Ugly Baby Names (And Names So Ugly They're Actually Cute) - Real Mom Recs

Ugly Baby Names (And Names So Ugly They’re Actually Cute)

Is there such a thing as an ugly baby name?

Like all things beauty, the beauty of a name is in the eye (ear?) of the beholder. This post is not at all meant to insult anyone with these names or anyone who chose these names.

I’m sure there are many lovely people in the world with all of these names.

That said, there are some names that are either harsh sounding or have some feature about them that sounds unpleasant to a lot of English speakers.

Some of these names are just plain ugly. I’m sorry, but I can’t get behind a little Gertrude or Gretchen.

Other names are strattling the line between ugly and cute. Like the pugs of baby names, it is precisely their awkward, quasi-ugliness which makes them endearing.

Or at least that was my whole argument during my first pregnancy, when I begged and begged my husband to agree to the name Mabel.

“It’s ugly,” my husband said.

“But it’s so ugly, it’s cute!” I argued.

I was unable to convince him of that one, but let’s see if I can convince anyone of these so-ugly-they’re-cute baby names.

Ugly baby names

As much as I hate to be a jerk, first we need to separate the just-plain-ugly names from the ugly-but-cute names.

Ugly baby names for girls

You might be able to create a little girl gorgeous enough to pull off one of these. But I don’t recommend trying.

(And if you had your heart set on one of these, remember there’s always the middle name spot!)

Ugly baby names

Ursula

I don’t know if Disney called the sea witch Ursula because it’s ugly, or if we just think of it as ugly because of the sea witch. But that’s not important.

Gretchen

Some people truly like this name. All I hear is the “retch”. And vomit is pretty much the ugliest possible thing.

Gertrude

It doesn’t roll off the tongue, that’s for sure. The sound is just unappealing.

Mildred

I highly doubt anyone reading this was ever considering naming their baby Mildred. So for that, I thank you.

Irma

I’ll tell you what Irma is the perfect name for: a horrid, destructive, category 5 hurricane. Let’s keep it that way.

Helga

The name Helga peaked in 1899, and unlike some old-fashioned baby names, it should stay buried.

Virginia

What if the kid ends up with a speech impediment and goes around calling herself Vagina??? That’s a risk I’m not willing to take.

Bernadette

I know some cool people with the name Bernadette, but honestly I’ve always wondered what in the world their parents were thinking.

Myrtle

Myrtle is just begging to be made into a joke. Is the joke fertile Myrtle? Myrtle the turtle? I don’t even know. But it’s there.

Barbara

This name sounds like words that aren’t at all feminine. Barber, barbarian… nothing cute or sweet about those. And the nickname Barbie would just be cruel.

Esther

Esther isn’t rolling off anyone’s tongue. The “s” followed by “th” combo takes serious effort.

Greer

Another name that’s hard to say. Greer is reminiscent of the sound an angry cat makes.

Fern

If you’re into nature names, there are so many more beautiful choices out there. Violet, Rose, Lily, Meadow, Autumn, Ivy… there’s no need to use harsh-sounding Fern.

Delores

Remember the episode of Seinfeld about the name that rhymes with a female body part?

Bertha

The first word that comes to mind when I hear Bertha is “big”. Do you want your daughter to be “Big Bertha”?

Any overly froo-froo made up name

Honestly I’d prefer any of the aforementioned unattractive or old lady names on this list over some of the nonsense people make up. Brynlynn, Eliannalee, and Amylbella just don’t need to happen.

Names that are ugly cute

Ugly baby names

Mabel

My favorite of the ugly-cute names, it has an old-lady vibe but isn’t too weird or unpleasant sounding.

Martha

A cute little girl could totally rock Martha. Sure it’s old, but in a classic/historical way. Don’t we all have a bit of affection towards Martha Washington?

Ingrid

It’s definitely dancing on the ugly-cute line, but the uniqueness has some appeal.

Enid

Girls names that start with “E” are all the rage now. Maybe Enid will be next?

Agatha

Yes, I would be surprised if the next birth announcement I received was for sweet little baby Agatha. But there is definitely something ballsy about it. No one would want to mess with Agatha.

Ida

The uber-popular name Ava has caused a subsequent surge in the popularity of Ada. It’s only logical that Ida will be the next step.

Henrietta

This name makes a statement! It’s bold, but with a feminine side. I can picture a super cute little Henrie or even Etta with this name.

Georgina

All variations of George are on the rise since the birth of Prince William and Duchess Kate’s son George. Georgina is just as good of a female version as Georgia, so don’t shy away!

Matilda

It feels a little dated and possibly a little nerdy, but if you don’t think about it too hard it’s pretty cute.

Edith

Edith would fall on the good side of old lady names, not the ugly.

Wilhelmina

Go big or go home! Wilhelmina is a great formal name choice for cute nicknames like Willie or Willa.

Elna

With the Frozen-explosion dying down, people are starting to break away from the name Elsa. Elna would be a likely replacement hitter.

Ugly boy names

Ugly baby names

Why has this whole post been focused on girls names? I have no idea.

I’m an equal opportunity name snob and there is certainly no shortage of ugly baby names for boys. Here are just a few:

Milton

Nerd alert! There is nothing cute about Milton. Martin would be a more appealing alternative.

Bruce

If you’re hoping your baby boy comes out of the womb with a beard, try this name.

Earl

It sounds like whining even if you aren’t trying to.

Virgil

Virgil is a different style than most names, but not in a good way. If you’re looking for unique baby names, I’ve got much better!

Buford

I can’t put my finger on what makes Buford ugly. But I have a feeling I’m not alone.

Adolf

No explanation needed. Pick another name.

Angus

In addition to the association with beef, Angus has a uniquely unappealing sound.

Elmer

Elmer Fudd, Elmer’s glue… can’t think of anything cute about Elmer.

Eugene

Eugene Fitzherbert knew what he was doing when he changed his name to Flynn Ryder. (If you picked up on that reference, you should definitely check out my list of Disney-inspired boy names).

I know you’ve all heard of more ugly baby names! Let’s hear them in the comments.

Author

Adoptive mom, biological mom, slacker mom, Disney mom, and above all things a REAL mom. Fan of blogging, sleeping, and pretending not to hear my kids fight.

16 comments

  1. So funny to read! Many of those names are very regular in the Netherlands. In Dutch the pronunciation is different. I know many girls named Esther!

  2. haha , my middle name is Maple sen … I have no idea why ,I have 2 middle names and the second one is renegade…

  3. Mitchell, Stanly, and Dudley are a few boy names I don’t like. And I can’t stand Luna, Bella, or Stacy for girls. Mainly because they are over used.

  4. Have mercy! I’m trying to convince my friend to not name her daughter Esther! Poor baby! What do I do?. Poor little biracial baby, if it is a girl, will be teased with no good nickname in sight! Esi? Ther? Thert? Thanks for the evidence! I knew I was right!!

  5. Some other bad names

    Trudy
    Bella
    Luna
    Lucy
    Chelsea
    Natalie
    Ava
    Sophie
    Nellie
    Theresa
    Babette
    Kelsey
    Billie
    Sasha
    Sadie
    Bonnie
    IF YOU LIKE THESE NAMES, GOOD FOR YOU! DONT HATE ON ME!

  6. esther is one of the most beautiful names i have heard. it’s the name of a queen in the bible and it’s a wonderful name to name a baby.

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