If you’ve been through the baby-naming process, you’ll know there are a number of big no-nos when you and your partner are discussing options.
Partner’s exes, the names of people you simply don’t like, and – as much as people point to the impact of Love Island – even celebrities. It comes as no surprise, really.
In a poll of 1,200 parents by ChannelMum, a third said they go as far as ruling out any names that are rising up the baby name popularity charts, and two in five couples refuse to pick the same name as any famous child.
Almost three quarters of couples would veto a baby name if it was the same as one of their partner’s ex-lovers. And one in five have also red-carded any reference to sports teams.
[Read More: The most popular baby names of 2019 so far]
Surprisingly, royal names are less popular than politicians, with 24% axing any names used by the royal family – compared to 23% who wouldn’t choose a baby name shared by a member of parliament. What, no Jeremy or Boris?
“Names carry a lot of weight and have a very strong impact on how other people perceive your child, said ChannelMum.com baby name expert SJ Strum. “Even if you love how a name looks and sounds, you can’t separate it from the people it reminds you of.”
The study also found one in six women chose their child’s name years before they became pregnant – with one in eight having picked a name before they even meet their partner.
More than one in 20 ‘crowdsourced’ their child’s name by asking for strangers’ opinions online, while one in 100 have used a baby name expert to choose their child’s name.
The top 10 biggest baby name turn-offs:
1. Disliking someone with the same name
2. Partner’s ex’s name
3. If name is common in local area
4. Celebrity baby name
5. Name rising in baby name charts
6. Royals
7. Politicians
8. Adult celebrity name
9. Sports team
10. Name falling in baby name charts
[Read More: Here’s how parents chose their baby names]