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Baby names

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

Original poster

Should you not use your fav name due to fears of bullying in future?

113 replies

KathyLou1981 · 26/01/2016 19:46

Feels like I'm being weak. Some say it will make him individual and any bullying strengthens. Others that my vanity could cause future problems for child. So hard to know what to do?!

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Floggingmolly · 26/01/2016 20:31

Don't "take a gamble", op Hmm. Give your child a proper name.

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 26/01/2016 20:30

I don't want to share the name because everytime I mention someone says something negative

Without knowing the name then all we have to go on is that comment and it speaks volumes I'm afraid.

More importantly than everyone else's opinions though, you're going to have a lifetime of responsibility to your child for whatever you name them, even if they change it later.

What positives can you say about the name?

MyBigFatGreekYoghurt · 26/01/2016 20:28

If you're getting nothing but negative comments then don't do it.

You're naming a human, who has no say in the name and then has to live with it through childhood. If you want to use a stupid name then change your own by deed poll.

MidnightVelvetthe4th · 26/01/2016 20:28

Give him the yoonique name as a middle name but just call him by it?

Fluffy24 · 26/01/2016 20:27

Surely if everyone says something negative (and nobody has anything positive to say) then it's better to know that now before you give the child that name?

I really don't think you should give a child a name you are frightened to mention on MN...

BYOSnowman · 26/01/2016 20:26

If you are only getting negative comments it would suggest your child will too

But tell us what it is and I bet as many people here love it as hate it!!

Original poster
KathyLou1981 · 26/01/2016 20:23

I don't want to share the name because everytime I mention someone says something negative and that puts me off more. I appreciate that makes the discussion a lot more boring for a lot of you.

I was wondering if anyone else had had experiences of regretting a name or taking a gamble a being pleased. You are all right it depends but interesting to hear other stories.

To be clear I don't think it's certain it will lead to bullying but could and I dont think that bullying strengthens a child - others have tried to console my doubts with this claim.

OP posts:
JasperDamerel · 26/01/2016 19:58

It depends. Unusual names don't seem to lead to bullying in my experience . The only child I know of who has been teased about their name is called Alice. So unless the name you thinking of is something like Stinky or Boobies or something which is very definition itself a girl's name, then I wouldn't really worry about bullying.

scandichick · 26/01/2016 19:55

I'd think about what your child would want: is the name likely to cause them any hassle (having to spell it out all the time, raised eyebrows à la Tinkerbell etc.)? If so, don't.

I have a perfectly normal name in my home country, but I don't live there anymore and have to spell it out, only for people to keep getting it wrong, every time I meet someone new. It's a major pain and I would have been fairly annoyed with my parents if it had been their intention all along. As it is, I try to be a good sport and not to mind my bloody colleagues stilll mispronouncing it after six years.

Don't make your child's life more difficult than it has to be, is all I'm saying.

If it's a normal name,like Trevor, only not universally popular, go for it!

secretly hoping it's about baby Nigel

Fluffy24 · 26/01/2016 19:55

What name???

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/01/2016 19:53

What is it? It depends on the name.

It's very selfish to call your child a name you know he'll be bullied for. Why would you do that to your child? Bollocks to the character forming, he's the one to deal with it, no one else.

MidnightVelvetthe4th · 26/01/2016 19:52

I wouldn't say that bullying strengthens a child!

Could you give him a middle name so he can revert to that if he wants?

What's the name?

Floggingmolly · 26/01/2016 19:50

No, it's not hard at all. Giving your child a ridiculous name because bullying is character forming so it doesn't matter; is an insane thing to do.
What is this individual God preserve us name anyway?