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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unfortunate initials

69 replies

Bumpingbumping · 24/08/2019 16:19

Baby will be born in 2 weeks, we’ve had our name picked since before she was conceived but have just swung to another name recently. We’ve decided to stick with the first name and have the new name as a middle name.

The problem is, her initials would be FAP 🙈

I’m thinking, how often do you even use initials like that Hmm but also it’s pretty unfortunate.

Would I be setting my baby up for a life time of taunts?

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Musmerian · 24/08/2019 19:38

I’m a teacher and initials are used in most internal correspondence, minutes, pigeonholes, timetables etc maybe rethink middle name. My husband is a teacher and his initials would have been ARS if a midwife hadn’t pointed it out!

fairybeagle · 24/08/2019 19:37

Please, please don't use those initials! I haven't met anyone (other than my parents generation) who wouldn't know what that meant. Don't do it to her!

Pretendapony · 24/08/2019 19:33

Please don’t use them initials! I would definitely notice that!

CarrieBlu · 24/08/2019 19:32

A friend of mine has the initials BDSM. It’s not great for her and people have noticed/taken the piss many a time!

Cohle · 24/08/2019 19:32

I think most younger people are perfectly aware of what fap means.

They aren't initials I'd choose (and initials are used frequently in my office, including in our emails and data management system).

AverageMummy · 24/08/2019 19:31

@HWJT it would be childish but presumably this child will have child aged friends

MissSueDenim · 24/08/2019 19:30

I’m so glad so many people don’t know what it means!

Yes but if the term “catches on” & grows in popularity (like many words do) then people in your DD’s generation will know what it means & that could leave her open to ridicule.

Littlefish · 24/08/2019 19:27

My 14 year old dd says "Please, please, please don't call your child those initials. Every single person I know knows what FAP is!"

HJWT · 24/08/2019 19:24

Never heard of FAP, bit childish to laugh at a baby having those initials because of the meaning Hmm how old are your friends?

LarkDescending · 24/08/2019 19:21

I haven’t heard of it in that sense. To me FAP is an inherited bowel disorder (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis).

If you’re worried, can the names be switched round to AFP?

LemonPrism · 24/08/2019 19:18

I'm 24

LemonPrism · 24/08/2019 19:18

While everyone my age knows what it means I've never really though of any of my mates initials and only use my first and last for forms

snipples · 24/08/2019 19:03

Never heard of FAP.

I would avoid initials like FAG / BJ / VAG / TIT etc.

I suppose FAP is up there with those but it's not one id recognise.

sycamore54321 · 24/08/2019 18:53

I am normally quite cautious on these threads but I won’t wouldn’t reject your favourite name because of this. With social media, and the new ways of communicating, virtually anything can be a rude acronym and you can’t predict what will or won’t be in use when your child is old enough for it to matter. I’m sure ten or fifteen years ago, initials of WTF or FWB or FFS or ONS wouldn’t have given a second’s pause, and who can tell in another ten years.

There’s also so rarely use of initials including middle name, at least in my experience. I’d hesitate more if it were first name-surname that spelled out the problem word. And it’s not like Fap is a real word; while I have definitely heard of it, I’m sure our language will never cease to invent new slang for it!

IrregularCommentary · 24/08/2019 18:51

I'm surprised how many people haven't heard of fapping. Not initials I'd go with.

AverageMummy · 24/08/2019 18:45

I had never heard of it but having googled I don’t think I would. Can’t you put a second middle name in ? FAZP etc completely changes it

Oysterbabe · 24/08/2019 18:44

I did snigger in a childish way but I'd still use it if you love the name.

daisyboocantoo · 24/08/2019 18:42

I read it out to DH and we both giggled...

But we are quite childish at times, and FAP is one of our favourite words to use

Zoflorabore · 24/08/2019 18:30

Never heard of it!

I wouldn't consider changing a name because if this unless it was something very unfortunate that was universally known like TIT or something.

My ds's name is OJ. He is 16 and nobody has ever mentioned it to him or called him "Tropicana" or anything. I wouldn't worry.

Goingbacktokansascity · 24/08/2019 18:20

Friend has initials STD - seamus thomas d and we have made fun of him on several occasions. Initials were a consideration for us, our little boy has lots of personalised tracksuits etc for nursery with his initials embroidered on, it was a deciding factor when choosing his name: we loved the name hamish. Family name we needed to use as middle name was Arthur. His initials would have been HAM so we changed some things about, much nicer initials now!

posycosy5 · 24/08/2019 18:16

I am FAG

Fiona Ann G....

Could it be any worse?

thebakerwithboobs · 24/08/2019 18:13

I have a friend with the first initial T and surname (before marriage) was Watt making her a TWatt. The part that makes me giggle most is that her brother is called Thomas. Her mum genuinely did not notice what they had done until my mate was in double figures (and being tormented at school!) we still call her TWatt now, to be fair.

xJune88 · 24/08/2019 17:59

I'm 25 never heard of itx

Thegracefuloctopus · 24/08/2019 17:54

Never heard fap before, and I'm also apparently a millennial. I'd go with it. Likely hood is it won't catch on too much anyway

Violetparis · 24/08/2019 17:41

I wouldn't, I think if you have doubts now about your choice you will probably always have a niggling regret/worry about it. Like others have suggested, add another name or don't have a middle name.

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