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Baby names

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

Original poster

Opinions on the name Brontë please

207 replies

RedRobyn2021 · 30/08/2024 20:59

Struggling to find a baby name we love except this one

Thoughts please

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soymilknosugar · 31/08/2024 20:01

Love it!

Myusername19 · 31/08/2024 18:44

Love it

ThreeImaginaryBoys · 31/08/2024 18:43

My neighbour is called Bronte (she's Aussie). Lovely name.

dessyh · 31/08/2024 13:10

Very good name.

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2024 11:29

I associate it with the Four Marys. Grin

Brontë makes me think parents probably haven't read Wuthering Heights.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 31/08/2024 11:25

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2024 11:13

@Pocketfullofdogtreats , User-submitted name Bunty - Behind the Name
might be of interest.

Yes, diminutive of Margaret rings a bell. I also associate it with elderly (British) gents, so the Indian derivation for males is interesting, as in maybe a Raj connection.

Pieceofpurplesky · 31/08/2024 11:17

I taught a Brontë - great name and she was amazing. I love it - she was never called Brontosaurus

KirstenBlest · 31/08/2024 11:13

@Pocketfullofdogtreats , User-submitted name Bunty - Behind the Name
might be of interest.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 31/08/2024 11:09

theduchessofspork · 30/08/2024 22:50

As in the 50s kids mag? That really is carrying cosy names too far..

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I dunno... I know an adult with the nickname Bunty. She works in fashion and she's pretty cool. I also love Bunny, for boys and girls. A bit old fashioned too, no doubt. But there you go! I'd call a little girl Bunny or Bunty over Brontë any day. (As a nickname, not birth cert name.)

Squirrelsnut · 31/08/2024 10:59

I think it was O'Prunty originally.. Bronte is a place name given to the Duke of Wellington as a reward for all the killing. Patrick admired him so changed his name when he registered at Cambridge.

Moreteaandchocolate · 31/08/2024 10:31

Sorry not keen. I think Brontosaurus.

Longma · 31/08/2024 10:18

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Longma · 31/08/2024 10:03

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

BananaPeanutToast · 31/08/2024 10:00

permanently · 31/08/2024 09:24

I really like it! Also a fan of Brodie (Miss Jean.)

Brodie is a boy’s name meaning ‘brother’

lilybloom2 · 31/08/2024 09:43

Love it

NomNomNominativeDeterminism · 31/08/2024 09:35

Ooh Brodie! Love it.

permanently · 31/08/2024 09:24

I really like it! Also a fan of Brodie (Miss Jean.)

Keepingcosy · 31/08/2024 08:38

Might have been mentioned already but a Brontë almost won the first series of Gladiators reboot. She is a firefighter, not many firefighting Brontes I bet. Thought it was an unusual but pretty name.

Halfemptyhalfling · 31/08/2024 08:22

The dots will cause problems online as some forms won't accept the dots and then other forms won't recognise your child as the dots are not there

Mumtobabyhavoc · 31/08/2024 08:19

Daisypod · 31/08/2024 08:07

Why do people keep suggesting this when it's already been said several times on the thread that the spelling is Bronwen for a girl! WYN is a male version.

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I've only ever seen the WYN version and only for a girl. Learn something new every day! 😊

MoralOrLegal · 31/08/2024 08:15

To explain some of the "it's not an umlaut!" comments.

The two-dots-above-a-vowel can be used in German to indicate a missing letter 'e'. "Schoen" (beautiful) is normally written "Schön." That's called an umlaut.

The two-dots-above-a-vowel can be used in other European languages to indicate that the vowel should be pronounced. It's not silent, nor is it merged into the vowel next to it (a dipthong). "Naïve" is sometimes written like that as a guide to pronunciation, or it's sometimes used in names like Zoë or Chloë, or indeed Brontë. That's called a diaeresis.

Daisypod · 31/08/2024 08:07

drowninginsick · 31/08/2024 07:33

What about Bronwyn if you want that sound but an established first name

Why do people keep suggesting this when it's already been said several times on the thread that the spelling is Bronwen for a girl! WYN is a male version.

ImaginaryCat · 31/08/2024 08:04

DD has a friend called Bronte. She's Australian and funnily enough lots of other people, when I mention the name, immediately ask if she's Australian! No one has made the author connection.
I like it, it really suits her. I'd say go for it but drop the umlaut. It's not necessary. DD has a name which in some cultures has an umlaut but we left it off. It's a bugger for filling in electronic forms!

Red10 · 31/08/2024 08:01

I love it! Although I would pronounce it (as did the 1 I knew) Bron-tay rather than Bron-tee, so you may have to correct people on pronounciation.

If you like it go for it - for every PP commenting how Charlotte/Emily/Anne are much nicer names, there will be someone who prefers Bronte! For whats its worth, I hate Charlotte/Emily/Anne type names & think Bronte is much nicer!

MumofSpud · 31/08/2024 07:52

If I had had a DD as a teen this would have been on my list of names! And I am not a fan of surnames as first names!
However.... the link to the authors is such that it really doesn't make sense to name your child this if you are not a fan as people will always assume you have named the child after them / one of them!