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

Really and truly, if you wouldn't call your son Gay (once a very popular abbreviation of Gabriel in Ireland that nobody would dream of using now) then you should think of changing it, to Edward or maybe Theodore as suggested.

kidderminster I like the name bear. And I say this as someone who has an unusual first name which I have to repeat constantly to people (and which oddly now relates closely to what I do for a living). Hell grow into it - I'm pleased that noone has my name and it's not run of the mill name. As long as you give him the confidence to have that attitude hell be fine :)

My friend called her daughter "Liberty" after the statue. I thought it was odd at first but now it sounds fairly normal. Other names of children I know, that I found odd at first but have now got used to are India and Blue. People get used to names it is just when you first hear them that you react.
I hated my name as a child though because nobody could pronounce it or spell it and it still makes me feel uncomfortable when I have to explain to people that it is spelled in an odd way because it is not an English name. I get called the most odd things in place of my real name. I wouldn't ever consider changing my name though.

My son has a highly unusual name, which he likes. He is happy, well adjusted and has never been picked on about his name. The person just becomes the name, and I don't think his friends even register it as unusual any more. On the other hand his cousin's friends we're really excited to meet him because he sounded 'so cool'. He's also always remembered which is nice.
I think if you and your partner love the name, and if you feel it suits him you should keep it .

My brother was christened Edward Bear. Has always been known as "Ed Bear" to friends and family. He's an investment banker and seems to have survived, but presumably only introduces himself to clients/colleagues as "Ed".

You can easily change name of a baby up to 12 months old -- you get a form from the registrar, tell them the name you want, and you're issued with a new birth certificate. We did this when we realised nobody was calling daughter by her first (boring) name but the far more unusual middle name. Glad we did it.
Sorry, but think you're setting him up by calling him Bear. You could make it a middle name though. Which he may never admit to having.

Also i just met someone called Zephyr, named after a sewing machine.

Sorry just read the convo n found the name. I find nothing wrong with the name bear. If your happy with it leave it :-)

Choosing between Bear and Edward is making people who dislike popular names side with Bear, so you could consider some other bear-ish names and keep bear as a NN - what about Orson? Or Theodore to Ted to Bear instead of Edward.

Whats the name? Im sure its not that bad.

Just think of it this way. What if you had that name? Would you worry about people picking on you for it? When i chose my daughters name i just imagined her being called out for a job interveiw. So the names suitable at all ages.

Bear? It's certainly unusual, but if you like it, don't change it cos other ppl laugh, or don't like it. You obviously chose it cos you liked it, and it was different.

My dd goes 2 nursery, and her little friends she plays with are called Tyson, and Mimi. I once met someone who's child was called Urban, and they used 2 call her Urby. Well, that 2 me was really pretentious!!!

I actually strangely quite like it, but then I'm fond of nature/animal type names.

Not sure I'd use it as the full first name though, probably better as a nickname (Edward or Arthur are good proper name alternatives) or middle name.

I think its great and so much nicer the all the Alfie's, Josh's Ryan's and Kyle's that seem rampant these days

How funny ! My friend has a little boy called bear , he's 7 months I think it's a great name .

Nay, kid, don't call him Bare. You nude it'd be wrong.

How funny just watched 'The Big C' on my sky+ and they went to a Bear Bar!
So now I do think of Bear as being a big, chunky, hairy, gay, fella.

Really? Changing it from Bear to Ted? heehee
I agree with the idea to go for Edward, with Bear as a nickname (if you must use Bear, that is)

"A child will be bullied if it allows itself to be bullied. And if it does, the bullies will find something!" that what your post said a bit different to what you saying now me thinks

Kids will bully, but their victims don't allow it - they don't choose to be shy, have red hair or glasses, or have mums who make them wear a balaclava to school or untrendy shoes. They don't choose to be poor, or rich, or have siblings with a disability, or foreign parents or grandparents.

And as for the name 'Bear', well, it's not a name, it is an animal. Bear Gryllis isn't actually called Bear, is he?

I'm not letting bullies off the hook, chipmonkey. All I'm saying is that a bully is a bully because of who he is, and that he will bully others regardless of their names.

Bear? Yes, it is stupid, sorry.

Please don't let bullies off the hook by saying certain children "allow" themselves to be bullied. It's a bit like saying old ladies allow themselves to be mugged.

I do actually like "Bear" but never would have used it as unfortunately the reactions you're getting here would be exactly what I would expect.

Not really keen on Bear, think it's quite cute now, but when he starts at secondary school people will be like "he's bear cool" etc. Has both connotations , the animal and the slang for more. I think Edwards Better, at least you could still call him bear/ted while he is little but when he gets older he will be able to use Ed or Edward, and i think a name like Bear may be a little embarrassing when applying for jobs etc. Even Jamie oliver son, Buddy Bear, has Buddy infront of bear makes it a little bit more grown up.

What I meant with bullying was that most bullying is not due a specific thing or name. It has to do with the character of the bully as well as the victim. In other words a bully will find something to tease if he wants to bully someone else. And equally many children with different hairstyles, names, clothes, skin colour etc will not be teased.

In other words, I doubt that it would make any difference if a boy is called Edward or Bear in regards to bullying.