Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Bowie, Bowie or Bowie

64 replies

BurrSir · 02/04/2019 15:13

How would you pronounce it? Would you pronounce it differently for a boy or a girl?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
GoFiguire · 02/04/2019 22:46

Bowie is pronounced B-ah-lonz.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 02/04/2019 22:43

Years ago I knew someone who named their baby Ziggy. He'd be about 12 now. I always wondered if he was named in honour of Ziggy Stardust

Singlenotsingle · 02/04/2019 22:40

I pronounce it DAVID. His surname wasn't Bowie - it was Jones. Even his own son Zowie, renamed himself Duncan Jones!

CountFosco · 02/04/2019 22:37

Jones

IVflytrap · 02/04/2019 22:35

Much prefer Bowie over Bowie. Whereas Bowie is frankly ridiculous.

frankiefirstyear · 02/04/2019 22:23

Take a BOW -ie (Also deck the halls with BOUGHs of holly)

But the child will probably also get called

Little BO peep BO wie

MigThePig · 02/04/2019 21:55

@Littlepond Grin

DramaAlpaca · 02/04/2019 21:47

For a girl? Just no.

I don't like it for a boy either, but never mind that. In answer to your question I think the first syllable should rhyme with toe, low & so.

mummymonica · 02/04/2019 19:23

I read it BOW-EE , as in a bow you wear in your hair with an ee sound on the end

percheron67 · 02/04/2019 18:50

I cannot believe that anyone would call their child after a knife!?

Jessi88 · 02/04/2019 18:32

Bow (like bow tie) - Ee.

We’d use it as a middle name if we ever have a boy but I’m not brave enough to use it as a first. DH is a huge Bowie fan and when he first suggested it, I wasn’t 100% convinced but it’s grown on me a lot and I love it in our potential full name combo.

Littlepond · 02/04/2019 17:47

Sounds like someone saying Barry with a speech impediment

mclaleli · 02/04/2019 17:46

Same as David Bowie

Even David didn't know half the time! There is footage of him saying 'bow (low) ie' and 'bow (now) ie'

It's not really a first name for a person though, is it?

GreatDuckCookery · 02/04/2019 17:42

I wouldn’t OP. Maybe a middle name?

viques · 02/04/2019 17:23

You could save your child a lifetime of mispronunciation by spelling it either Beauie or Boughie.

Of course, that wouldn't solve the spelling issue, back to the drawing board CaptainTom, I think we have a problem ground control.

Sessy19 · 02/04/2019 17:19

Wow. What a bunch of thoroughly rude snobs!

I think David pronounced his name to rhyme with low, but either would be acceptable and most people would make the connection. And actually, probably very few know for 100% sure so you’ll be fine... 😊

IvanaPee · 02/04/2019 17:19

I’m thinking

Bow like no

Bow like now

I’ve got nothing for the 3rd!

noego · 02/04/2019 17:18

It's pronounced Bowee as in David Bowie.

It is a beautiful name OP.

Love to know what the judgemental PP's called their children.

BelulahBlanca · 02/04/2019 17:18

Boo-Ee is the American pronounciation. There was a Ziggy in our baby group.

TheGrey1houndSpeaks · 02/04/2019 17:18

What exactly does “Bowie, Bowie or Bowie” mean? Do they really look like three different names to you? Or do you think people have talking keyboards and can hear your attempts at different pronunciations?

IvanaPee · 02/04/2019 17:17

It’s really, really not.

Littlechocola · 02/04/2019 17:15

It’s a beautiful name.
Bow as in bow tie.

adulthumanwolf · 02/04/2019 17:08

God, don't do that to your child.

DarlingLittleBabyName · 02/04/2019 16:54

would pronounce like David Bowie x

bridgetreilly · 02/04/2019 16:09

You can't call a child Bowie because (i) it's not a name, (ii) no one will ever know how to pronounce it and (iii) it sounds stupid.

HTH.