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Baby names

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

Original poster

Bow for a girl?

155 replies

stacestation · 31/05/2022 20:54

What do people think of this? Have you ever heard of this being used as a full first name?

Woman from school derides popular names. Apparently her daughter has a unique 'name' though to call it a name is a bit of a stretch as I recently discovered the girl is called Bow, as in a hair bow, not bow and arrow.

The unfortunate part is that the area they're in all the local accents, including their own, pronounce it as Bore. I feel sorry for the poor girl. I can't mention the middle name as that would be outing, but that's even worse. The poor girl, it doesn't aspire to much.

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Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:31

Better than the millions of Evas and Amelias I'd say.

I disagree. There's nothing wrong with a popular name, they're popular for a reason. There are still plenty of 'proper' names to choose if you want something unusual.

OP posts:
Mushroomlady · 31/05/2022 21:31

I really like it. I wouldn't blink twice if I got a work related email from someone called Bow. And if anything I would probably think it's quite cool. But that's me.

pinklavendar · 31/05/2022 21:27

I know a woman who named her daughter Beau as she thought it was French to describe a beautiful woman.

Ulrika J has a daughter called Bo

Hazelnuttree · 31/05/2022 21:26

I think this is quite a mean spirited post. You don't like the name of someone else's child and so you want to post on a public forum to see how many other people agree with you? Nice.

For what it's worth, I quite like it. I've heard far worse. In fact there's a fab little book which I read to my daughter called 'I can catch a monster' and the main character, a feisty, independent, spirited little girl is called 'Bo the Brave' - different spelling but sounds the same, so it reminds me of her. Better than the millions of Evas and Amelias I'd say.

Hoppinggreen · 31/05/2022 21:26

toastedbagiel · 31/05/2022 21:16

Here it's pronounced ' bore ' by the majority, unfortunately.

So, the girl is named 'Bow' after a hair bow not a Bow and arrow but as if that's not bad enough for some reason everyone in your locality call her 'Bore' ?

In some accents it would sound like “bore”

Doveyouknow · 31/05/2022 21:16

I live in Bow so it seems like a bizarre name for a child. It's hardly glamorous area of London.

toastedbagiel · 31/05/2022 21:16

Here it's pronounced ' bore ' by the majority, unfortunately.

So, the girl is named 'Bow' after a hair bow not a Bow and arrow but as if that's not bad enough for some reason everyone in your locality call her 'Bore' ?

Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:14

Names is a hobby of mine @carefullycourageous 😅 I find it interesting.

I'd never say anything to the parents, of any name I disliked, but I can ask here quite safely I think.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 31/05/2022 21:13

I know a Beau, I always found it odd as it’s the masculine of Belle.
Here in Yorkshire it’s even worse in a broad local accent

carefullycourageous · 31/05/2022 21:13

stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:10

No, not at all. Though I think it is borderline cruel of the parents. I have nothing but sympathy for the child.

I wanted to know if people had heard of this being used as a name before, and they have!

Show quote history

Well taking the piss on here is not exactly kind.

carefullycourageous · 31/05/2022 21:12

toastofthetown · 31/05/2022 20:56

So this isn't a name you are considering, just one you want to criticise?

Yes quite. Someone needs a hobby.

Mammyofonlyone · 31/05/2022 21:10

IstayedForTheFeminism · 31/05/2022 21:00

Hair bow and bow and arrow are the same bow Confused

Bow is an awful name.
Beau is OK.

I know a few little girls called Beau. I always wonder about it because I I thought Beau was the masculine whereas Belle was the feminine version.

Admittedly this is only my understanding though so I may well be wrong.

Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:10

SummaLuvin · 31/05/2022 21:08

I'm not trying to be unkind honestly

yet you made a thread on a public form with the sole purpose to bash/mock a childs name?

No, not at all. Though I think it is borderline cruel of the parents. I have nothing but sympathy for the child.

I wanted to know if people had heard of this being used as a name before, and they have!

OP posts:
AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 31/05/2022 21:09

To me it brought to mind the area of London - not a great association, but then I'm not keen.on place names for dch names - Brooklyn, India, Madison Avenue etc.

KvotheTheBloodless · 31/05/2022 21:08

Bow isn't a nice name, poor kid.

Beau isn't too bad for a boy, it's the masculine version of "beautiful" in French, but it'd be very weird to call a girl that - the feminine equivalent is Belle.

SummaLuvin · 31/05/2022 21:08

I'm not trying to be unkind honestly

yet you made a thread on a public form with the sole purpose to bash/mock a childs name?

Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:07

No, it's not Bow Bunny 😦

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Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:06

SpottyStripyDuvet · 31/05/2022 21:02

I have a year 1 child and there is a girl called Bow in their class. Pronounced bow as in bow and arrow. I hadn't come across it before and wouldn't choose it myself but is suits this girl.

Here it's pronounced ' bore ' by the majority, unfortunately.

Of course it will be far from unique, but it's the first time I'd heard it.

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 31/05/2022 21:05

WhatsHoppening · 31/05/2022 21:03

A friend of a friend of a friend has a ‘Bow Bunny’. I honestly think it’s ridiculous and verging on cruel but don’t know the parents at all and obviously nothing to do with me.

This surely has to be the same kid!

Bow Bunny is actually better than just Bow I think!

Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:04

Hair bow and bow and arrow are the same bow

They are! But to explain I asked 'as in bow and arrow?' when I first heard it, so I thought I'd mention that.

The pronunciation is also unfortunate.

OP posts:
WhatsHoppening · 31/05/2022 21:03

A friend of a friend of a friend has a ‘Bow Bunny’. I honestly think it’s ridiculous and verging on cruel but don’t know the parents at all and obviously nothing to do with me.

Original poster
stacestation · 31/05/2022 21:02

toastofthetown · 31/05/2022 20:56

So this isn't a name you are considering, just one you want to criticise?

It's definitely Bow rather than Beau. That's why I wanted to ask as I'd never seen that before.

I'm not trying to be unkind honestly. I will admit I feel critical of the parents for being so stupid, and feel sorry for the girl. She'll surely change it at 18 or change the spelling to Beau.

The parents have sensible, popular names, so I'm not sure why they've done this.

OP posts:
SpottyStripyDuvet · 31/05/2022 21:02

I have a year 1 child and there is a girl called Bow in their class. Pronounced bow as in bow and arrow. I hadn't come across it before and wouldn't choose it myself but is suits this girl.

Stichintime · 31/05/2022 21:02

Your talking about somebody elses childs name? Yes its awful, I thought the same when I first heard the name Lacey/Lacie many years ago, but knew it wasn't my place to ridicule online. She probably thought my kids names were awful too!

2bazookas · 31/05/2022 21:01

P:oor kid, her school nickname will be "bow wow" as in , dog bark.