Gabriel? At Christmas.

[StetsonsAreCool]

I've posted before for help with boys names. 6 weeks to go still, but we're drawing a blank.

The only name that's come close to feeling 'right' to me is Gabriel, and under normal circumstances that would be it. But I'm due a few days before Christmas so it seems weird - like calling a girl Holly or Ivy!

We've not both immediately discounted Hamish (DH prefers) or George (a bit not-quite-it), so I guess those three names are our shortlist.

Any thoughts? WWYD?

[loislines]

Gabriel is fine at Christmas. If it's a name you both like anyway. I'm sure you'll get some comments about it, but only when he's born and he'll have the name for a lifetime.

[Sophronia]

I think it's fine. Gabriel is a lovely name.

[OneSkinnyChip]

Lovely name whatever the time of year :)

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Yes. It's lovely. It's like an unwritten rule you have give a Christmas born baby a Christmas name.
I can't use the name though. As I lost a baby who has a brother named Gabriel on her dad's side. I've never actually seen him but it would still be weird for me to use it. I.M.O.
Oh congratulations.

[aoife24]

Most people when he is older won't know his birthday, unless he wants to tell them, so why not. It's a great name.

[ZingOfSeven]

Nathan, Nathaniel , Natalie, Noel, Noelle, Emanuel, Emanuelle and so on - all very suitable for children born near Christmas, if that matters to you.

2 of ours were born in December, Noah & Michael.

I like the name Gabriel, but I've heard so many times the piss being taken out of it when people pronounced it as "Gay"briel that it put me off.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

But, Zing It is pronounced Gaybriel.

[ZingOfSeven]

not the way I pronunce it.

when people,, even kids at school take the piss they very much overemphasise the "Gay" bit. cue upset children and parents

same with a friend's girl who was upset and ended up crying after she was told "you are gay, coz your name is Abigay, haha"
(Abigail)
this at aged 7!

just saying

[StetsonsAreCool]

Thanks everyone, I feel better about it now.

Zing, I've never heard it pronounced any other way than 'gay'briel, but it doesn't bother me in the slightest. DD could end up being 'arsey' Darcey when she gets bigger. That's worse to me than being called gay!

I think kids will find a mean nickname in most names if they really want to put the effort in!

[Muskey]

I think it's lovely my dd is a Gabrielle had she been a boy she would have been Gabriel

[squoosh]

Hmmm, I don't associate Gabriel with Christmas at all. I associate him the the Annunciation which is in March.

[StetsonsAreCool]

That's interesting squoosh - must admit I'm not very familiar with the bible, so my association for Gabriel comes from the nativity.

I'm glad it's not too Christmassy though!

Muskey, we used to have Gabriella on our girls list but my best friend got there first with Gabrielle (known by a nickname). Actually, I must check with her that it won't be too weird if we use the boys version!

At this rate it will probably end up being a girl and we'll have done all this overthinking for nothing

[Mutteroo]

Love it! We liked the name Robyn & it had nothing to do with the time of year the baby was born.

Go with what feels right for you

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

Hi Squoosh. Yes good point about the Annunciation. However if O.P's baby is due in December. He/she was obviously concieved in March, which was when the Annunciation occured, so I think Gabriel would fit perfectly.

[squoosh]

I agree and think she should go for Gabriel too, it's a gorgeous name.

[StetsonsAreCool]

Even better! Have just looked up the Annunciation and I like it even more now, even though we are 'holiday' church goers (Christmas, weddings, christenings, you get the picture)

Thanks everyone. So it looks like it will be Gabriel if it's a boy. I don't think I've ever seen such a consensus on a name thread!

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Gabriel is fab op.


Though interested in zings pronunciation. Have only ever heard the standard gaybriel

[FrancisdeSales]

We have a Gabriel - we also had lots of problems with names as DH was coming up with lots of really wild ones example: Wailea (Why-lay-a) so when he suggested Gabe I jumped! Turned out he was born on June 24th feast of John the Baptist and Gabriel also announced John's conception to his dad Zachariah while Zac was in the Temple. So like squoosh I associate the name with March and other times of the year - not Christmas.

Our Gabe is now 8 and adorable, still love his name. He was Gabey when younger. And still is when getting hugs from all and sundry as he is the youngest.

I also love Gabriel Oak from Far From the Madding Crowd.