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Baby names

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

Original poster

'Shakespeare' baby name

31 replies

thirdtimemummy101 · 27/02/2023 15:46

I've always loved the name Shakespeare for a boy. Is it acceptable lol.

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user1492757084 · 27/02/2023 23:42

Claudio, Lysander or William are Shakespere insired.

Larkspur is a flower name that is similar and is far nicer.

DPotter · 27/02/2023 17:39

Seriously would you really burden the person who you will love the most in your life with the first name of Shakespeare ? You would put your precious baby into the most awfully embarrassing, humiliating situations, just to pay homage ?

I'll be kind and say it's your hormones.

Just in case there is any room for confusion, the answer is yes it is totally unacceptable, and I don't care how much you love the man's play or sonnets

Original poster
thirdtimemummy101 · 27/02/2023 17:29

Haha. It's a hard no on Shakespeare then. Much to my husband's relief.

OP posts:
louderthan · 27/02/2023 17:27

Benedict?

louderthan · 27/02/2023 17:27

WoolyMammoth55 · 27/02/2023 16:27

OP, I'm a massive Shakespeare fan. Would NOT use that for a child though.

How about names from plays?
Antony (Antony & Cleopatra); Antonio (Twelfth Night); Claudio (Much Ado...); Edgar (King Lear); Ferdinand (Tempest); Lysander (Midsummer Night's Dream).

All are unusual but IMHO much much better than Shakespeare.

I also like William! :)

Titus?
Laertes?
Shylock?
Iago?

(I actually really like Titus...)

worried4698643 · 27/02/2023 17:12

I've seen some terrible names on here, this however is by far the worst.

FebruaryWhining · 27/02/2023 16:49

HangingOver · 27/02/2023 15:57

Don't be stupid and mad

This actually made me properly guffaw. I'm saving it for our next team meeting.

Tinypetunia · 27/02/2023 16:42

Absolutely no way. It's not acceptable to saddle a child with a name like that.

Mercurial123 · 27/02/2023 16:40

It's probably the worst name I've seen suggested on MN, and that's quite the achievement.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 27/02/2023 16:38

Oh I thought this was going to be a thread about all the nice names featured in Shakespeare's plays that would make good baby names. Like Hermione, Marina, Helena, etc.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/02/2023 16:36

ApolloandDaphne · 27/02/2023 15:49

No! He will be nicknamed Shakey!

or Wobble-Dagger

WoolyMammoth55 · 27/02/2023 16:27

OP, I'm a massive Shakespeare fan. Would NOT use that for a child though.

How about names from plays?
Antony (Antony & Cleopatra); Antonio (Twelfth Night); Claudio (Much Ado...); Edgar (King Lear); Ferdinand (Tempest); Lysander (Midsummer Night's Dream).

All are unusual but IMHO much much better than Shakespeare.

I also like William! :)

MumOf2workOptions · 27/02/2023 16:23

Just no
Followed by wtf 😳

SarahAndQuack · 27/02/2023 16:21

It reminds me of Bertie Shakespeare Drew in the Anne of Green Gables books.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 27/02/2023 16:17

if he ever breaks a toy, spills a drink, misses a goal it'll be a Shakespearean tragedy

Threeladsandaweelassie · 27/02/2023 16:12

If you have a daughter she'd be known as Shakespeares sister!

Speedweed · 27/02/2023 16:05

It's one of those names which could be a bit of a burden for the child. He becomes a bit of a joke if he's not very good at spelling, or is dyslexic, for example. Other names in the same category would be something like Einstein, Madonna or Cher. We all know the original, and it's inevitable to make the comparison, and the comparison is burdensome on that individual.

What about going with William instead, or even a slight soundalike like Pierce?

SofiaSoFar · 27/02/2023 16:03

No, just no! 🤣

I honestly think that some parents are completely oblivious to the burden they saddle their children with when they name them.

That's a life long problem you'd be giving him, unless he goes through the hassle of changing his name to something less ridiculous.

drspouse · 27/02/2023 16:01

It's a last name, not a first name. If you had it as a family name, then maybe as a middle name? otherwise, no.

crazycatladyof6 · 27/02/2023 16:00

Really no. But if you love it that much how about for a middle name instead?

Oneofakind1 · 27/02/2023 15:57

Can’t you just choose a boy’s name from a Shakespeare play?

HangingOver · 27/02/2023 15:57

Don't be stupid and mad

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 27/02/2023 15:56

ApolloandDaphne · 27/02/2023 15:49

No! He will be nicknamed Shakey!

😂

Guis · 27/02/2023 15:56

Agree he will be called Shaky. And it probably will be a burden rather than a fab name.

Findyourneutralspace · 27/02/2023 15:53

Can’t you just call him William?