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Baby names

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

Original poster

accidentally ruined our boys name?

35 replies

Dazedconfused · 06/05/2014 14:26

I don't know yet what we are having but am a bit worried now about our boys name. It is Alexander and I love it but we were discussing nns and I prefer Alex to alec or Sandy and he jokingly said so not wee eck (now some of you may know that fat Eck is a nn for a certain first minister where I live) and now I am worried that we will look ridiculous if we call our baby this since we are due two days after the referendum - I had not associated it at all but now I can't stop.

can you normal people please tell me I am being daft and no one would think of it?? Grin

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deepinthewoods · 07/05/2014 22:19

I get wee Eck sometimes and I am female.

dementedma · 07/05/2014 22:12

I'm in Scotland and our local garage owner is Alec or Eck to everyone. Often Big Eck.
The only other Alexander I know is known as Zander.
The only person I know who is referred to as Alex, is actually an Alexandria!

mawbroon · 07/05/2014 11:41

Eck would make me think of Wee Eck rather than Salmond.

And in a nice way too, fondly remembering how much I enjoyed reading Oor Wullie as a kid.

AberdeenAngusina · 07/05/2014 11:37

P.S. Alexander is an awesome name.

AberdeenAngusina · 07/05/2014 11:32

Also Scottish and have a Alexander, who is known as Alex or Sandy. There are so many Alexanders (Alexander the Great, Alexander Graham Bell, Alexander McCall Smith etc etc) that I can't imagine anyone connecting your Alexander to Mr Salmond.

squoosh · 07/05/2014 10:37

I'm in Scotland and know a trillion Alexanders. None of them ever remind me of Bit Slimmer Than He Used To Be Eck.

trixymalixy · 07/05/2014 08:44

Scottish and it would never have occurred to me.

DotToDott · 07/05/2014 08:42

I'm in Scotland, and know at least four Alexanders.

I have heard the nickname "wee Eck'" from Oor Wullie, and Fat Eck for Mr. Salmond, but i never really associate them with Alexander or Alex.

Same way as I don't associate everyone called Elizabeth, Beth or Lizzie with the Queen, or anyone called Nicholas/Nick with Santa.

All names have different things and well known people attatched to them, i wouldn't worry.

For what it's worth i think it's a great name!

RadioFourNotRadioSnore · 07/05/2014 08:36

I am Scottish too, and DS has Alexander as his middle name, and never once have I considered the Alex Salmond connection, and nor will anyone else, I am sure.

ellawithaspecialnose · 06/05/2014 23:43

Yes and yes, Fatal. It's another one of these hilarious, cutting-edge witticisms that has the No camp falling over themselves with laughter. Like 'the Fish(y) Twins' - i.e. Salmond and Sturgeon. Gosh, the erudite humour.

Sorry for hijacking Grin

FatalCabbage · 06/05/2014 23:34

Is one of Oor Wullie's friends called Wee Eck? Is that where the joke comes from?

ellawithaspecialnose · 06/05/2014 23:27

Yes, Eck is a diminutive of Alexander.

But I don't think anyone thinks "Alexander Salmond" in their heads, do they? In fact I've only just made the association that my friend's LO (only ever Alex) has the same name as the FM, and I'm in Scotland too. So I think you're ok! Smile

Original poster
Dazedconfused · 06/05/2014 22:32

apparently I needed to say that 3 times...dam phone xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
Dazedconfused · 06/05/2014 22:30

Thanks everyone I knew it was silly but my brain wouldn't disassociate it for a while there. Feeling reassured now xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
Dazedconfused · 06/05/2014 22:27

Thanks everyone I knew it was silly but my brain wouldn't disassociate it. Feeling reassured now xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
Dazedconfused · 06/05/2014 22:26

Thanks everyone I knew it was silly but my brain wouldn't disassociate it. Feeling reassured now xxx

OP posts:
Theonlyoneiknow · 06/05/2014 22:17

I know of the Eck nickname (my DBro was nn Eckie for a while). Alexander is a fab name though with lots of more common nicknames (I love Sandy!). No one would associate it with you know who!!

ZingWatermelon · 06/05/2014 20:07

we had our DD 2 years ago, just before Coronation hype.

she is Elizabeth. not one person associated her name with or questioned if it was in honour of the Queen, despite me worrying that's what people would think!

(because it wasn't. I wanted that name since 2001 when I was pg with DS1)

Alexander is a fine name. go for it

heronsfly · 06/05/2014 19:50

My dhs family are Scottish and we have several Alexanders in our extended family and I have never heard of that nickname, its a lovely name. Grin

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 06/05/2014 19:47

Unless your darling baby looks like a spacehopper no I don't think you should worry x

Casmama · 06/05/2014 19:39

I'm scottish too and it would never have occurred to me so go for it. You could also have Zander as a nickname if you like it.

Dolallytats · 06/05/2014 17:40

I had a lovely Uncle Eck. I do miss him....I won't allow people to shorten my son's name, William, to Bill because of a pervy bloke I used to work with. I still love my DS's name.

eurochick · 06/05/2014 17:39

I had no idea what you were going on about from the OP. I see from subsequent post it seems to be a Scottish thing. So it wouldn't have occurred to me.

soontobeslendergirl · 06/05/2014 17:35

Totally familiar with the wee/fat Eck thing, But it definitely wouldn't be my first association after being introduced to a new born Alexander. I think it will be absolutely fine - it's not that rare a name that you would jump to that particular person honestly.

You could also have Xander/Zander too.

Amy106 · 06/05/2014 15:56

Relax. Alexander is a wonderful name. Don't worry about it.