Funky names

[http://users.livejournal.com/--stillframe--/]

What would you baby namers consider to be "funky" names? How do you decide if a name is "funky"?

I was looking through another baby name forum, and I came across a thread of someone asking for "funky" girl names. I saw quite a few interesting ones, and it became pretty clear that one person's "funky" is another person's "average."



A * will denote if a child was named that (or will be named that). Without the * is just a suggestion for the OP.

I also included the pronunciations if the poster offered them.

Lola
Malibu
Mackayla
Zeyla
Brie
Bailee
Cadence
Dani
Azlyn* and sibling Kenzington*
Chenoa
Rylea
Tyler
Raena
Dakota
Cristiana
Maylen* and sibling Annika*
Hayden
Leota
Leora
Leeora
Luna Sunstar*
Chesney
Olivia
Zania (prn "zuh-NEE-uh")
Vandi
Lali (prn "LAY-lee," "LA-lee," "LAY-lie," "LA-lie")
Arnya
Yarsha
Mea (prn "me a," but I'm wondering if that's supposed to be prn "ME-uh"?)
Lanie
Brooklyn
Aslyn
Mikeala
Madysin Lyskey*
Metallee*
Herione
Kylia
Francis (nn Frankie)
Anniryn (prn "uh-nye-rinn")
Chellsea
Zeda
Zayda
Vidya
Allegra
Julitza* (I believe this person speaks Spanish, so prn with a "yoo" sound, not "Joo")
Zoey
Xavierette
Violetta
Garnet
Goldie
Tarna*
Leilani*
Myleigha or Myleiah
Gemma
Janna
Winifred
Terin
Francesca
Sharlee*
Maeryn
Ainsleigh
Maemi
Paisley
Lexann*
Makiya Sierra
Kai Renea
Parley
Khyala Shardai*
Tayah
T'kiah
K'ziah
Serenity Mariyah*
Aubrey
Imoni
Inomity
Allanah
Tia*
Jayden
Fawn*
Kendra*
Anayes
Ebony
Adalie*
Colina
Fiona
Lillias
Shona
Clara
Eva
Molly
Lilly
Abi*
Caireen (prn "kay-REEN")
Chance
Azure
Genavieve
Ritzen
Pierce
Allistair
Yasmin
Seraphina
Layla*
Honey
Zoe
Isis*
Esme
Sophia
Jenova
Valkyrie
Saia (prn "SIGH-a", which I'm guessing is meant more as "SIGH-uh")
Deva
Lilia
Bryanna (prn "BRAI-anna" -- like Bryan, but Bryanna)
Zara
Champagne
Krystal
April
Amber
Eden
Sacha
Asta
Astrid
Marette
Lyndell
Mignon
Georgia
Savannah
Adrianna
Natalie
Corrine
Devon
Lynne
Cecelia
Shea
Milani, or Milania
Harmony
Natalia
Armania
Kyle
Bjork
Kim/Kym
Kris
Mieke (prn "MEE-kuh")
Senka
Sky/Skye
Kiara
Pia
Randi
Kenna
Robin* and sibling Romy*
Shaisha
Carly
Mika
Rhylie*
Ryan
TeAnn*
Ariya
Tehya
Indigo
Indiana
Shiloh
Zali
Xanthe
Luna
Amethyst
Rain
Rayn*
Chrysanthe
Zephyrine
Xena
Celeste
Lita*
Paige
Liza
Emery
Niical (prn "nee-CAL")
Ximena
Talia
Comfort
Jehova
Dinah
Olivine
Norleane
Blaze
Zion
Denver
Nueva
Aires
Verde
Sedona
Jett
Petra
Helena
Rowan
Link
Eartha
Aspen Lakota
Zephora
Nahla
Azalia
Ameria
Elodie
Sydney
Asha
Saffron
Burdette
Xania
Mandy
Zora
Whisper
Sunee
Secret
Gianna
Orla
Miley
Cammie
Carter
Ally
Bex
Liz
Nevaeh
Aadila
Rileigh
Kendyll
Kesslan
Azzurie

The mostly commonly suggested names for the OP seemed to be variations of Dakota and Riley, which seems strange to me. I don't personally think of either name as "funky." But that seems to go with the trend that names that are/were typically male are considered "funky" when used on a girl.

As an aside, one poster mentioned some of her favorite male funky names and mentioned that her sister is naming her son Whyit.

And another poster named his/her son Blaze Zen.

Thoughts on "funky" names or any of the suggestions?

Comments

[rubytitania.livejournal.com]

I think Lynne might be the least funky name I've ever heard.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

I'd go with Natalie. It's a nice name, don't get me wrong, but it's terribly plain, regular, average and normal.

Molly, Lilly, April, and Amber are also up there. There were more but I don't feel like rescrolling through the list again :P

[http://users.livejournal.com/___heyvanity/]

It was hard to go through all those crappy names and attempt to find good ones. Even then, they were barely "funky" in my opinion. I do not really find masculine names on girls instantly funky. I also do not believe that a mispelled name is funky either. I think unusual, uncommon names are the funkiest ones.

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

To me, a funky name is something that's a little out of the ordinary. A little ditzy even. To me, a lot of nature names are funky (Meadow, River) or color names (Indigo).

Of the names on that list, I like:
Dakota
Leora
Luna
Francis (nn Frankie)
Gemma
Aubrey
Lillias
Azure
Pierce
Allistair
Isis*
Lilia
April
Astrid
Cecelia
Sky/Skye
Robin
Indigo
Paige
Helena
Elodie
Saffron
Zora

Lilias, Azure, Indigo, Isis, Sky and Saffron are definitely funky to me.

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

Wow, "to me" overload. Clearly my head was somewhere else!

[gipro2003.livejournal.com]

Whyit makes me sad. My little brother is a Wyatt and Whyit just makes me think of Why it?, as if the parents are questioning the child.

[unaccepatable.livejournal.com]

I guess funky = throwing a bunch of random letters together and calling it a name

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I like:

Cadence
Hayden
Francis
Gemma
Aubrey
Eden
Georgia
Savannah
Indiana
Shiloh
Elodie
Saffron

I do not consider most of those names to be funky, lol.

[coendou.livejournal.com]

Things that are definitely not funky:

- If it's been in the top 20 or so anytime since about 1950. OR if it's a misspelling (it's not creative, people, it's just wrong) of a name that has been - if it sounds the same, it's the same name.

- Has been in about the top 50 or so anytime in the past 5 years (including misspellings).

- If it's misspelled, period. If it was originally another name, OR a common word, then just spell it like it's spelled. This includes stuff like Nevaeh. That's not funky, it's just goofy.

Funkiness points awarded for:

- The inclusion of an X or Z - that belongs there, again, no misspellings to add them in.
- Being nature-related without sounding like an outright hippy name (like Sunshine).

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

Talking of funky names makes me think of how I was thinking that there are some names that I thought of as weird but then when I associated them with someone it was like, "Yeah, that's their name. There's nothing weird about that."

Glancing through this list, I'm like, "No I know someone with that name, it can't be funky."

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

If I had to pick a clear definition of what's funky, I'd say something with a 60's/70's vibe... The height of funk music!

Something like Sunshine or Gloria or even Donna... they don't even have to be "unique" names [imo] to be funky.