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Baby names

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

Original poster

Should I name my daughter Alpha?

208 replies

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:09

first time poster, bit new to all this!
Recently my beloved grandfather Alfie passed and the entire family were devastated. About a month later we found out we were expecting our second child and I new right away that I wanted to name it after him. A few weeks ago we discovered that I am having a darling baby girl and after researching some names, I fell in love with the name Alpha. It's a greek name meaning new beginnings and it's so similar to my grandfather's name that it seemed perfect to me.

However my DH and a few other friends disagree and think that she will be bullied for this unconventional name and that I should consider something else. I want a name my husband and I can agree on but I can't think of any more fitting name than Alpha. I came on here to ask for other opinions on this?

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UsingChangeofName · 09/01/2023 19:22

Otterleaf · 09/01/2023 18:04

Gently but you are letting your emotions around your grandad have too much sway here. Your naming an actual person and I'm sorry to say but a person who will not have that level of connection to a great granddad who they won't have met. Can you name all your great grandparents? It wouldn't be such an issue is it was an easier name to wear.
And really it's not fair to try to convince (guilt?) your husband into it.

I agree with this.

You will have had 4 Grandparents. Are you going to use all their names ?

As she is a girl, you won't even be using his name. There really is no point in this.
Choose a name you like. A name that your dh likes also.
You will remember your Grandad without naming your dd something that "might start with the same letter as his name".
Remember she could be wearing this name for 90 years. Don't give her a name that she will have to explain throughout her life and don't give her a name that has such poor connections in people's minds.

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 19:21

angiec89 · 09/01/2023 19:12

I personally like it as a name, but with the connotations of 'Alpha Male' it might cause problems for your DD in future.
Adelpha?
Afra?
Theta (if you like the greek)?
You could call her Alfreda and nickname Alpha or even Alfie itself?

I'm genuinely considering just using Alfie! The more I think about it, the more I like it

OP posts:
Blowyourowntrumpet · 09/01/2023 19:15

No, you shouldn't

scottishnames · 09/01/2023 19:14

As others have said, Elfrida/Alfreda are really nice names. Much better than Alpha and closer to your respected deceased relative's name anyway.

Was a much underrated operatic singer called Alfreda Hodgson who died tragically young. Another - if you like classcal music - good reason to remember the name.

angiec89 · 09/01/2023 19:12

I personally like it as a name, but with the connotations of 'Alpha Male' it might cause problems for your DD in future.
Adelpha?
Afra?
Theta (if you like the greek)?
You could call her Alfreda and nickname Alpha or even Alfie itself?

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 09/01/2023 19:01

This is something I never understand; unless you're using the same name how is it really honouring anyone? It's a different name! Pointless.

That said, I vote no to Alpha anyway. Stretching the definition of naming after a family member maybe first name beginning with Al and middle name beginning with Fi?

LBFseBrom · 09/01/2023 18:55

Only name her 'Alpha' if you call your last child, 'Omega' :-).

It makes me think of the Alpha course amongst other things. Your daughter will not forgive you if you call her that. An alternative could be,'Alfreda', which means 'all powerful'.

However I'm sure there are other names which will remind you of grandfather.

Trisolaris · 09/01/2023 18:46

Alpha - I would say no, for all the reasons mentioned and also your husband vetoed it
Alfia - to me sounds like someone with a lisp trying to say Althea
Aphra - love this!
Althea - ok
Aurora - nice

Choconut · 09/01/2023 18:45

Alpha immediately makes me think Alpha male. I think it would be mean to land a child with that name, it's ok for you who loves it but really nor fair on them.

Ontopofthesunset · 09/01/2023 18:41

Althea doesn't sound the same - it's got a 'th' in in rather than an 'f'.

pairofrollerskates · 09/01/2023 18:39

I love it, because of the reason you chose it.I'd go for it.

StaunchMomma · 09/01/2023 18:38

It may mean that in Greek but it is also widely used here and here it means eg alpha male & you could be setting her up for a world of grief.

How about Alfae (pronounced Alfay) or Alfreda?

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 09/01/2023 18:36

I know a female Alfia

Mirabai · 09/01/2023 18:34

Alphonsine nn Alphie.

Thoughtful2355 · 09/01/2023 18:30

kid at my kids school is called Althea, sounds the same

Moanycowbag · 09/01/2023 18:29

I would just call her Alfie, I have a female relative in her 20's called Alfie, so you wouldn't be the first.

Oldnproud · 09/01/2023 18:28

anonymousehoumus · 09/01/2023 18:16

Isn't Alphia a name? Or some different spelling? I'm sure I've heard it before.

Late 1970s pop song called Up Town Top Ranking, sung by Alfia and Donna - at least that's how I remembered it and thought it would be written, but I've just Googled it and discovered it was actually Althea 🤯

DashingWhiteSergeant · 09/01/2023 18:28

If use the beautiful name Aphra

VerityUnreasonble · 09/01/2023 18:26

How about Alvie? It's gender neutral, similar meaning to Alfred, not popular but not younique.

Could call her Vie for short, means life in French which is also nice.

EllieM27 · 09/01/2023 18:25

And ugh, can you imagine the immature sex jokes teens and young douche-y men would fling at her? “Does that mean you’re alpha in bed?” 🙄

You can’t do that to the poor darling!

anonymousehoumus · 09/01/2023 18:16

Isn't Alphia a name? Or some different spelling? I'm sure I've heard it before.

Roselilly36 · 09/01/2023 18:16

Not keen OP, there are so many lovely girls names Alpha isn’t one of them,

Livingbyariver · 09/01/2023 18:13

anagram of Alfie is Fiela which is a girls name , I would add another L and spell it Fiella.

mommatoone · 09/01/2023 18:10

Go for it OP. Its a name that has a special meaning to you💕

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 18:09

scaredoff · 09/01/2023 18:00

It's beta than plenty of other names.

I have to admit this made me laugh 😂

OP posts: