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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alberta

57 replies

MooritRomney · 10/01/2022 22:49

We cannot decide on a name for the baby and seem to be running out the clock on registering her. We have a short list, but can’t make up our minds.

Alberta is a very meaningful family name but it’s a bit outré and I’m not sure … I love it pronounced in Spanish (ahl-bear-ta) less so in English. I think Bertie and Albie are adorable nicknames but … is too much? Do we think 9,14 and 23 year old Alberta will hate it or she won’t care because she goes by a nickname?

We have other children with traditional names that are also from the family, but they’re all more common than Alberta.

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LydiaFTM · 13/01/2022 12:20

You'll never find a name universally liked. The worst thing you can do is ask! Even the most popular names will attract criticism from some.

For what it's worth I like Alberta and both your nicknames.

Srettel · 13/01/2022 12:16

I know a cool Alberta in her 20s. It works for her, so it's a yes from me.

WhiteCatmas · 12/01/2022 21:54

@elfran have you ever been to Alberta? Experienced its horrible decades of right wing government or seen how badly they are screwing up covid?
Great mountains though. Shame about the oil sands.
Alba is nice or Hannah.

Blubells · 12/01/2022 17:05

I really like Alberta!

And I'd say Al bear tah

elfran · 12/01/2022 09:23

@MrsTerryPratchett

wild, beautiful and regal

Or oil and cowboys (and right wingers)!

LOL. Yes, there's that too! I was thinking more of the terrain than the people. 😆
LordoftheDanceSaidHe · 11/01/2022 22:33

Love it. Prefer Alba to Albie or Bertie as a nickname though.

Luredbyapomegranate · 11/01/2022 22:29

I quite like it. I don’t love it, but it’s fine.

The world is full of Alberts, so why not Alberta. The nns are sweet and fresh for a girl too.

Seriouslymole · 11/01/2022 20:26

Roberta is nicer.

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/01/2022 20:18

wild, beautiful and regal

Or oil and cowboys (and right wingers)!

cherrypie66 · 11/01/2022 20:14

No how about aubrey instead

elfran · 11/01/2022 20:12

I love it OP, especially with nn Alba which I prefer to either of your options (I'm not keen on boys' nn on girls).

Interesting that some Canadians on here dislike it because of the province; I'm Canadian and I love it for that reason. For me it sounds wild, beautiful and regal rather than just "girl version of Albert".

SirSamuelVimes · 11/01/2022 11:11

Victoria Falls was named after Queen Victoria, and Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide, so they were girl's names first.

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Prince Albert's daughter.

So Alberta was also a girl's name first, then? No difference!

I would not use a place name or an Irish or Welsh name without there being some connection

OP has said there is a connection, hasn't she?

and there are plenty of comments about how Irish and Welsh names are mispronounced

And they generally get rightfully criticised as ignorant / xenophobic.

SunshineOnKeith · 11/01/2022 11:09

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Prince Albert's daughter.

And thus was a well know person's name before it was a place name. Just like Victoria etc.

I find the discounting it because there's a province with the name bizarre logic and it's so inconsistent.

Discounting it because it's ugly and a feminisation off a male name (they're generally unsuccessful to my ear) is however fair enough

FayCarew · 11/01/2022 11:05

@SirSamuelVimes

I like it!!

Don't see why the fact it's a Canadian province is being made such a big deal of. Victoria is a waterfall, Adelaide is a city... Big deal.

With regards to the pronunciation, yes people will read it wrong but they'll get it - everyone she's at school with will learn how to say it, so will family. She'll just have to live with correcting people as she gets older and is meeting new people. It's not that difficult. People don't tell others not to use Irish or Welsh names because they'll be pronounced wrong!

Also I think Bertie is a cute nickname for a girl.

@SirSamuelVimes Don't see why the fact it's a Canadian province is being made such a big deal of. Victoria is a waterfall, Adelaide is a city... Big deal.

Victoria Falls was named after Queen Victoria, and Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide, so they were girl's names first.

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Prince Albert's daughter.

I would not use a place name or an Irish or Welsh name without there being some connection, and there are plenty of comments about how Irish and Welsh names are mispronounced

SirSamuelVimes · 11/01/2022 11:02

@HomeCountiesMum

Dorothy?! 😳
Dorothy is nice! Dot is a good nickname too.
HomeCountiesMum · 11/01/2022 11:00

Dorothy?! 😳

Wellington17 · 11/01/2022 10:53

Hmm... not sure. How about just Alba?

MsTSwift · 11/01/2022 10:46

Omg I love that name. If I had another Dd (will never happen) would have wanted that though Dh and my mother both agreed it was terrible!

Crunchymum · 11/01/2022 10:44

I agree that Albertine is a much nicer name and lends to the same shortenings.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 11/01/2022 10:33

As much as I wouldn't enjoy being called Alberta, I would absolutely haaaaaaaaaaaaate to be called Bertie. Yuck.

SirSamuelVimes · 11/01/2022 10:09

I like it!!

Don't see why the fact it's a Canadian province is being made such a big deal of. Victoria is a waterfall, Adelaide is a city... Big deal.

With regards to the pronunciation, yes people will read it wrong but they'll get it - everyone she's at school with will learn how to say it, so will family. She'll just have to live with correcting people as she gets older and is meeting new people. It's not that difficult. People don't tell others not to use Irish or Welsh names because they'll be pronounced wrong!

Also I think Bertie is a cute nickname for a girl.

Original poster
MooritRomney · 11/01/2022 10:03

Now see, this is why you take a poll on Mumsnet, no one would ever say, “It’s horrid!” to your face 😂

The Canadian allusion is actually a plus — the province is a very meaningful place for us but we don’t ever plan to live in Canada so I’m not concerned about Canadians finding it odd.

The other names on our list are all much more common, Lucia, Sara, Dorothy, Hannah. All meaningful in their own way but by far the one that’s the most meaningful to us is Alberta, which is also the most unusual.

@EishetChayil the pronunciation in Spanish is “bear” not “bur” — I have resigned myself to the English pronunciation but it’s part of what makes me hesitate. If we were living in Spain I’d have no qualms about the pronunciation.

OP posts:
WhoppingBigBackside · 11/01/2022 08:40

It's not a pretty name
Albie is a boy's name and is awful

EishetChayil · 11/01/2022 08:35

The name, not the girl!

EishetChayil · 11/01/2022 08:34

How is the Spanish pronunciation different from the English?

I find the "bert" part very ugly. There's an Instagram mum with triplet girls, and one of them is called Bertie. The others have beautiful names, but Bertie is so ugly.

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