Diesel, Porsche and Bean are just some of the unusual names parents have given their children over the past 10 years, it was revealed yesterday.
The bizarre monikers emerged after trawling through the millions of recorded names given to newborns since the year 2000.
Bounty Parenting Club yesterday released details of its ‘Most Unusual Names of the Decade’ with Shy and Unity topping the list.
Each of the unusual names on the top 20 list – such as Zowie, Puppy and Ice – have only been given to between one and 15 babies over the past 10 years.
Rooney, Bowie and Cobain have been given to a few children whose parents were obviously influenced by the celebrity footballer and musicians.
There are also a handful of unusual hippy-style names such as Stone, Gift, Heaven and Echo, while the fashion world might have inspired the names Denim, Diesel and Armani.
Faye Mingo, spokeswoman for www.Bounty.com, said: ”Our records have uncovered these unusual name choices of parents over the decade, illustrating the ever growing trend for wackier, celebrity-style names not previously heard of in Britain’s playgrounds.
”It’s great to see parents being creative and wanting their children to stand out from the crowd with more unusual names but there are a few names here that children may find hard to live up to!”
Bounty conducted a poll of 3,000 parents to find out how many had tried to give their baby an unusual name.
A third of those polled claim their offspring has an unusual name, but more than one in 10 regret their decision to veer from the norm.
Initial reactions from friends and family when told the newborn’s name included surprise (17 per cent), questions about how to spell it (27 per cent) and requests to repeat the name again to check they had heard properly.
But 85 per cent of mums and dads say folk react more kindly to their child’s name now they have grown into it and developed a personality to match.
However, one in 10 parents says their child doesn’t like their name – and 14 per cent have asked to change it already.
Faye Mingo added: ”The majority of parents polled said their unusual choice was because they didn’t want their child to share anyone else’s name.
“Parents do need to think very carefully about everything that comes attached to an unusual moniker as it can definitely shape a child’s experiences from how they are treated at school and beyond.”
The poll also shows that 75 per cent of parents who chose to give their child a traditional name such as Robert, David or Jennifer believe more alternative parents are paving the way for their child to be bullied.
And six in 10 claim there is nothing wrong with a good, strong and sensible name – saying those who choose wacky names are being selfish and aren’t thinking of the child.
TOP 20 MOST UNUSUAL NAMES
1. Shy
2. Unity
3. Bean
4. Zowie
5. Puppy
6. Ice
7. Victory
8. Porsche
9. D’Andre
10. Denim
11. Diesel
12. Armani
13. Rooney
14. Bowie
15. Cobain
16. Stone
17. Gift
18. Echo
19. Heaven
20. Maroon
Personally i can see why some parents regret the names they give there children! Some of these names are truly batty. However i suppose that people often grow into there names!