Let's talk about Bianca

[erikab922]

I am named after a very famous US daytime soap opera character called Erica Kane. On the soap, she had a daughter called Bianca so my mother and I have always thought that if I have a daughter, I'd keep the naming convention going and call her Bianca, like a little family in-joke. I have always loved that name anyway and everyone back home (well, the ladies anyway) would 'get it'.

So of course, this name was fine when I was living in the States but I've been in the UK for 10 years now and Bianca takes on a WHOLE new meaning. To make things worse, my fiance's surname is Jackson (I'm keeping my surname, child will be double-barrelled). When I mentioned Bianca to my fiance I didn't realise there were that many ways to say 'no'. The only other girl name that I like, Brooke, has been resoundly called every variation of crap on MN, so I'm kind of thinking I may need to stick up for Bianca.

What do you think of Bianca? I know there's the whole 'Ricckkkaaaayy!' thing but, really, kids on her own age group aren't going to know anything about it. Would I be setting her up for constant ridicule? Is Bianca due a resurgence? Or does it just need to die a peaceful death?

[keepoffthegrass]

If you love Bianca then I think you should go for it. As you say, kids her age won't have a clue about the Eastenders connection.
FWIW my best friend is called Brooke and she is amazingly clever and fabulous, and rarely meets another Brooke...

[Offspring]

I'll admit I'm not in the UK and don't get the Eastenders connection, but I know a lovely Bianca and really like the name.

[erikab922]

This is really encouraging - two posts and both names are liked! Have to say, you're making me feel much better. I was totally unprepared for how unpopular Brooke has been, I have known two Brookes and they were both really wonderful, smart, funny women. So perhaps not off the table after all...

[DELHI]

It's a lovely name, but I think the Eastenders thing has spoilt it, sadly.

[MamaLazarou]

Bianca is a beautiful name and ought to be revived. Don't let a soap-opera character put you off - after a short while, people will associate the name with your child, not the Eastenders person.

[MelinaM]

I think of the ever stylish Bianca Jagger I rather like the name, sod Eastenders!!!

[Ephiny]

I like Bianca. Don't watch Eastenders so don't know about that - I assume she's an awful character, is she bad enough to ruin the name forever though? Usually these soaps have quite a high turnover of characters, don't they, so she may be long gone by the time your DD is old enough to care?

I think Brooke is really quite nice as well, didn't know it was universally hated on MN!

[Crosshair]

I prefer Brooke.

If you like Bianca go for it.

[TheBreadstick]

You could always look at Bianca as sort of exotic and bohemian like Bianca Jagger - waaaay more cool than the Eastenders variety!

I know a Brooke and she's a complete princess, so slightly tarnishes what I think is an OK name ... !

Bread x

[issynoko]

Bianca is also a very brave female mouse in Disney's 'The Rescuers'. Go for it.

[Ittybittysmum]

Gosh, I love the name. It's so simple and I think the nn 'Bee' is sweet.

I'm in Canada and had no idea it was so disliked elsewhere!

[sparkle12mar08]

It's a lovely name by itself, but will be indelibly associated with Eastenders forevermore I'm afraid. Brooke is gorgeous in comparison, and is pretty lovely anyway imo. Or how about Blanka for an Eastern European twist?

[minipie]

Bianca is a lovely name but I think of Eastenders immediately (and I have never even watched Eastenders).

It's true that her generation won't think of Eastenders but your generation will ... depends whether you care what they think I guess!

Brooke is lovely IMO.

[poppydaisy]

Bianca is lovely and underused - great name imo. Although in the UK, I don't watch Eastenders (do that many of you really have time for such soaps ?). It does remind me of Bernard & Bianca though .

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

They might, Patsy Palmer is younger than me so potentially could be in EE for another 30 years!

Besides, if I can't use Veronica (Ronnie) with my surname then you can't use Bianca with yours :o

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

No need for the face btw poppy. Shall we critique your use of your spare time?

[Bandwithering]

Tweak it slightly and go for Blanca. That is nicer and it is less Eastenders.

[Bandwithering]

What.... hang on. The child's sur name would be something-jackson! NO you can't. NO. No. Are you listening?!

Her peers at school might not get it but every adult for the next 30 years is going to laugh to themselves. It's like Vera Duckworth or Elsie Tanner. Iconic

[Bandwithering]

PoppyDaisy I don't watch Eastenders (or corrie or the other one up north) but I still know who Bianca is. And I do not even live in the UK.

[poppydaisy]

Well, maybe I'm more ignorant than most of you, but perhaps there are others who don't watch such soaps and who might therefore also not necessarily associate Bianca with some actor.

Personally I find Blanca much less nice and too close to blank. Bianca, on the other hand, is gorgeous imo.

[pointydog]

Bianca's nice. Shame about having Jackson tacked on to it. But I wouldn't bother about the eastenders connection.

[LetThereBeRock]

I don't like it. It has an ugly sound imho.

[PercyFilth]

It also rhymes with wanker.

[mich54321]

Bianca Jackson - just NOOO.

[mopsyflopsy]

I like Bianca (and to me it doesn't rhyme with wanker, I say Bee-aah-nca) and have no Eastenders associations. It is feminine, easy to say/spell, not overused and sounds great in many languages (well, the ones I know ).