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

Thoughts on the name Bodhi?

112 replies

Kayf090 · 25/08/2022 15:27

Baby boy due soon had a name I really like, Bodhi was a name I had in mind, have you heard anyone named Bodhi? Any other ideas with the letter b would be helpful.thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
LadyVictoriaSponge · 25/08/2022 17:08

I always think of Bodie and Doyle from the Professionals, or as we used to refer to them at Primary school, Bogie and Boil.

AmandaMirandaPanda · 25/08/2022 17:07

I have mixed feelings about it. I agree it has become popular as a baby name recently, but the origins are the Sanskrit word for enlightenment, which also became a guiding principle in Buddhism. It reminds me, in a nostalgic way, of the Bodhi Tree book shop in Los Angeles. However, I'm not sure this name is used by actual Buddhists as a given name, so it does have some possible connotations of cultural appropriation.

I have to admit, friends recently went very public about naming their (now about two years old) baby on SM, and Bodhi featured pretty prominently as a middle. One of the suggestions was Jaguar Bodhi, which resulted in a lot of joking suggestions like "Jaguar Bodhi, Human Head". Insensitive, sure, but people who don't know the word bodhi will likely initially read it as body, so be prepared to correct.

Bode, I think, is an entirely different name mainly used in Denmark and Germany, but maybe also in English? I have met a few West African Bodes, including one woman from Nigeria.

Boredsoentertainme · 25/08/2022 17:05

I think it’s a cool name for a girl to be honest, for some reason less so for a boy.

CaptainCreepsBourgeMobile · 25/08/2022 17:03

Megan Fox has a son called Bodhi. Do you want people thinking you copied a nutter like her?

Notarealmum · 25/08/2022 17:02

How about Banyan as an alternative? (Same tree after all)

dalisdrippingclock · 25/08/2022 17:02

We've had a few Bohdis around here 3 or 4 years ago..I like the meaning of the name more than the sound of it.. Bo is a cute nn though.

Nadal · 25/08/2022 17:02

I like it but not the spelling.

bellinisurge · 25/08/2022 16:59

Same pronunciation/different spelling-Bodie- was a much adored character on a TV show of the 70s called The Professionals.
The grandparents of his classmates (or parents my age) would think he was named after him. Played by Lewis Collins.

Lentilbaby · 25/08/2022 16:48

My DC has a friend at nursery called Bodhi. Very sweet little boy and the name suits him.

sanityisamyth · 25/08/2022 16:47

maddiemookins16mum · 25/08/2022 16:09

Isn’t there a wain on Casualty called it? Ethans son.

Yep!

sanityisamyth · 25/08/2022 16:47

toastedcat · 25/08/2022 15:36

Is it pronounced like Body?

Bow-dee (bow as in arrow, not bow as in curtesy!)

Choconut · 25/08/2022 16:46

It sounds like a name that only a celebrity would use.

germsandcoffee · 25/08/2022 16:45

I wanted to name my son this but it absolutely clashed with his surname so couldn't..
I know two under 2 so I think it's going to become popular.

Unicornspirit · 25/08/2022 16:45

Nephew called this. I love it. Really nice name

lightand · 25/08/2022 16:43

starfishmummy · 25/08/2022 16:40

I think that's a good point.

No one will know if the oerson pronounces it as Boddy or bow-dee or some other variation.

Show quote history

That is the point for some

Pretentious moi.

lightand · 25/08/2022 16:42

I know one.

No thank you.

Nap1983 · 25/08/2022 16:42

onelittlefrog · 25/08/2022 15:53

I like it.

Have you read Locke & Key? There is a boy caled Bode in it (pronounced the same - Bo-dee), lovely character to share a name with.

I was just going to say there’s a character in Locke and key called this. He’s a very annoying child in the Netflix programme 😂

AnnaFri · 25/08/2022 16:41

It's one of those names unless you're wealthy it's going to be tacky.

Waterfallgirl · 25/08/2022 16:41

Xiaoxiong · 25/08/2022 15:45

I know two dogs named Bodhi. There's also Bode Miller the Olympic skier, I think that's pronounced the same but you'd have a lifetime of explaining that it doesn't rhyme with toad 🐸

Incidentally (I am now poking around on Wikipedia) his sister's name is Genesis Wren Bungo Windrushing Turtleheart, and brother is Nathaniel Kinsman Ever Chelone Skan.

If you need some additional ideas!

Bode got away quite lightly then!

starfishmummy · 25/08/2022 16:40

toastedcat · 25/08/2022 15:36

Is it pronounced like Body?

I think that's a good point.

No one will know if the oerson pronounces it as Boddy or bow-dee or some other variation.

caringcarer · 25/08/2022 16:39

My nephew called his son Bhodi last year. He is a surfer and another surfer friend of his called his son Bhodi this year. It is actually becoming quite common.

Epicstorm · 25/08/2022 16:35

Some ‘celeb’ recently called their baby girl this recently. I thought it was a boys name tbh. I don’t like it at all but I suppose it’s just personal taste.

Snowiscold · 25/08/2022 16:30

I don’t like it. Unless you’re Buddhist, I think it’s one of those names that sits very oddly - it’s very much associated with one culture. But it seems to be having a moment, so what do I know?

stopitstopitnow · 25/08/2022 16:10

I know a Bodhi. I think it's a lovely name for either sex. Much better than the plethora of dull names that people seem to call their DC.

cptartapp · 25/08/2022 16:09

It would suit very few DC I would think.

Swipe left for the next trending thread