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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Veto on Dora cause of Dora the explorer

59 replies

Whatwhatwhat · 19/07/2013 21:21

I thought we were happily settled on Dora.
Husband now says he wants to veto it cause some pals of his launched in to a song about Dora the Explorer when they heard it was on the cards (why it was up for discussion I don't know)

Anyway he says now it'd be a curse of a name akin to calling a child Barney and would be met too often with a reference to Dora the explorer.

I honestly don't think so but I'm open to advice.

OP posts:

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NomDeClavier · 19/07/2013 21:24

Dorothea or Theadora?

I can see why Dora as is might they that reaction but it's a lovely nn.

Borisboohoo · 19/07/2013 21:27

Well we like Dora the Explorer in this house! She's quite a role model although strangely unsupervised Have you considered Elladora?

Wereonourway · 19/07/2013 21:30

I would immediately think of that Dora tbh.

I once met a girl called Cora, she was lively and is the only little girl I've met with the name

peachypips · 19/07/2013 21:34

I wouldn't care. I love the name. My Gma is called Dora and the little girl next door calls her 'Dora next-doorer' !!!!

Whatwhatwhat · 19/07/2013 21:34

I really love the name. Maybe I'm just not able to see the problem. I know nothing about DTE.
I'm getting a bit upset.
Surely if we go with the longer name and call the child Dora there's the same problem.

OP posts:

spanky2 · 19/07/2013 21:40

My ds is called Milo and not after the tweenie . If you like it go for it.If you cringe inside thinking of that gruesome brat don't . I like it . very retro name!

Whatwhatwhat · 19/07/2013 21:44

Maybe I'm completely out of touch. I've never heard of the tweenies. I hear Milo - I think nice name.
If I'm do out of touch then maybe I don't know how "bad" Dora is.

OP posts:

Diddle82 · 19/07/2013 21:52

Definately think of dora the explorer... sorry!

spanky2 · 19/07/2013 21:54

Thank you!

SofiaAmes · 19/07/2013 21:56

My dd is named Dora (full name Dorotea) and she does get teased about Dora the Explorer. It started actually annoying her around age 8 and now at 10 she is in full blown "I want a new name." However, having said that, I suspect that in the next year or two, that will die down and she will go back to enjoying her name. Dora is also not the same thing as Barney. Barney is a dinosaur, dora is a person and quite a smart, nice one.

Smartiepants79 · 19/07/2013 21:56

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yqdD5v-iH6I&feature=fvwrel
Here she is.
Wouldn't choose it myself.
Her peer group would all know the TV show.

Hulababy · 19/07/2013 22:03

I know about DTE but tbh I don't think it is a bad connection if you se it anyway.

Whatwhatwhat · 19/07/2013 22:15

Surely this show is going to get less popular?
It's so hard to know. And I was completely happy. Don't feel I can force husband.

OP posts:

KittenofDoom · 20/07/2013 01:15

It won't matter, it won't be on for ever as you say. I've never heard of it either except on here.

As for your husband, you can try slipping Theodora or Dorothea past him, as suggested above. They're not actually the same name, are they

aquashiv · 20/07/2013 01:33

Dora is ok as a name no explorer connection.

SupermansBigRedPants · 20/07/2013 01:45

I'd think explorer right now but in ten years time it wouldn't cross my mind - I had to think why barney was mentioned upthread and it was only 5 years ago my dd was obsessed with the big daft dinosaur.

If you love the name I'd try and find a way round dh's aversion to it, as said the cartoons won't be on forever!

Onyabike · 20/07/2013 08:21

My children are 10 and older, and I'd still think Dora the Explorer I'm afraid! The association still hasn't gone for me (and it probably never will - the theme tune is already playing in my head as I write this!) My DC loved the show when they were younger, and I just asked dd1 if she liked the name and she just laughed and sang the song, so the association hasn't gone for her either. I think you need to think carefully as things like that can cause teasing which can be very upsetting for the child involved. Children definitely prefer names where they can just "blend in" (they don't necessarily have to be really popular, but ones which are easy to pronounce and understand and that have no funny associations for them). Dora The Explorer may be off your radar, but as you can see from this thread, it is still the first thing that comes to mind for many of us.

oohdaddypig · 20/07/2013 08:23

I think in ten years time Dora will be history! If you like the name I would use it. A name is lifelong, a daft programme is soon forgotten IMHO.

Onyabike · 20/07/2013 08:37

I would have said that too oohdaddypig when my children where preschoolers but nearly 10 years on and the show is still going strong! It is a cartoon which is translated into many different languages (Spanish and French to name a few) so has worldwide appeal. I would also say it is not only about what YOU like, but you must consider your unborn dd in this. Look at what SofiaAmes has posted, she says her daughter hates the name because of the teasing she gets due to DTA. Personally I would prefer to avoid a name where I can see there is definite potential for teasing - school life can be tough enough without such an association!

oohdaddypig · 20/07/2013 08:47

Fair cop onya... Although isn't Dora quite a sassy girl? Worse things to be compared to? Personally it wouldn't bother me. Although Dorothea as a longer name might give more options for the future in case Dora's popularity lasts?!

Onyabike · 20/07/2013 08:57

I agree oohdaddypig, Dora is a great female role model, BUT I don't think I would take that into consideration at the age of 8/10/12 if being teased by my peergroup at school! It's not about how we think as adults, but to me, how we would feel about the association as a child.

Whatwhatwhat · 20/07/2013 09:55

Onyabike you've set out exactly what husband's fear is. I can't really understand it because the show is not something I've ever encountered.
You've certainly made me think.

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peachypips · 20/07/2013 10:00

I don't know any children that watch this show and I have 2 DSs who are 2.10 and 5.6. So I think it's not as popular everywhere. My DCs just think it's a nice name.

Onyabike · 20/07/2013 10:23

Well, look at the link below and scroll down to "foreign adaptations" to see just how widespread the international love of Dora the Explorer is! 29 different languages!!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dora_the_Explorer

So I think it is a little naive to say that just because your children don't watch it, that it is "not popular everywhere"!

oohdaddypig · 20/07/2013 10:25

It seems to me that kids tease at that age about anything and everything. Given the utterly bizarre names I hear about I would have thought a little Dora would be getting off lightly!

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