elements of the earth like fire, water, and air β all popular name meanings on their own.
Irving β nominated by Sophie
βI recently tried to convince a couple in consulting to use the name Irving for their son to no avail (mom liked it, dad did not). We need another decade or two until the mainstream warms up to Irving but Iβm here to tell you: use it now. Irving has old-school charm, a slightly geeky quality, and is found on many of our family trees. If the nickname Irv turns you off, you could always go for the spiky, jazzy Ving.β
Kite β nominated by Grace
βI read The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley recently, and since then, Kite has started to feel like it could be a name. It reminds me of more popular choices like Kit, Kai, Wren, and Fox, but also the bolder options such as Lark, Finch, or Dove.β
Lavender (m) β nominated by Madison
βHear me out β¦ Lavender β¦ but for a boy. Lavender is a name that has a calming nature and a unique balance of softness and strength. The -ender ending is reminiscent of distinctly masculine names like Evander and Alexander.β
Mungo β nominated by Clare
βThis might sound made up, but it's actually an ancient British saint's name meaning "my dear". St Mungo is patron of the city of Glasgow, and the name is not unknown in Scotland. It's also one of Hugh Grant's middle names. So if we can use Milo and Hugo... why not Mungo?β
Selkie β nominated by Brynn
βThese mythological cousins of the mermaid are popular in Gaelic folklore. Selkies were thought to be extraordinarily beautiful, and possess the ability to shape-shift between a seal and human. I mean, who wouldnβt want to be a mermaid?β
Solitaire β nominated by Clare
βSolitaire is over-the-top dramatic, with a sleek, elegant sound: just what many parents love. Yes, she's a James Bond girl, but so is the ever-rising Vesper. And if it gets too much, Sol is a lovely nickname.β
So, what do you think of our hot takes? Letβs hear it!
We listen and we donβt judge.
Well, maybe we judge a little bit sometimes. Tastefully.
You berries confessed your own guilty pleasure names on Instagram this week, from Honey and Hedwig to Rex and Rooster.
Your turn!
What are your deepest, darkest guilty pleasure names?
Iβm talking about the ones strictly reserved for goldfish, house plants, and Sims. The bolder the better!
I love Calliope, Sequoia, Storm, Saoirse, Rhiannon, and Adriel for girls. A bit much perhaps, but I can't help it. π
Okay, Iβm not even sure itβs a real name so much as a combination of sounds, but hear me out: Tricity. Itβs like Trinity and Felicity, or the ending of electricity. I think itβs cool π