What do you think of Dora?

[Laindons]

I really like the name. I'm part Spanish (Mother is Spanish, father was an English cockney). My OH is an Essex boy.

Would my daughter be ridiculed for the name? I was hoping the TV show 'Dora the Explorer' would die down by the time she is of school age. Then again, I don't know a Thimas that gets any stuck for 'Thomas the tank'.

[BigEasy]

Dora is a money making machine - she will not die. Don't do it.

[Laindons]

I respect that but isn't Thomas the tank popular too? In fact, even when in its hay day, I don't remember middle class boys being tormented.

[wigglesrock]

I quite like it - I know the connection with the tv show (I've 3 eds), but as you said Thomas has survived as has Barney. Tbh most kids I know are well past Dora (even the new fangled city one ) by the time they start school.

[atticusclaw]

D d d d d Dora...... It will plague her through school. Mine are 10 and 8 and it was going strong back then so I wouldn't bank on Dora disappearing any time soon.

[Mrsindecision]

As atticusclaw says, Dora the Explorer has been going strong for well over a decade (was big when my teenager was a pre-schooler!) and I don't think it will disappear anytime soon. The main difference between the two names is that Thomas has been a very popular name in the UK for many centurys (popularity dates back to the 12th Century and St Thomas Becket). It therefore isn't so readily associated with just Thomas the Tank Engine but to people's own families and other famous bearers such as Thomas Hardy etc... Dora on the other hand is not a mainstream name in the UK and is therefore more likely to be associated with the cartoon. I have nothing against the name at all (in fact I think it's quite sweet) but do think you will get a lot of explorer related comments should you use it.

[Hellionandfriends]

I adore Theodora

[Hellionandfriends]

Then she has two options - Thea
And Dora

[Twistedheartache]

Sorry just saw this on active and immediately burst into doha dora dora the Explorer.
Wouldn't use it personally.
I know a Maria, a Monica & a Berta who are all Spanish. Lots of names that work across both languages

[Hellionandfriends]

The Dora explorer link wouldn't bother me. Potentially tv or books could write off a huge number of names if people were bothered

[Laindons]

Theodora sounds like too much of a mouthful to me lol

[Laindons]

How about Bill and Ben? No one made the connection when I was younger.

George of the jungle, etc.. No ones said anything although I do agree with the association for history with Thomas.

To add a twist, the name Bessie reminds me of Henry's mistress a lot. It rings in my ears in fact. Although it's a lovely name!

[InQuiteAPickle]

I wouldn't be able to hear the name without wanting to sing "do do do do Dora" or from the new programme "Dora, Dora".

But saying that I often can't hear Olivia without wanting to sing "Oh-liv-iah, Oh-liv-iah" and there are plenty of them.

No one remember Olivia the pig? No, just me?

[Laindons]

I remember Olivia the pig! Lol

And Charlie and Lola

[Floggingmolly]

There's a Dora in ds1's class (9/10 year olds). There were never any negative reactions, afaik.

[HeyDuggee]

It's a bit like using Peppa. People will only know the name via the cartoon. Plus, she is the most annoying cartoon character on tv.

[TheNumberfaker]

Mrsindecision sums it up perfectly.

Unfortunately Dora isn't used frequently enough in the UK for it to have its own (non-Explorer) identity. I would say possibly the same for Lola but not do extreme.

[TheNumberfaker]

*so

[scarletforya]

It's such a lovely name. It's a pity its associated with the cartoon, but it's a proper name in its own right, unlike Peppa. I think Theadora is lovely, then you could have Dora as a family nn.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I love Dora.

[MrsNuckyThompson]

How about Isadora, nn Dora?

[Devora]

Dora was my first choice for dd1; everyone around me argued she wouldn't thank me for it, and I have to say I think they were right.

I still hanker after it, though - it's way better than the name we finally chose!

[Laindons]

Must say, I'm Spanish and I've never heard the name in Spain/Gib before

[InQuiteAPickle]

I think with me it tends to be characters that have a theme song with the name in. It's strange though - if someone calls their son Sam I don't automatically think "Fireman Sam".

Perhaps it's because my DDs have never been fans? My DD1 was a baby when Dora was at the height of her fame and it was one of her first words. She would shout "Dowa, Dowa" at the merchandise in the shops!

[Laindons]

I also like Lydia but wanted Dora because a daughter would be a very special gift after TTC for ages and Lydia seems a little.. I don't know.

Every Lydia I know is very competitive and ambitious, and mean..

[Laindons]

Dora means Gift of God