Everyone laughs at my babies name......thinking of changing it????

Now I love Bear Grylls as much as any red- blooded female (he's slept in a camel's rotten carcasse and eats his own prey! what a man!) but Bear is a nn not a real name. If your son grows up to be a SAS legend too then I'm sure he'll be able to pull it off...otherwise it's a tad pretentious.

So pleased you stuck with it. I think it's a lovely name.

I actually really like the name Bear Alexander. You don't need to change it at all because he could always use the Alexander if he really disliked it when he's older(which I'm sure he won't). A lot of these things are just down to perspective I think. The name Seren is getting more popular (Welsh for star) but being Welsh myself I just think it sounds like a horse's name! And whilst we're on the topic of animal names I know a Llew (literally welsh for lion). Bear is certainly not outlandish enough to be ridiculed it's an awesome name!

Jamie Oliver's son is called Buddy Bear... Sure it'll be mainstream enough in the next few years!

Love it, love it, love it. My DD's best friend is called Bear ( though his first name on bc is actually Joseph) and it suits him down to the ground. Your DS can always use his middle name later on if he wants to.

Please don't change it. Bear is fine. Kids really don't care about their friend's names when they're young and by the time he's old enough to know, for all you know Bear could be in the TOP 10 names list! You just never know what will happen. My DS1 has a very standard, top 20 name and I wish I had been braver and used the one I really wanted. With DS2 I went for a more unusual name and it really suits him.

Bear!
Im sorry
But how would you feel if you was called fairy or
Something growing up!
Imagine him in a tracksuit with all his friends such as jake, daniel and theres bear...

Not my cup of tea!

Bear is cute as a NN but please give the poor child a proper name.

I posted under a previous user name back when this thread was live saying to change it, but in the time that's elapsed, I've come round.

Bear Grylls (even though it's a nickname for him) has given the name mainstream credence - and like all names, the more you get used to it, the more normal it becomes.

Nice to get an update. :)

You CANNOT change Bear to Teddy - you just can't.

But you could use Teddy as a nickname.

Read the first few posts, then realised this was an old thread, and clicked last. Couldn't be bothered to read the whole thread - Friday night, lots of red wine.

But Bear? For real? Poor kid

Am I the only one disappointed that he wasn't called Dogtanian?

Bear is a fucking brilliant name! I'm pleased you kept it. My girls are all called very unusual names (mind you, the middle one's name is becoming über trendy now so I might have to call her something else!).

I spent months choosing their names while I was upduffed as I wanted them to stand out from the crowd - they've all had the usual rough and tumble of the playground bullying thing but their names have never been focussed on as a target for abuse).

If I'd had a boy, he would have been called Erik Wolf.

I was just thinking of this thread the other day, glad to hear you've kept the name Kate.

Op, If you like Bear keep it. And be happy your Dh isn't like my DH who is gunning to name our pfb Catfish.

My Husband is from Norway.He is over 6 feet,blue-eyed and blond.He says the
"Strongest,bravest"men have names like "Bjorn".He's all for That name. jill.

I'd just come on here to say Bjorn means bear and isn't very unusual. Glad you're comfortable with your decision to stick with it

I so glad you stuck with it, I love the name and we were going to name our first (due in December) Bear but we are not brave enough with first child, but going to reconsider it for second son, we really love the name Bear!!!

OP I am pleased you stuck with the name

In Scandinavian countries the name Bjorn (bear in Danish Swedish and Norwegian) is fairly common so I can 100% think of an adult Bear to me it is not a little boys name nor one someone has to be brave to have. I can also see an judge being Bear and any professional being so as I have seen it in Denmark when I grew up. I did a little research and In Denmark January 2008 there were 5298 people with the name Bjørn So really a fair few in a country of just under 6 million total.

It is however a marmite name My son has one of those (he is Conrad) so you will find people either will respond positively or negatively. The fact you love it is what is important.

For what it is worth I don't think you have "landed him" with a name (and personally I think it is a darn sight nicer than the Buddy so many on the thread seems to think the Oliver's choice of 1st name was better I just don't get Buddy as a name at all. Bear however for me is utterly normal.

Bear is great - masculine, cool and not overused!

I also know a Tiger although am not sure whether it is his nickname for full name.

I'm glad you feel happy with your decision!

(I voted YES above, btw, but have namechanged since then (NoHunIntended)).
Thanks for updating!

Glad to hear it! Bear is FAB! Well done!

Thanks for the update! Glad you stuck with it and are happy

Oh I knew I recognised your name! (I posted on your cleaner vs school dinners thread.)

FWIW, I didn't like Bear when I first saw it, but I do like it now, so all those people double taking back then, might love it, now.

I'm pleased you stuck to your guns!

prepare for another swathe of people who only read the OP telling you that you are a ninny though

nice update :) I am glad you are happy :)