Thoughts on the name “Wilder”?

[Anonymous]

My DH and I were at a winery a few weekends ago and the family next to us had a 3-5 year old girl named Wilder. I think I have heard this name at some point in the past, but this was the first time I really heard it in live context. Sounds like it can be either a girl or boys name,

My DH is now very interested in this name for potential future kids of ours, but I honestly think it sounds a bit like the parents are trying too hard to be “edgy” or “cool”. I don’t mean to offend anyone on here, but what are peoples thoughts? There’s just something about it I don’t like, but it’s hard to explain why.

[Anonymous]

First association was Almanzo Wilder from Little House on the Prairie.

I would not name a girl that. Second association is the potential for Spring Break jokes.

Parents shouldn't start embarrassing their child on Day 1.

[Anonymous]

Like Van?

[Anonymous]

I would not tempt hte universe like that!

[Anonymous]

We have distant family who named their kid this. Awful name. And the kid is wild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like Van?

+1 Van Wilder

[Anonymous]

Because you are soliciting advice, no. Just don’t. Only exception is if you are directly descended from Laura and Alonzo.

[Anonymous]

Thoughts? It's a terrible name and one of those names that sets up the kid to live up or down to the meaning of the name or if it does not fit, to get comments about that. Plain old Kate is so much easier to live with.

[Anonymous]

That’s quite a name to live up to. Are you sure you want to challenge your child to be wilder? While you are, or course, free to name and parent your child as you wish, other parents will not be kindly disposed if your wild child (regardless of their name) ends up hurting their own little darling. On the other hand, while the name Wilder might prompt a little initial wariness, that can soon be overcome if your child is moderately civilized.

[Anonymous]

I don’t like names like that that have meaning. Same with names like charity, prudence, amnesty. What if your kid isn’t like that?

[Anonymous]

I don't hate it, and I hate every name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you are soliciting advice, no. Just don’t. Only exception is if you are directly descended from Laura and Alonzo.

I know someone related in some way to Almanzo (not sure if they’re a descendant), but their last name is Wilder, so they have no need to use it as a first name.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Walden instead

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH and I were at a winery a few weekends ago and the family next to us had a 3-5 year old girl named Wilder. I think I have heard this name at some point in the past, but this was the first time I really heard it in live context. Sounds like it can be either a girl or boys name,

My DH is now very interested in this name for potential future kids of ours, but I honestly think it sounds a bit like the parents are trying too hard to be “edgy” or “cool”. I don’t mean to offend anyone on here, but what are peoples thoughts? There’s just something about it I don’t like, but it’s hard to explain why.

I agree, and the meaning isn’t something I’d want to attach to my child. If this was a family name, I’d have zero issues with using it as a middle name, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because you are soliciting advice, no. Just don’t. Only exception is if you are directly descended from Laura and Alonzo.

Nobody did. Their only child had no children who survived.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Wilder_Lane