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Original poster

Help please- is Autumn Oates a bad name? I hate my surname!!

95 replies

Sarahoatesy · 09/11/2023 10:15

My surname is Oates. Which I didn't mind until looking for baby names.

My 1st born is called Lyra 🤍

Thinking about name for no2 and love the names Winter or Autumn 🍁!

But have a small feeling these look like porridge brands when paired with Oates. My husband thinks I'm overanalyzing.

Autumn Oates
Winter Oates

Please help and be honest.

TIA

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1983Louise · 09/11/2023 10:46

Definitely a breakfast cereal name

LessonsInPhysics · 09/11/2023 10:45

I think Oates is a lovely surname but I would stick with definite names as a first name.
Unless you want to go for something like Wyld? 😀

ComtesseDeSpair · 09/11/2023 10:43

I know two people with the surname Oates and they are both nicknamed and known to their friends as Porridge - so I wouldn’t hold off on using names you love for fear of that association because it may well end up being the case anyway!

makeminealargeoneagain · 09/11/2023 10:38

Sorry OP but with your surname you need a name that doesn't sound descriptive. Autumn or Winter Oates sounds like a breakfast cereal.

WhamBamThankU · 09/11/2023 10:34

It does sound like porridge. And also, initials AO I think of the white goods company 😅

Cinai · 09/11/2023 10:33

Yes, unfortunately it sounds like a brand to me.

MitchellMummy · 09/11/2023 10:30

No, I agree that it sounds like porridge. It would set up your child for a life time of teasing. Hope you find a lovely name that you both like.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 09/11/2023 10:29

I used to work with someone who had a very similar name. A lot of clients simply didn’t register that this was the name of a person rather than a company / brand / project until it was actually spelled out to them.

Jewelspun · 09/11/2023 10:28

Rowan
Hazel
Amber
Saffron
Ivy

ChristieEve · 09/11/2023 10:26

I think you need to pick a first name that is more obviously a name and not a noun.

eg. Isabella Oates, Lucy Oates, Olivia Oates all sound fine (quite like the O.O. initial I must say; it's distinctive).

If, instead of a traditional name, you pick a word that describes something else, then in conjunction with Oates it starts to sound like part of a sentence and doesn't work.

SoupDragon · 09/11/2023 10:24

APocketOfGooseFood · 09/11/2023 10:23

I think you have to find a name that can’t be used as an adjective, or you are going to run into the same problem every time.

I agree with this. I changed my name from a noun to an adjective and both rule out certain first names.

edit: I think what's key is how often the word is used as a name compared to how often it is used as a word. So, Autumn and Winter are really common words but Grace, as an example, is a very well established name so it "works"

APocketOfGooseFood · 09/11/2023 10:23

I think you have to find a name that can’t be used as an adjective, or you are going to run into the same problem every time.

Crikeyalmighty · 09/11/2023 10:22

If you want something of nature how about

Willow
Jasmine
Sky
Lily

Overthebow · 09/11/2023 10:21

it Does sound like porridge.

pulka · 09/11/2023 10:20

I think it's fine. Autumn is a lovely name.
She won't go through life with everyone calling her by both names so I don't think it's as big an issue as you think.

You never know, she may want to change her surname when she marries as well.

AllTangledUpInTitlesAndTiaras · 09/11/2023 10:19

Yes sadly I think it does sound like a breakfast brand.

rainbowstardrops · 09/11/2023 10:19

I really like the name Autumn and initially I didn't think it went well with Oates but the more I'm saying it, the more I think it's fine!

BoohooWoohoo · 09/11/2023 10:18

I agree that Autumn and Winter don't work with the surname Oates.

Orangebadger · 09/11/2023 10:16

I think Autumn is a lovely name, but sorry not with Oates as a surname. Probably a name that does not come from nature would work better?

pizzaHeart · 09/11/2023 10:16

I’m agree with you, sorry.
in a hurry didn’t read properly and thought it’s DH who said about porridge oats.