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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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Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:27

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:26

I'm sorry, this was a serious consideration because I was hoping the internet jokes about the name would die out soon enough! I will probably rethink the name in the end, because I'd like something my DH likes too

Show quote history

Yes and that’s an actual name?

Oldnproud · 09/01/2023 17:27

I would have slight reservations about Alpha for the reasons others have given, but personally I think that Alfie, your dear grandfather's name, would make a perfectly acceptable name for a girl as well as a boy. Originally, I'm guessing that it might have been used as an abbreviation of Alfreda.

Failing that, could you find, or even invent, a longer girls name that would be acceptable to your DH, but that could easily be shortened to Alfie for everyday use?

TheBirdintheCave · 09/01/2023 17:27

bringmetheheadofpastaalfredo · 09/01/2023 17:25

It's NOT a greek name that means new beginnings. It's not a greek name at all. It DOES have negative connotations, and its not in anyway related to or like the male name Alfred.
Might as well call her Alfalfa.

Or if you really actually want it to be about your grandad, Alfreda is an actual girls name

This.

I liked the suggestion of Aphra that someone else made.

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:27

bringmetheheadofpastaalfredo · 09/01/2023 17:25

It's NOT a greek name that means new beginnings. It's not a greek name at all. It DOES have negative connotations, and its not in anyway related to or like the male name Alfred.
Might as well call her Alfalfa.

Or if you really actually want it to be about your grandad, Alfreda is an actual girls name

Someone on here suggested Alfia which I love! I'm still in love with the name Alpha but I'm reconsidering it now

OP posts:
bringmetheheadofpastaalfredo · 09/01/2023 17:26

murasaki · 09/01/2023 17:25

@paulinesmithson I made it up from your brief, but I think it's pretty, and pays respect to Alfie.

no you didn't

LittleBearPad · 09/01/2023 17:26

No.

Whataretheodds · 09/01/2023 17:26

It's not a Greek name meaning 'new beginnings'. It's just the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

I agree with PP that of your husband dislikes it you shouldn't use it.

There are lots of good suggestions upthread to honour an 'Alfie'. Personally I like 'Elfie'

Bobbins36 · 09/01/2023 17:26

We’ll the feminine version of Alfred is Alfreda …so Freda,Frederica maybe. Alpha isn’t related to Alf at all and is a bit weird for a name.

thesnailandthewhale · 09/01/2023 17:26

Fiona, Fi for short?

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:26

Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:24

I hope this isn’t serious, You can’t call your kid Alpha, you need to think of the child living with that. It’s about rhe child not your grandad,

if you want something similar try Frieda or some of rhe decent names on here,

I'm sorry, this was a serious consideration because I was hoping the internet jokes about the name would die out soon enough! I will probably rethink the name in the end, because I'd like something my DH likes too

OP posts:
EwwSprouts · 09/01/2023 17:25

Alfie was presumably an Alfred? What about Freda? Alpha is David Attenborough talking about gorillas!

Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:25

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:21

I was hoping I could eventually convince him to think about my grandfather, but you are right that at the end of the day his opinion matters just as much as mine.

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Um no he should be thinking about his daughter.

Wombats67 · 09/01/2023 17:25

Alpha Romeo, vroom, vroom...

bringmetheheadofpastaalfredo · 09/01/2023 17:25

It's NOT a greek name that means new beginnings. It's not a greek name at all. It DOES have negative connotations, and its not in anyway related to or like the male name Alfred.
Might as well call her Alfalfa.

Or if you really actually want it to be about your grandad, Alfreda is an actual girls name

murasaki · 09/01/2023 17:25

@paulinesmithson I made it up from your brief, but I think it's pretty, and pays respect to Alfie.

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 09/01/2023 17:25

Are you giving birth to werewolf? If not, then it's a big no.

What about Althea?
Alana?

Derbee · 09/01/2023 17:24

From a quick google, Alfie means elf or magical counsel, so how about a related name from here? Names

Aeverie?

ItsaPeppaPink · 09/01/2023 17:24

Or Albi as nn?

Frankensteinisamonster · 09/01/2023 17:24

I hope this isn’t serious, You can’t call your kid Alpha, you need to think of the child living with that. It’s about rhe child not your grandad,

if you want something similar try Frieda or some of rhe decent names on here,

ItsaPeppaPink · 09/01/2023 17:23

How about Alberta, shortened to Alfie?

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:23

murasaki · 09/01/2023 17:23

alfia?

That's a beautiful name!

OP posts:
TimeToFlyNow · 09/01/2023 17:23

Fakeairpodsfakeoodie · 09/01/2023 17:19

Alpha was a very strong character in the walking dead, lead a big group of people.
Evil and came to a sticky end but still a strong person while alive.
If I ever met a male Alpha I would think he was a nob, if I met a female Alpha I would think of the walking dead.

Evil and mistreated her daughter

I don't think it works well as a name

cloudychance · 09/01/2023 17:23

Alba?

murasaki · 09/01/2023 17:23

alfia?

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/01/2023 17:22

How about Alfreda?