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

FFS, before she revealed the name most people were all for going with the name she loved, now she should change it immediately?

All parents get caned for decisions they make. I think most people will think Bear Grylls and imagine your DS as a strapping, adventurous type. I love it FWIW.

Bear grhylls name is actually Edward :o

Have you read Freakanomics?

Anyway, our two DDs have relatively unusual names (traditional ones, but neither are ever on the lists of possible names for anything) and we chose them by imagining seeing them written down.

Empty out all your openmindedness, and imagine you are a snotty university admissions person, or a job interviewer, or even an agent for artists.

Does the name make you think "self conciously eccentric, probably hippy, parents - will likely be a pain in the arse"? Or does it make you think "unusual name, but will stick in my mind, I wonder what they are like?"

Nicknames are fine - use whichever nicknames you like, the child can use it all their life - I know people who use relatively conventional names that have no relevance to their real name at all. But they need a formal name that doesn't speak too much for them.

It is also why names like Jayden, Kaycee, and so on are not a good idea. When people see the name on a form they form opinions about the person. Like it or not, that is what happens.

Jayden will be expected to be a bit rough, Bear to be a hippy, but (say) Edward will be expected to be...maybe slightly posh? Nothing drastic. Plus he will have loads of options nickanme wise. TBH he will probably get Bear/Teddy as a nickname anyway.

Imagine if "Bear" ends up overweight, or hairy. Or skinny and bald. Or a bit fighty. Or a wimp. Or big and gay. Or none of the above.

It suits him because he is a baby. Babies are cuddly and a bit grumpy. He won't always be a baby.

I can see what you were thinking, it is a very sweet name, but it needs to be a nickname and he needs a formal name that won't predjudice people against him.

If you don't have the confidence to keep the name, how is he going to have the confidence to grow into it?

My daughter has a slightly oddball name, that raised a few eyebrows when it was announced. Now it is a very hip name, and quickly going up in peoples estimation. Now I get a giggle when I see people mentioning it on baby name threads, and go "OMG, OMG, I suddenly love that name".

Maybe you are just ahead of the curve, hip before your time. Bear is a great name. Someone else above mentioned that Bjorn means Bear, as of course does Arthur.

I would change it if adults are laughing it will be nothing compared to what his peers will do once he's in school.

its unusual but its not horrid or as bad as been made out on here!

you say it suits him and you obviously like it hence thats why you chose it, stick with it i think its fine :)

he can always change it when he is older if he wants to and that would be his choice, but if you love it and his siblings love it then the chances are he will do as well :)

I'm not sure if you are winding us all up or not - but in case you aren't...

Yes - now would be a good time to change it. Bear is a fine nickname - it's really going to be a difficult name to go through life with.

I think people are just reacting with surprise and shock that she called her child after an animal!

I love the name Bear. When your son is 20 he will be considered very, very cool. He will go backpacking and surfing and all the women will love him. However, just in case he happens to turn out to be a dull grown up I would say have his offical name be Edward, so he can fall back on that.

But yes, FABULOUS name!

I am quite taken aback at how rude people are being about this.
If she'd called him Cocknose then yeah, I could understand it.

I'm sorry that people are laughing but I am not in the slightest bit surprised.

I think you have burdened the poor child somewhat.

I think I prefer rumpellstillskin. Bear is decidedly normal after that.

Ok, I can see why people have laughed at Bear as they probably think you are joking!
It is cute which will be a problem when he is a man.
But it is your choice :)

Carry on calling him Bear and change his birth certificate to Edward. :)

I know a dog called bear ( he is like a teddy bear) and people laugh at that..
bear is nick name not a real name

My DP wanted to call our baby Bear if it was a boy. We got a girl, so I'm not sure what we would have done. I do think its a nice name, but I would be worried about the exact experiences you have had.

By the way not impressed with HV etc laughing at your childs name. Just what a new mother needs .

I think you should change his name officially to Edward but continue to call him Bear.

People are so bloody rude though, I've heard loads of name that I think are 'odd' (big trend around here is misspelling traditional names and making new ones up), but never would I say thats what I thought/laugh at the mother.

I do like the name Bear but he will get a lot of attention because of it. Either he'll be an extrovert that can carry it off or he'll just use his middle name. I think you have a difficult decision to make Kate but ultimately you have to do what you think is best for your son. A lot of people have unusual names but people get used to them quickly enough.

If you like it keep it.
If you dont, change it.

Does he have a 'normal' middle name he can use?

I gave all my five at least one 'normal' name just in case they all turn out to be accountants or bank managers instead of rock stars and jazz musicians.

Seemed only fair.

There is a difference between an unusual name and a daft one.

Edward would be a great name if he becomes a lawyer, Bear is great name for an artist. Just hedge your bets a little?

I have an unusual name btw.
My mum got the same sort of reaction as the one on here, when she had me. Not that she cared.
I like my name just fine.

Make it a middle name or change it to Edward.

It really is too much as a first name. It's cute on a baby. It's silly on a teenager and ridiculous on an adult.

"Bear is fine OP - it's hardly worth the reaction some of these mothers of Ben, Daniel and Jack or whatever other dull, unimaginative blend-into-the background names they plump for, are giving it."

Actually I am coming at it from the angle of having grown up with a stupid name so yes, it really is worth that reaction.

Growing up with a stupid name is horrible. Really, truly horrible.

Bear as a nickname: fine. As a proper name: Shite.