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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Bowie or River

93 replies

MrsCharlieD · 26/03/2017 10:17

Just that really. I want River Nathaniel, dh wants Bowie River. I'm a Bowie fan but ds already has a music heavy name. We're probably considered a pretty alternative couple so these name choices wouldn't be considered out there for us but I'm conscious our child may not be anything like us (although ds is already starting to be). What do you think? Is Bowie useable or will it date terribly?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

FrenchLavender · 26/03/2017 19:35

My nephew is called Hendrix and I thought that was massively wanky at first

No you were right the first time and it's STILL massively wanky.

TheElephantofSurprise · 26/03/2017 19:35

Sorry, don't like them. 'Don't give your children silly names' would be my best advice to all MNers.

FrenchLavender · 26/03/2017 19:33

I think Bowie is terribly wanky and try-hard, sorry.

This. Except I am not sorry.

CactusFred · 26/03/2017 19:32

Bowie is a no no it just sounds try hard... and I'm afraid I think he's a peado so why anyone would name their kid after him is a it to me... might as well go Rolf or Glitter!

River is nice and unisex if you have girl. I always think of River Phoenix and River from Firelfy who was a bit bonkers but quirky.

My rock star name for my ds was Bonzo - when he was a bump - best drummer that ever lived, can't beat that.

Rockaby · 26/03/2017 19:31

Not the point of the thread sorry OP, but I think Joni Mitchell's real name is Roberta Joan (ok I had to google that - I'm not that knowledgeable on JM, beyond listening to Ladies of the Canyon album a lot!

If you're in the market for a girl name, I kind of like Roberta. Lots of NN potential too, plus, I know a vile Joni.

ChristineAndTheQueens · 26/03/2017 19:30

OP, Nate River is a character from Death Note, so I'd research a little into that before listing it as an alternative

DramaAlpaca · 26/03/2017 19:26

I like River Nathaniel.

Sophronia · 26/03/2017 19:24

Love River Nathaniel. River is much nicer than Bowie.

Plunkette · 26/03/2017 19:22

One other issue with Bowie is that in the USA (should he ever live here) people are likely to pronounce it Boo-y as in Jim Bowie.

Usanayme · 26/03/2017 19:16

David Bowie had sex with an underaged girl when he was an adult that's not the association I'd want for a child

m.huffpost.com/us/entry/9009230

thebakerwithboobs · 26/03/2017 17:56

A girl called Joni!

Original poster

MrsCharlieD · 26/03/2017 17:42

Ha ha just showed dh the thread and he's backed down on Bowie. Didn't know about Howard Donald but I don't really care for celeb gossip. I think we'll likely go River Nathaniel and then he has options as he gets older. After all this watch it be a girl!

OP posts:

QueenFuri · 26/03/2017 16:46

River only because I adored River Phoenix. I like the name Phoenix too my two boys have "normal names" though.

RandomDent · 26/03/2017 16:26

Dylan? Morrison? Tyler?

podrig · 26/03/2017 16:19

Soooooo naff. Sorry, and no I'm not a James/Josh/Daniel/Ubiquitous/Homogeneous person either.

These are already names that belong to someone, quite notoriously... give him a name that's his own. To me, although this might not be in the James/Josh box, it's another box, a trying even harder box...

Jooni · 26/03/2017 15:22

River Nathaniel or Bowie Nathaniel. I'd avoid two quite out-there names together. Even if you are quite an alternative couple, your son may not be and he might appreciate having a more mainstream middle name to fall back on should that be the case. I personally prefer River.

MitzyLeFrouf · 26/03/2017 13:54

Yes OneSecond, Joni is a lovely name, hints that the parents are music fans without metaphorically declaring it with a loudhailer!

TipTop333 · 26/03/2017 13:45

I would go for Ziggy over Bowie (but tbh i wouldn't actually go down that route at all).

I would push for Beau a bit harder. That's by far the best of the lot.

OneSecondAfter · 26/03/2017 13:45

If only OP was having a girl

Pencilvester · 26/03/2017 13:44

Joni is gorgeous.

Crispsheets · 26/03/2017 13:42

I like Joni

palebluesky · 26/03/2017 13:41

I think you may wish to consider as an alternative couple if your child wants to be an alternative child.

glitterglitters · 26/03/2017 13:38

I wanted Bowie but husband said no. 😭

OneSecondAfter · 26/03/2017 13:36

Joni would be a good musician-inspired name too

(I know it's not her "real" name but point still stands)

MitzyLeFrouf · 26/03/2017 13:31

Thanks to this thread I've just listened to River by Joni Mitchell. Forgot how much I loved that song.

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