I have an unusual name and I really like it...now. But growing up I shortened it to be more "normal." My nephew has friends with rather uncommon names (Dallas, Atticus, Dakota (pretty common nowadays)) and they are all fine and well-adjusted 10-year-olds.

My unusual name is great in my professional life because people tend to remember me more than if I had a common name. They have to focus on it at first, so they remember it.

I used to work at a large university and there was a student whose full name was Rainy Summer Day. She went by Summer. Much later I met someone who knew her sister, who also had a similarly catchy name that went with Day. I can't remember it now.

I like Bear alot. I like Bryan alot. I'm just not too sure of the combo because of the football thing.