I was watching Jeremy Kyle this morning (British non-faked Jerry Springer is probably a good way to describe it) and there was an FTM on there.
Used to be called Rachel, but is now becoming a boy called Ronaldo. I find this absolutely hilarious. Why would someone with no Portuguese/Spanish heritage call themselves Ronaldo? Honestly, how many British people do you know called Ronaldo?

Another thing that I find with FTMs is that many choose cool and modern names that weren't even around when they were born. Kayden is a good example of that.

What are some of the most unusual names you've heard?

EDIT: Maybe inappropriate/unrealistic were the wrong choice of words. Let's just go with unusual

Hell I feel like I'm pushing it with Rowan.

Umm, when you are re-inventing yourself you are allowed to take a new ethnic slant on.
You are in a much better position to do so than when you were born.

Yes, it is a bit of a head-scratcher when people adopt names that are a bit anachronistic.

Still, I wouldn't get too pointed about people's names, most prize them highly.
It seems a bit mean-spirited to single out anybody's name.

Renate

Rowan seems to be 2000 onwards. I would have never questioned it though. I assumed it was an older name.

Not that most people would ever think about the age of a person and their name.

EDIT: Not trying to be mean spirited at all. People should choose the name they want rather than worrying about what other people think.
But there's still some corkers out there

I don't know if I would call them corkers but I do like the variation of different names beyond what mainstream uses. I think people want something unique. Most of my friends had asked me if my name choice -- Linus -- was because of Linus Torvalds (me being a geek who has a linux background). It wasn't and it makes for an unusual name (I'm actually surprised as to how many people don't know how to pronounce Linus --- Ly-Nus).

I think what is more interesting is the history behind the name chosen and what it means (whether definition or reasoning behind it). While Ronaldo may have Portuguese heritage did they say he wasn't partial Portuguese? Did they ask him why he chose Ronaldo? 

I've never heard a name that seemed inappropriate, but there does seem to be a lot of Aiden's, with every spelling variation possible, and names that sound like Aiden, but with another letter in front, Like Kayden, or Jayden.

I've used to know a guy named Kelly, who never changed it, and I have a friend named Bastian, who is constantly explaining that there is no "Sa" in front.  I actually went to elementary school with a Kyle, so I know its appropriate for me and my age.

Jason, Jace, Jase, Jaycen, etc are also very popular amongst transguys.

I know two brothers called Kelly and Ellis. There's also Kelly Slater, the famous surfer, so that's not actually that rare.

Quote from: kyle_lawrence on May 25, 2010, 08:56:20 AM

I've used to know a guy named Kelly, who never changed it, and I have a friend named Bastian, who is constantly explaining that there is no "Sa" in front. 

Isn't Bastian the kid from Never Ending Story? I always liked that name.

Quote from: Rowan on May 25, 2010, 09:03:25 AM
Isn't Bastian the kid from Never Ending Story? I always liked that name.

Yup. Thats where he got the name from.

I want to take Miniar as my middle name.
An ancient tibetan word for an Icelandic bloke?
Can one go further than that?

I knew a family growing up who had four boys whose actual, legal names were Loki, Doc, and Merlin.  People do choose weird names, and that seems to be somewhat accepted in society (and these guys are in their mid to late 20s now, so it's not a new phenomenon, although it is getting more and more common).  I would never do it, especially since my goal is to blend in as a male and not draw attention to myself.  But that's not everyone's goal and if someone wants to stand out in that way, more power to them!

There's a difference between choosing a name that's a little unusual to stand out and being ridiculous and trying to draw attention to yourself...  If you're a little stubby pale British guy who renamed himself Don Juan DeMarco, I don't think you're above being laughed at.  My given name is an androgynous/usually male name I intend to keep.  Post-transition, if someone pointed out there were a lot of teenage cheerleading girls named that in 2000, I'd laugh because it's true, but the name is most commonly associated with the male protagonist of a poem for which I am named.  People need to be a trifle less sensitive.

