When it comes to naming a baby, some parents lean more towards traditional names, while others opt for something a little more unusual. One teacher has noticed a trend in her classroom in recent years - claiming more parents than ever have been picking out "unique" names for their little ones.
But while she appreciates hearing a variety of names every day, she admits some of them have made her "cringe" when she saw them on her register. Speaking about this year's students, the Texan teacher said: "These are my third grade students this year. Girls: Alani, Alaya, Malaya, Milaina, Zalia, Yaretzi, Genevie, Jordan, Steffany, Camila, Haydee. Boys: Ayden, Aiden, Jaiden, Cruz, Major, Valentin, Leonidas, Johnny, Elias, Ivan."
She went on to explain how she thought Genevie was a "made up name" when she first heard it - but says others like Major have been "growing on" her.
"I thought it was a made up name based on Genevieve, but apparently it’s a real variant. There are actually two girls named Genevie at my school," she added.
"[The name] Johnny - it is his given name and I cringed when I saw it."
After posting about her students on Reddit, users started to share their own thoughts on their names, with many struggling to agree on whether their parents did them a favour or not.
One user said: "My favourites are Zalia and Elias - and my least favourites are Haydee (too close to Hades but also just bad) and Major (why?)."
Another user added: "Genevie not Genevieve? Interesting!"
A third user said: "Good: Jordan, Johnny (as long as it’s a nickname). Not terrible: Aiden, Jaiden, Ivan, Yaretzi (it somehow doesn’t suck, it just kind of works). Bad: all the rest."
One teacher added: "I had a Genevi and a Jenavi years and years ago - they are probably about 30 now."
It comes after another teacher shared the names she has "horrible associations" with, and which make her shudder when seeing them on her class register at the start of a new school year.
Before listing the names on Reddit, she said: "I have been teaching for a long time. Apologies in advance if I listed the names of anyone's own personal children. My children's names are listed in there as well."
Her list reads: "Girls - Kayla, Layla, McKayla, Kenzie, McKensie, Faith, Haven, Heaven, Nevaeh, Hope, Trinity, Tiffany, Brittany, Ashley, Angel, Stephanie, Bethany, Melinda, Miranda, and Keyana.
"Boys - Travis, Chase, Dash, Jeremiah, Joaquin, Michael, Julian, Carmine, Logan, Legend, Ashton, Alfonzo, Angel, Brandon, Bradley, Dakota, Cayden, Cody, Israel, Christian, and Landon."
It prompted other teachers to share the "problematic" names they have come across throughout their careers, with many falling into the "unique" name category.
One user said: "Mark my words Mackenzie (Mykenzie, Mikenzie, Mekenzie, MaKenzie, Makenzie) will be the new Karen in 20 years."
Another teacher added: "Ironically, a lot of biblical names, and I am agnostic. The name that has repeatedly been the name of my most difficult student during many school years, drumroll please, is Eli, Elijah, Ellijah, any variation of that name."
A third user said: "Kyle - he was one of the worst students I ever had in terms of a very bad attitude and he was a bully towards other students."
One more teacher added: "I miss names like Barbara, Rose, Mary, Jennifer, George, Edward, James, Michael and Brian.
"All my students have hipster names with random spellings or names that are phonics lessons."
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