News - Parents ditch Jack and Jill in search for standout names

PITY the teachers when Geelong's newest babies start school.

Remembering an entire classroom of names will become an even greater challenge when Finbar, Kyah, Twyla, Jarrah, Charlize, Cormac, Zander and Zahli enrol.

The unusual monikers appeared in the Geelong Advertiser birth notices last Saturday, dominating old-fashioned classics like William, Luke, Alex and Layla.

But the new parents say they weren't influenced by celebrities who have given their children bizarre names.

Neil and Martine Myers of Newtown said they wanted "something unique" and turned to the internet for inspiration.

Their search ended with the discovery of 18th century Celtic name, Twyla.

"It's a very old name which means two threads entwined, and we have an apparel business, so it was an indication of how our lives are entwined," Mr Myers said.

"There's a famous choreographer named Twyla, and a supermodel, although we didn't know it at the time. It's a very artistic name."

Wallington mum Joanne Harris plucked her newborn's name, Zander, from a baby-name book.

"It's a short form of Alexander. I had never heard it before, but I liked the sound of it," she said.

"Everyone loves it, we have had a few people say 'that's unusual'."

Danielle and Bradley Williamson had a similar reaction from friends and relatives after the birth of baby Zahli last week.

The couple settled on the name after deciding it suited their first child, despite having no idea what the name meant.

"My wife is a teacher, so she always knew what was popular," Mr Williamson said.

"We just wanted something a bit more unusual."





Source : geelongadvertiser