I'm going with Leo Kaiden Skyler. I also considered Kaz, Kasper, Jason, Jarek...

I grew up with a little boy named Thor. I've met at least two girls named Atilla. I worked with a girl named Sparkle. My friend named their daughter Nova.  (Though I think Nova is actually kinda pretty) My brother's neighbors had a kid named Bane, not Baine, but Bane. (Like the bane of their existence)  Most of the names I've heard people pick for themselves have been pretty normal sounding in comparison.

I personally have never liked verb names. But that's just my pet peeve. Dash, Slash, Chase, etc.

I think though, if a name clicks, it clicks. If it's unusual then oh well.

I made sure my name was age appropriate.  If I decided that Jaden or even Justin was my name, it would be odd.  Not many (if any!) men my age named Jaden or Justin.

Much easier for younger guys to have trendy names, because that is very common these past few decades.

Jay

Some are a bit out there I guess but whatever if the person likes the name.
Loads of people think mine is unusual, when I first heard of it 5/6 years ago I didn't think it was weird or made up. Then someone told me a woman on Grey's was called Addison which I found weird cause it sounds really masculine to me.

Actually some random guy at work today said my name was cool. A welcome change from the usual baffled looks on peoples faces haha.

Oh & I missed the Jeremy Kyle episode but my mate told me about it and he also found it hilarious that he named himself Ronaldo.

My godchildrens' names are Morgan, Logan, Jordan [all girls] and Orion [boy].
Of course, their mother went to Evergreen State, so it was expected.

I actually have gotten some odd responses to naming my son Keith, as people have told me its not "modern" enough.

I chose Aaron as my male name, because it kept my initials the same [my birth name also begins with A], and it was a strong Jewish name, allowing me to express not only my male identity, but my Jewish identity as well.

The unique or unorthodox names don't faze me nearly as much as the unorthodox spellings do.
Having grown up with an oddly spelled birth name, I know that while it seems unique and fun at the time, it can actually be a pain in the butt when people consistently mispronounce or misspell your name.

Quote from: Ryan on May 25, 2010, 08:10:04 AM
I was watching Jeremy Kyle this morning (British non-faked Jerry Springer is probably a good way to describe it) and there was an FTM on there.
Used to be called Rachel, but is now becoming a boy called Ronaldo. I find this absolutely hilarious.

I agree that's funny... If I'd run into him I'd probably start speaking in a heavy Spanish (w/e) accent until he shouted he was British in a lovely, posh accent.. And then of course I'd go 'HA!'...

Either way, I ocassionally quirck my brow at some names - usually when someone plays the whole alternate universe spelling game. Sure it's fine to pick a 'cool name' - go for it, but just because a yellow shirt looks freaking awesome doesn't mean it will look good on you... *shrug*

Quote from: no_id on May 25, 2010, 12:46:36 PM
Either way, I ocassionally quirck my brow at some names - usually when someone plays the whole alternate universe spelling game. Sure it's fine to pick a 'cool name' - go for it, but just because a yellow shirt looks freaking awesome doesn't mean it will look good on you... *shrug*

So... I SHOULDN'T change my name to Slartibartfast?

Quote from: Muddy on May 25, 2010, 12:19:29 PM
Having grown up with an oddly spelled birth name, I know that while it seems unique and fun at the time, it can actually be a pain in the butt when people consistently mispronounce or misspell your name.

I hear ya, bro.  I went through that same thing.  My mom's name is Lori and for some reason she decided that all her girl's names were going to end in "i" like her name.  Only one of the four of us got her name spelled normally.  The rest of us had the spelling of our very normal-for-the-time names mangled to get the "i" at the end.  It's annoying to have everyone spell my name wrong when it's such an insanely common girl's name for my age.  AND I could never get any of those cool things in gift stores that came with your name printed on them (key chains and snow globes and magnets and little plastic silverware-- so much cool stuff I couldn't have).