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Baby names

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

Original poster

Unfortunate name choice

133 replies

dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 11:30

DS shares his name (first and surname) with a fairly well known person, who unfortunately has disgraced himself since.

I don’t really think I can change DS’s name but wondering if others would. The spelling is a bit different. But the name is identical.

OP posts:
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Needmorelego · 10/12/2024 12:33

@Mostlyoblivious that was the name I had to Google. Then I was "oh yes I remember" and also remembered the issues H from Steps originally had by having the same name.
But the fact I had to Google shows how quickly people do forget news stories.

Needmorelego · 10/12/2024 12:31

Buy the time your son is old enough to even give it a second thought - Huw Edwards will just be some bloke that people vaguely remember.
Don't worry about it.

ComtesseDeSpair · 10/12/2024 12:29

dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 12:26

Serial killer of men, was she in Bristol somewhere?

But anyway this isn’t a serial killer, it’s huw Edwards. Although we have the Hugh spelling!

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Honestly OP, I suspect in a handful of years time a lot of people will struggle to remember what Huw Edwards actually did, let alone immediately think of him when your DS introduces himself.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 10/12/2024 12:28

Ohhhh huw edwards.
no I wouldn’t worry OP, he will not be long term ‘notorious’ I imagine.
could you use DS middle name?

Mostlyoblivious · 10/12/2024 12:28

Starlight1979 · 10/12/2024 12:04

What's H from Steps done????

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I was thinking it was the paedophile lead singer of the lost prophets

BarbaraHoward · 10/12/2024 12:27

dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 12:26

Serial killer of men, was she in Bristol somewhere?

But anyway this isn’t a serial killer, it’s huw Edwards. Although we have the Hugh spelling!

Show quote history

I think you're grand then. The spelling difference helps and they're very common names. He also won't still be notorious in 15 years.

BarbaraHoward · 10/12/2024 12:27

If he's 4 I wouldn't change his name, but if the person is notorious enough to still be easily googled when DS is older, I'd encourage him to always use a middle initial professionally.

Original poster
dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 12:26

StrikesAtticFlat · 10/12/2024 12:24

What did a Joanna do??

Show quote history

Serial killer of men, was she in Bristol somewhere?

But anyway this isn’t a serial killer, it’s huw Edwards. Although we have the Hugh spelling!

OP posts:
toastofthetown · 10/12/2024 12:24

Workingthroughit · 10/12/2024 12:10

Rubbish. Should every woman called Rose, Lucy, Joanna or Maxine change her name?

The OP’s issue is her son shares both the first name and the surname with the person. If the surname was West, Letby, Dennehy or Carr for each of these examples then I’d probably advise changing the name if the baby is under 12 months too.

UndeniablyGenX · 10/12/2024 12:24

If you google the name, how many results do you get that are not the offender? If it's lots, I wouldn't worry.

StrikesAtticFlat · 10/12/2024 12:24

Workingthroughit · 10/12/2024 12:10

Rubbish. Should every woman called Rose, Lucy, Joanna or Maxine change her name?

What did a Joanna do??

Starlight1979 · 10/12/2024 12:23

dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 12:21

It isn’t Greg Wallace but yes one of the others above. DS is 4. So a bit old to change his name I think, even if I wanted to!

If it's Hugh Edwards, Conor McGregor or Philip Schofield I wouldn't worry as they're not uncommon names and by the times he's in high school / an adult it will be forgotten about anyway.

If it's P Diddy or Jay Z then you may be a bit stuck 😂

Original poster
dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 12:22

Workingthroughit · 10/12/2024 12:10

Rubbish. Should every woman called Rose, Lucy, Joanna or Maxine change her name?

I think the difference is it’s first name and surname, obviously calling your child Rose is fine but I wouldn’t call my daughter Rose West!

OP posts:
Original poster
dsandhisname · 10/12/2024 12:21

It isn’t Greg Wallace but yes one of the others above. DS is 4. So a bit old to change his name I think, even if I wanted to!

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 10/12/2024 12:20

How old is DS? The only concern I’d have around sharing a name with a high profile offender is the possibility of mistaken identity and being targeted by idiotic vigilantes. If DS is 3 then there’s not much chance of him being mistaken for the real whoever it is; and unless we’re talking really high profile serial killer etc, by the time he’s an adult I doubt anyone is going to remember some minor celebrity who “disgraced themselves.”

Workingthroughit · 10/12/2024 12:10

Rubbish. Should every woman called Rose, Lucy, Joanna or Maxine change her name?

StarrySquawk · 10/12/2024 12:06

Is his name P Diddy?

Starlight1979 · 10/12/2024 12:04

Almostwelsh · 10/12/2024 11:39

If it's Greg Wallace, I wouldn't worry about it, noone will remember when he's an adult.

If it's Ian Watkins or Jimmy Saville or similar I would change it.

What's H from Steps done????

FlipFlopFlipper · 10/12/2024 12:03

P Diddy?

Connor McGregor?

clary · 10/12/2024 11:54

I agree, if it’s Jimmy Savile I would change it; if he’s called Hugh Edwards then I wouldn’t worry.

Starlight1979 · 10/12/2024 11:51

Jay Z?

Almostwelsh · 10/12/2024 11:50

The plus point about sharing a name with a notorious person is that it makes you ungoogleable. As long as he is far too young to be mistaken for the person in question it might actually work in his favour

Needmorelego · 10/12/2024 11:47

@dsandhisname I had to Google one of the names mentioned above which proves that the vast majority of the time people forget about disgraced people.
Unless it is incredibly high profile (like Jimmy Saville) then I wouldn't worry.
What if you change his name and then someone with that name does something....how many times would you be prepared to change it?

Catlord · 10/12/2024 11:46

Depends what type of disgrace we're talking. Fruit and veg knob head? That'll be old news and hopefully lessons learnt by the time your son grows up.

Notorious murderer or child abuser, I would change it. If you're talking US rappers you should be alright as they're mostly known by their stage names much more than real names.