Do You and Your Kids Like Their Names?

Posted on the 22 August 2011 by Expatmum @tonihargis
Do you still like the names you chose for your children? After 18, almost 16 and 8 years, I still do. (I'm not going to reveal them here for fear of whining and complaining from "outed" kids.)
Anyway, since the Man-Child is seriously considering becoming an international rock god, he's already thinking about a stage name. Because he doesn't like his own name. His name was very unusual when he was born in 1995, but a certain sodding television show made it possibly the most popular name on the planet, which makes me want to weep.  I have to agree though, it's probably not the most "rock-ish" name you could come up with so if he wants to adopt a more street-cred name, I'll allow it. (Ha!)
He quite fancies Axel, especially as it when coupled with Hargis is makes him sound menacing and Viking-esque. I reminded him that there's been another Axel in the rock world, (Rose, pictured) who's looking a bit sad and lonely now. The irony is that when I was pregnant with him, one of our friends kept insisting that Axel was a great name. I wonder if that friend's psychic.
When I was growing up I detested my name. I was christened Antonia, after a school friend of my mother. Within six weeks however, I was apparently being called Toni, prompting my grandfather to say "I thought they had a little girl" to my gran. I grew up in the North East of England and didn't meet another female Toni till I was 26 and working in London; that's how unusual it was. I dreaded introducing myself as a child because the taunt was always - "Toni?? That's a boy's name." The alternative was to tell them that my real name was Antonia, and risk having my head shoved down the loo for possibly being posh. Ah, memories.
I now think Antonia is a beautiful name, although I quiver when someone uses it for me as I only ever heard it when I was in trouble at school!
Do you know what your children think of their names? Do you even dare ask them?