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Baby names

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Original poster

R Kelly - how bad is that initial & surname?

61 replies

thefirstmrskelly · 26/05/2024 08:41

We love the name Rowan and it’s out long term favourite for a boy, but our surname is Kelly. Is R. Kelly unusable? I’m leaning to no, even if people make the connection now it will fade throughout his life. But just want some outside opinions.

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JimPansy · 27/05/2024 15:36

@renthead , anything that comes through the post is addressed to J. Pansy.
My work email and folders etc are jpansy. I'm Initial Surname a lot of the time.

renthead · 27/05/2024 15:28

People don't get referred to by their first initial and last name very often. And I am pretty sure that R. Kelly is going to fade into relative obscurity; I wouldn't expect that most of your son's peers will even know who he is. If it's your favourite name, I wouldn't let it put you off.

CobsNobs · 27/05/2024 14:35

Our teenage son's surname is Kelly and first name begins with R (not Rowan) and nobody has ever mentioned R Kelly to him.

JimPansy · 27/05/2024 14:30

@MyGreenFinch , no kid would get away unscathed with a name like Rowan King or Rowan Kelly.

QualityDog · 27/05/2024 13:17

I avoided a certain name I LOVE as with our surname it’s the same firstname surname as an evergreen celebrity’s

Was it The Jolly Green Giant?

sheroku · 27/05/2024 13:16

Please don't do this. It's not the case that everyone will forget who he is in 15 years time. We all still know who Gary Glitter and Jimmy Saville are. Most people sign their name X Surname so he will be forever signing things as R Kelly. I'd hate it if that was my name.

MyGreenFinch · 27/05/2024 13:06

CelesteCunningham · 27/05/2024 13:03

I wouldn't. There will be thousands of R Kellys out there, but you can't know how he'll feel about it in future so I'd go for something safer.

Sorry to pick your post out, but it’s not like they’re wanting to call him R Kelly on its own.

I avoided a certain name I LOVE as with our surname it’s the same firstname surname as an evergreen celebrity’s. But having part of the name is fine, surely?

CelesteCunningham · 27/05/2024 13:03

I wouldn't. There will be thousands of R Kellys out there, but you can't know how he'll feel about it in future so I'd go for something safer.

MyGreenFinch · 27/05/2024 13:03

I know exactly who he is but I honestly don’t see the issue. Kelly is such a common surname. And throughout my life I have rarely been addressed as M. Finch, only M.G. Finch. or Finch M. 🤷‍♀️

Row Wankily is a stretch. Most people’s names can be made into something offensive if you’re a kid!

PortalMania · 27/05/2024 12:55

MissedItByThisMuch · 26/05/2024 09:27

i admit I am old and out of touch but I had to Google to find out who R Kelly was. It was 5 years ago - by the time a child born now is of an age they are at all likely to be referred to by initial surname he will be long forgotten. I think it’s a non-issue - one of those name things people way overthink.

I also had no idea who he was but know a good few R. Kelly's as it is a big surname in Ireland. So I'd go for it.

bibop · 27/05/2024 12:52

No. Please don't do that to a child!

User6761 · 27/05/2024 12:48

Kelly is a very common surname - there must be thousands of R Kellys. Rowan is a lovely name.

holidaydramalama · 27/05/2024 09:56

Well his name is Robert Kelly not Rowan Kelly.

NetMum2 · 27/05/2024 05:31

mathanxiety · 26/05/2024 21:12

I'd be more concerned that the name would be ro-WAN K-elly.

R Kelly won't be remembered. Kelly is a common name (maybe less common in the UK than Ireland) - and it wouldn't be like calling your child James Savile..

Well done for spotting this!!

NetMum2 · 27/05/2024 05:29

bluetopazlove · 26/05/2024 21:37

I don't know about that I can remember a bit of a stir about him from twenty five years ago . so even that is quite a while ago . He can cause quite a bit of stir about people have quite long memories this isn't recent. There is quite a lot of history there

Show quote history

He’s been in the news more recently.

BBC News - “In 2022, he was jailed for 30 years after being found guilty of eight counts of sex trafficking and one of racketeering in a New York court.
Months later, he was convicted of child sexual abuse in a second federal trial in Chicago.”

bluetopazlove · 26/05/2024 21:37

mathanxiety · 26/05/2024 21:12

I'd be more concerned that the name would be ro-WAN K-elly.

R Kelly won't be remembered. Kelly is a common name (maybe less common in the UK than Ireland) - and it wouldn't be like calling your child James Savile..

I don't know about that I can remember a bit of a stir about him from twenty five years ago . so even that is quite a while ago . He can cause quite a bit of stir about people have quite long memories this isn't recent. There is quite a lot of history there

icallitasplodge · 26/05/2024 21:21

Also (experience speaking) it will be written on every piece of post the child receives.

Miss R. Kelly

and on her bank card.

mathanxiety · 26/05/2024 21:13

Robin or Ronan would work better.

mathanxiety · 26/05/2024 21:12

I'd be more concerned that the name would be ro-WAN K-elly.

R Kelly won't be remembered. Kelly is a common name (maybe less common in the UK than Ireland) - and it wouldn't be like calling your child James Savile..

NetMum2 · 26/05/2024 20:28

I wouldn’t do it.

Heavenlyhoumous · 26/05/2024 20:17

Not really sorry.

Original poster
thefirstmrskelly · 26/05/2024 20:01

Thanks everyone. I'm still so undecided and struggling to let go of the only name DH and I both love and agree on 😫 It would be easier if there were a short list, but no.

OP posts:
BoleynMemories13 · 26/05/2024 17:49

I see both sides. Oh one hand I think it's a popular surname, his generation won't know the connection etc. On the other hand, I totally understand your concerns as it's not a nice association.

Nobody is ever going to refer to your child as R Kelly, verbally, because we don't do that but 'first initial, surname' is a common way we list names written down for various things so he will definitely go through life having his name written down as R Kelly. Only you can decide how much that would bother you.

There must be tones of R Kellys out there who have to live with it. Would I, personally, give a child those initials now, knowing what R Kelly did? No. But I am not you. Rowan is a gorgeous name so I totally understand your dilemma.

Cecilly · 26/05/2024 17:22

I think it's fine. Go with the name you like.

icallitasplodge · 26/05/2024 16:53

I’ve got the initials of a famous rapper and people do actually call me by his name sometimes. Two friends always.