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Baby names

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Original poster

Opinions on Brontë

93 replies

Nearlywed2038 · 30/04/2023 22:45

Hello mumsnet!!

Currently expecting my first daughter, after 2 boys (Ralph and Henry).

Both my fiancé and I absolutely love literature and like the name Bronte, as a middle name for baby girl but, is it tacky?? 🙈

I do really love the name and it pays a nice homage to one of my favourite writers, but I can’t help but feel it’s a dog name..

Opinions/first names to go with it, thanks everyone :)

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TheDuchessOfMN · 01/05/2023 14:19

I think it’s lovely as a middle name. Very different (in a good way)!

greyhairnomore · 01/05/2023 14:16

I love it.

Pigflewpast · 01/05/2023 13:52

I know a Brontë. She’s an adult now but I’ve known her all her life. She loves her name. I’ve never thought it sounds tacky, she’s a professional and has professional parents.

Ladysquamy · 01/05/2023 13:39

They were the Pruntys ;) They had notions.

Offthexmaslist · 01/05/2023 13:38

Katrinawaves BlushBlushBlush doh ! I serves me right for skim reading. To make it even more embarrassing I have only just visited the parsonage last weekend. Couldn't really get more different authors from Austen's frothy, witty comedies /dramas of manners and social climbing and the Brontes dark gothic misery fests.

Georgiana is still a great name though 😀

Spanielsarepainless · 01/05/2023 13:33

bakewellbride · 01/05/2023 10:55

My ds is Charlotte

Unusual for a son..

user1492757084 · 01/05/2023 13:20

Ralph, Henry and ..
Bronte Georgina
Jane Charlotte
Mary Charlotte

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 01/05/2023 13:05

Georgina is nice!

Brontë is okay as a middle name imo.

I would definitely keep the umlaut. Unless you're prepared for Brunt/Brunty...

Beamur · 01/05/2023 12:17

I know a dog called Brontë.
Wasn't even their real name..Patrick had anglicised a more Irish name. Prunty/Brunty/Brontë.
Not a fan personally.

AndrexPuppy · 01/05/2023 12:15

Naff & tacky, imo.

DanceBeneathADiamondSky · 01/05/2023 12:12

I used to know a Brontë. Her mum was an English teacher but she pronounced it Bronty

I'm not a fan.

I'd just go with Charlotte or Emily or the first name of a favourite character from literature

YomAsalYomBasal · 01/05/2023 12:05

I love Brontë. The only one I've met was super posh. Not tacky at all.

Katrinawaves · 01/05/2023 11:55

Offthexmaslist · 30/04/2023 23:18

How about the slightly more unusual Georgiana (Darcy's little sister )

Wrong author! Darcy was a character from Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen not one of the Brontë sisters

sapphiredrago · 01/05/2023 11:50

I know someone with this name. She's lovely but I think the name sounds a bit pretentious and 'trying too hard' to be honest.

SecretVictoria · 01/05/2023 11:48

Interesting you say you think of it as a dogs name. A former workplace of mine sponsored 2 guide dogs and one was named Brontë after the building we worked in so my mind jumped straight to that.

NurseCranesRolodex · 01/05/2023 11:45

Sorry, it just makes me think of Brontosaurus.

ourflagmeansdeath · 01/05/2023 11:43

I really like it for a middle name, think it's quite cool! It would be a strange first name though.

Chocolatesandroses · 01/05/2023 11:37

I personally don’t like it but as it’s a middle name it would be ok

Soozikinzii · 01/05/2023 11:28

There's a Bronte on MAFS Australia and she seems to suit it . Must just be me that watches this rubbish !

RoamingToaster · 01/05/2023 11:06

I think it's fine as a middle name. Most people don't know each others middle names so I don't see teasing etc. The trouble with choosing Charlotte or Emily is it isn't obvious it's a tribute to those particular authors but then maybe that's a good thing as it can be a private thing.

bakewellbride · 01/05/2023 10:55

My ds is Charlotte

Outgrabe · 01/05/2023 10:53

PuppyMonkey · 01/05/2023 10:41

How do you think it’ll be pronounced then?

Show quote history

I imagine she would get a range of anything from ‘Bront’ to ‘Brontay’ to ‘Brontee’.

Though if we go along with the theory that Patrick Brunty renamed himself Brontë at Cambridge in honour of Nelson being given the title of Duke of Bronte that went along with lands in Sicily he was awarded by the King of Sicily, the umlaut was PB’s own addition — the title and estate were just ‘Bronte’.

BungleandGeorge · 01/05/2023 10:53

I think it’s fine and nothing unusual as many people have mothers or other family surname as middle name anyway

ErrolTheDragon · 01/05/2023 10:49

Any of the actual first names of girls and women in the Brontë novels would go well with your boys names.

I suppose having a 'different' middle name isn't so bad as if it was what the child would be called day to day, but something that's a surname looks like it's a family name and may end up with the kid being mistakenly called Brontë-Smith

whysorude · 01/05/2023 10:48

It's lovely and you like it, so go for it 😊