If you have a son ask him what he thinks of...

[Drunkenmonkey]

Gabriel. And I don't mean ask your 4 year old
I'm interested in what older boys (like 8 plus) think of the name as my DH thnks it will invite bullying and also sounds too feminine for a boy and that our future DS (if he is a DS) won't thank us for it.
I disagree but I'd like some opinions. I know it's very popular on here generally as I've done some searching and seen other threads.

[Snowymcsnowsony]

My Gabriel is 20. Very popular. Very happy with his name.. Preferred Gabriel until he was about 18. Few close friends call him Gabs /Gab.

[Drunkenmonkey]

@Snowymcsnowsony thank you! Exactly what I was hoping to hear. I think it's strong but also elegant and cool, I love it.
I also like Gabe, Gabs, Gabes etc.

[EvilEdna1]

My nephew who is a Gabriel. Would say he gets mistaken for Gabrielle when people read it out all the time so people expect a girl. Also he gets a lot of gay 'jokes'.

[Snowymcsnowsony]

Interestingly my mil hated it... Despite her being a strict Catholic!!
Never had any negative comments tbh.

[Moonface123]

I know a young teenager of that name, and he did used to get called names. Such as Gay. I like the name, but would be wary.

[Vallmo47]

My 13 year old DS says it’s okay. I think it’s lovely. Kids always find something to tease others about. I honestly wouldn’t think anything of it, other than that it’s a lovely name.

[Snowymcsnowsony]

My Gabriel actually is gay. Still popular. Never been bullied..

[kowari]

@Drunkenmonkey

Gabriel. And I don't mean ask your 4 year old
I'm interested in what older boys (like 8 plus) think of the name as my DH thnks it will invite bullying and also sounds too feminine for a boy and that our future DS (if he is a DS) won't thank us for it.
I disagree but I'd like some opinions. I know it's very popular on here generally as I've done some searching and seen other threads.

DS 14 yo says 'it's fine'. Will they be bullied 'no'. He has a friend called Gabriel.

[Obviouslynotallthere]

My NDN is called Gabriel but he's from Spain and the a is pronounced as in apple.

[HurricaneBitch]

I wanted it for DS who is 19, DH vetoed it, DS wishes he hadn't as he likes it.

[SummaLuvin]

You'll find plenty of people to disagree with your husbands opinion, I do, it's one of my favourite names. But I'm not the father of the child, it doesn't matter if the Mumsnet jury vote for it, I don't think you should try and convince your husband to name their child something he doesn't like.

[GinaJaffacake]

It’s a great name! It’s alliterative with our surname or I would seriously have considered it. I know two; one is 15 and the other in his 40s. Both known as Gabe. The 15yr old is a friend of my daughter’s since primary school and I don’t ever remember hearing of any bullying but I’ll ask DD. It’s doesn’t at all sound feminine to me.

[CeibaTree]

The only person I know who is called Gabriel changed his name to Gavin when he was 13 because of bullying - this was in the 90s and I hear kids are even meaner to each other these days! How about Raphael instead?

[BewareTheBeardedDragon]

There's a Gabriel in my ds (age 9) year - I've never heard from ds that it's an issue, they are friends.

[beela]

My 10yo ds says it's a good name.

[takingmytimeonmyride]

My 16 yo knows a Gabriel. Never had a problem with the name, never thought it was anything but a normal boys name.

[SprogletsMum]

I have a friend with a son called Gabriel, he doesn't get bullied.

[Bl0ndi3]

I asked my 8 year old and he likes it and said he would call him gabe as a nickname if it was his friend :)

[ThatIsNotMyUsername]

Ds was at school with 2 Gabriels and a Gabrielle. None bullied.

[SplendidSuns1000]

My nephew (12) says he knows 2 gabriels, niece (7) asked if gabriel is a type of cake. I think that's a good thing. My very best friend is called Gabriel, most know him as Gabe and he is gay but never bullied for his name.

[Snowymcsnowsony]

Ds did feel a bit miffed as a primary school boy. Nativity plays he always had the same part....
His younger dbro was as miffed to always be a sheep!! No reason why - his name had no sheep connections!!

[Drunkenmonkey]

These are great responses.
@SummaLuvin he doesn't dislike the name as such, he is just concerned. There are plenty of other names he has vetoed that I like.

He also chose our other DS name and I've never been 100% sold on it so he's willing to be more flexible this time, especially as he doesn't really think about names as much as me.

I do think times have changed a lot and the insult 'gay' is gradually disappearing (as it should) I'm hoping in 10 years time it will be even less acceptable to use those kind of slurs.

[StillGoingToWork]

My daughter knew a Gabriel. He was horrendous. Entitled bully.

Not saying every Gabriel is a d*ck, but this one, definitely was.

[ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing]

Not been any issues for the teen Gabriel I know

[Fembot123]

I asked my 8 year old and he said ‘Yeah, it’s good and I like it’