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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Help with naming worry please

58 replies

shoopastry · 14/02/2013 11:27

DD arrived last month and we decided to call her Beatrice, however our surname is four letters and begins with 'B' and ends with 'all' and I'm starting to have second thoughts about this combination.

We have not registered her yet so we have time to change our minds and would really like some constructive advice. How does it sound to you? Would her name result in teasing? I would really appreciate honest opinions as I'm lying awake worrying about this! What would you do?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BabyRoger · 16/02/2013 15:57

I still don't get the comical bit, personally (maybe I am a bit thick!)

I just don't see Ball as comical (Balls - maybe Wink ).

I agree, Bea B all doesn't sounds as nice as Beatrice B but I don't think it's comical or stupid and you could find a different nick name if it really concerned you.

Pineapple I thought Richard Head was an urban myth! I can't believe people would do that!

DomesticCEO · 16/02/2013 14:50

I don't think anyone is arguing Beatrice isn't a pretty name Ruth22m, but it sounds awful with the OP's surname Sad.

Ruth22m · 16/02/2013 13:42

Beatrice is a beautiful name, I love it.

seeker · 16/02/2013 13:41

Think, not honk!

seeker · 16/02/2013 13:40

Sorry- it's a lovely name but I don't honk you should use it with your surname. My children have q vaguely comic last name and we worked hard at finding names that didn't make it worse- which meant I had to abandon my favouritest ever girl's name. I am so glad we did- the last name is enough of a burden as it is.

Kyrptonite · 16/02/2013 13:39

It's lovely!

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 16/02/2013 13:35

Also if she's ever in a class/group /job with another Beatrice she'll be called Bea Ba11 ALL THE TIME to distinguish her. Honestly I know it's a cruel thing to say but I'm cringing for her just thinking about it. Or imagine if she were an MP and the speaker were calling on her: "BEA BA11". Eek.

DomesticCEO · 15/02/2013 18:59

I don't think it goes with your surname at all Blush. It truly amazes me how many parents don't think of this when naming their child, and now you've got the chance to change I would.

Yes, Beatrice is a lovely name but if you don't want to give her a different surname I think you should give her a different name.

As a little girl the only boy's name I ever wanted to use was Daniel - I married a man who's surname is the same as the famous holiday presenter who was murdered. The two names sound utterly ridiculous together so I didn't use it - I still feel very sad when I meet a baby Daniel, but it wasn't to be! Smile

MoonHare · 15/02/2013 18:54

Normally when people post with name wobble concerns I say stick with it but in this case...and I'm actually a fan of alliterative names..

In your shoes I wouldn't have gone with Beatrice in the first place and now, if there's another non B name that you have in mind I would change it. Sorry.

ceebie · 15/02/2013 12:46

I don't think it's relevant whether her name will be shortened to Bea or not - sometimes her initial will be used so she would still be B. Surname which is a little comical - sorry to have to say it because Beatrice is a beautiful name.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 15/02/2013 12:00

Your surname is going to cause embarrassment anyway - have you thought about giving her a different one? And I do think that Beatrice draws attention to it (a bit like the newsreader Fenella Fudge - the alliteration is ear-catching). FWIW I think you should change it, maybe make Beatrice the middle name - you can still call her Bea for short but the world/school/friends will know her by a different name. Sorry but I'm just not really sure calling her Bea Ba11 is fair.

SavoyCabbage · 15/02/2013 11:35

I think it's nice and BB is a lovely nickname.

Sashapineapple · 15/02/2013 11:30

BabyRoger, I knew a Richard Head when I was a kid, seriously wtf were the parents thinking.

Floralnomad · 14/02/2013 22:55

If you're lying awake worrying about it when you have a tiny baby then I'd change it .

MortifiedAdams · 14/02/2013 22:52

Love the idea of using BeBe as a nn!

MoppingMummy · 14/02/2013 22:48

I agree Beatrice B11 is absolutely fine, but Bea B11 isn't so good. If she ends up being known as Bea by school & friends it is likely she would be called Bea B*11 at some point. Do you mind that?

BabyRoger · 14/02/2013 20:59

Well I still think it's nice. I don't see anything comical about it. It's hardly Richard Head or some such thing! My DS is Cameron CXXX and I like the way it sounds.

Beatrice B all is a lovely name!

Yay4may · 14/02/2013 19:54

Also think it's tricky because Beatrice Ball sounds extremely cool but Bea Ball is....sorry...cringe-y.

Sashapineapple · 14/02/2013 17:54

I wouldn't like Bea with your surname tbh and there's a good chance as she gets older that's what her friends will call her. It sounds a bit comical (sorry) and I would probably have Beatrice as the middle name instead.

KelleStar · 14/02/2013 17:34

I have a Beatrice and a B surname, she is 2 and it's never commented on. She gets called Bebe by my dad though and it's cute, she is normally called Bea. She has annabelle as her middle name.

bassingtonffrench · 14/02/2013 17:08

I think its fine. I quite like alliteration in names.

badtime · 14/02/2013 16:58

'chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool and all, shooting some b-b@1l outside the school'
Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Sorry.

HighJinx · 14/02/2013 16:37

Beatrice is a lovely name and sounds fine with your surname.

Bea with your surname would bother me tbh, but there must be plenty of people who share your surname with the initial B. And it's not awful like Bea Sting or something.

I would be concerned about Be-a-surname too (but that is just how I hear the names so might never happen).

shoopastry · 14/02/2013 16:21

Thanks for your thoughts - a mixed response.

Baby I'm worried it sounds comical because of the alliteration and our surname - especially when shortened to Bea. We wouldn't use Bea in conjunction with surname though e.g on forms or giving name over the phone only in as a nn day to day.

OP posts:
CityMa · 14/02/2013 11:50

Swop not swipe!

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