My mom named me Fallon Gray, after her grandmothers. Not their first names, nor their middle names. I got my great-grandmothers maiden names as my first and middle name. My entire name is just a bunch of last names put together, which makes it unique without considering the uncommon-ness of my names. Although I love having a unique name and I've come to realize the many benefits and blessings of not being the tenth Kate in my class, there are quite a few downsides. I must thank Jimmy Fallon for inadvertently teaching people how to spell my name.
Benefit: You stand out more easily.
Being the only Fallon in my schools for my entire life has always been a blessing. People easily remember someone with a unique name. It might not be common, but it makes people want to get to know you and why you've got a unique name.
Downside: You stand out more easily.
Roll call on the first day was always the worst. It will shock the normal-named person how easily a teacher can completely butcher a unique name. If the teacher is embarrassed enough by saying your name so wrong, they'll definitely call you out during class since they'll remember you.
Benefit: You never get your stuff mixed up with other people.
There were no Fallon B., Fallon K. and Fallon T. in any of my classes, so I never accidentally picked up their bags or got their papers back. No embarrassing moments when you get called to the office for what a kid with a name similar to mine did.
Downside: No one knows how to spell your name.
Some examples of misspelled Fallon's; Vallon, Valin, Falcon, Fallin, Phalon, and my personal favorite, Felon. It's just a part of having a unique name. At Starbucks, baristas either ask, "How do you spell that?" or "Like Jimmy Fallon?" since they don't even have a clue how to spell it usually. It's like they mess with normal named people to give them a taste of having a unique, difficult to spell name.
Benefit: No one can say they've met someone with your name they didn't like.
I always hear people say they had a bad college roommate named Olivia and now they hate all people named Olivia. When you're the first person with your name that they meet, they won't be able to judge you from their past experiences.
Downside: You never get those personalized keychains or mugs at gift stores.
As a child I would comb through the racks at each gift store we would hit up looking for a keychain with my name on it, always knowing I would be disappointed. It would've been a life changing moment to find my name on a gift store mug in the middle of New Mexico, but I guess my parents saved a lot of money.
Benefit: It's just better being unique.
Although I have always asked why I didn't get a common name, I have always been thankful that I didn't. I may never find a keychain with my name on it but I've got something much better than a keychain. Plus, my children will all have unique names since they're more fun.
