As people get more inventive with what they name their children, a speech therapist has warned against three common options.
We all know people with wacky names, and some are genuinely quite cool, while others have you scratching your head.
But have you ever thought about a name from a practical point of view?
Chloe Conrad, a speech therapist known for her educational parenting content on Instagram, recently shared a post that’s gone viral — racking up over 250,000 views — where she listed three specific baby names she says are best avoided.
And her reasoning is more scientific than sentimental.
“Three names I would never name my child as a speech therapist: Rory, Rowan and Aurora. They’re so hard to say,” Conrad declared in the video.
The problem? It’s all about tricky letter combinations. In the caption of her post, she added: “Basically any name with R and O in it next to each other. I LOVE the way they sound but struggle teaching a child to say them.”
Conrad’s insight struck a chord with viewers, many of whom confessed to having trouble pronouncing those names themselves.
“My guess was Aurora before I ever heard it! Lol. I have the hardest time saying it! We had a little girl on our soccer team last season and even the parents yelling it sounded off to me! Lol.”
Another added: “lol I’ve always found Rory hard but I just realised I can’t say Aurora at all.”
“So true lol all those Rs!” someone else chimed in.
In an interview with TODAY.com, Conrad broke down the phonetic challenge behind names like Rory and Aurora.
“The W sound is made with rounded lips, and O is also a rounded vowel,” she explained. “So when you put the two together, it becomes increasingly difficult for a young child to produce clearly.”
While the allure of unique or lyrical names is understandable, Conrad’s comments highlight a practical consideration for parents trying to help their little ones find their voice — literally.
Luckily, many parents are already steering clear of these pronunciation pitfalls. Data shows names like Liam and Olivia — both of which are easier to articulate — continue to dominate the charts.
Liam has held the top spot for boys’ names for eight straight years, while Olivia has led the pack for girls for six.
And it’s not just about simplicity. Vintage-style names are making a major comeback too.
Think Theodore, Oliver, Owen, Eleanor, Eloise, and Margaret — classic choices that feel both nostalgic and stylish.
“I think vintage names evoke a sense of nostalgia. I get a lot of clients who pull out their family tree, looking to grandparents and great-grandparents for name inspiration,” said Colleen Slagen, author of the upcoming book Naming Bebe, in an interview with Yahoo! Life.