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Baby names

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

you will all be relieved to know that i am going to stick with bracken

86 replies

tinkisinthe3rdtrimester · 25/10/2008 16:06

i love the name bracken wanted something as unusual as dd1s

probably go for bracken hope willow

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
LaTricoteuse · 26/10/2008 15:04

I've never heard it before - wouldn't go with it being middle class or chav, I'd be more inclined to think hippy - soap dodger, hiding BO with patchouli oil.

Like Willow and Hope though.

Liffey · 26/10/2008 14:59

Will your husband agree to bracken?

beaniescreamyb · 26/10/2008 14:16

I like it. I grew up in the country and Bracken always reminds me of my childhood. The name has good connotations and is beautiful.

spottyshoes · 26/10/2008 14:13

Sorry OP - I missed the part where you were actually "asking for opinions" like some people suggested - thought that was your last thread. This one sounds more like a statement.

I'm glad you've finally decided on a name - am quite as I dont think this one will be named until s/he is 3!!!

MadamDeathstare · 26/10/2008 14:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skyatnight · 26/10/2008 13:59

IMO, names can be divided into three main categories: safe/middle-class/traditional, bohemian and chav. There is not much difference between 'bohemian' names and 'chav' names, as both plump for the unusual, except that 'chav' names incoporate more unusual spellings and made-up names, and 'bohemian' names seem to look for some link to nature or culture or an historial era or another language, whether it is pseudo or not. And, yes, it is often the boring, traditional names that end up as being more unusual so looking for an unusual name is self-defeating due to the Zeitgeist phenomenon that others have spoken of.

There was another thread about 'Bracken', with lots of references to dogs and spikey things and nature. Tink has made up her mind, against lots of negative advice, which is fine. It's the child that makes the name, not the other way round.

My opinion: 'Willow' and 'Rohan' are a bit common now. 'Bracken' is more unusual and, yes, spikey sounding so supposedly less feminine. As I get a bit fed up of all the 'Isabella' and 'Hannah' names and others ending with a vowel sound to make them sound soft and feminine, I quite like 'Bracken'. Hopefully she will be a bit spikey and have a good independent career instead of just being good wife-material. I like 'Hope' too, as we all need it, and I would drop the second middle name 'Willow'.

Gosh, I don't normally indulge but it is fun to make 'judgy' pronouncements about these things!

kittywise · 26/10/2008 13:39

In Denmark, don't they have a law against giving babies silly names?

elsiepiddock · 26/10/2008 13:27

I agree, Bracken is a dog's name.

It also makes me think of twigs snapping underfoot!

SoupDragon · 26/10/2008 13:14

Bracken is horrid. I do like Willow and other "odd" names though so I'm not a averse to unusual/natural names...

Bracken's too harsh.

unknownrebelbang · 26/10/2008 12:51

Reminds me of dogs.

kittywise · 26/10/2008 12:43

Why start a thread asking what people think if you don't care?

if you don't care don't ask.

it's still a daft name

themildmanneredaxemurderer · 26/10/2008 12:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nancy66 · 26/10/2008 12:37

It really smacks of trying too hard.
Hope is the nicest of your three names the other two are a bit 'pole dancer'

Liffey · 26/10/2008 12:10

Hee hee, I was trying a bit of reverse psychology!

I agree, it's screamingly chav.

BabyBaby123 · 26/10/2008 11:26

do you really think it's middle class Liffey?? I think if anything it's more chavvy (sorry!) There is really horrible, drunk woman on my street who insists on screaming BRACKEN at the top of her lungs.

Don't particularly like Willow but it's much softer and prettier sounding or even Hope is better!

Together they sound like you've tried too hard - and got it wrong. Sorry.

serenity · 26/10/2008 11:20

It was Doctor George's baby's name on Doctors (if that helps)

Liffey · 26/10/2008 11:12

Bracken is so predictably middle-class. Every family in their 3 bedroomed victorian semi on a tree-lined avenue has a Bracken and a Willow these days, being pushed along to babysignlanguage or Monday Music in a phil&teds. I'm so sick of children being called Bracken, why does nobody choose something a bit different, like Hazel, Polly or Dulcie for heaven's sake?

DippyDora · 26/10/2008 10:36

Love Willow though

MrsWeasleyIsTheCrazyHatLady · 26/10/2008 10:36

Bracken was the name of a little baby on a day time TV programme. I only saw it once whilst off work with a poorly child and the name stuck with me!
Can't actually remember anything else about the programme.

MamaG · 26/10/2008 10:35

I always think you should go for whatever name you like. I'm very traditional and would never put my choice of name on this section, to be ripped to shreds by the nest of vipers!! I'd get "how boring" etc

If you like it, go for it. If you're unsure, then do ask opinions

filthymindedSixSixSixen · 26/10/2008 10:34

I quite like it, but I am a nature-lovin' hippy. Agree though, bit spiky?
If I had had dds, they would have been Willow and Rowan.

FimboGotAxed · 26/10/2008 10:32

Have I got you mixed up?

Were you not going with Scarlett Sienna Hope?

Or have I got the wrong Tink?

ForeverOptimistic · 26/10/2008 10:29

I would go for Willow and have Bracken as a middle name. Willow is pretty (although not my cup of tea) whereas Bracken sounds harsh and a bit daft.

CorpseBrideOfJohnCusack · 26/10/2008 10:25

how is it not unusual?

nappyaddict · 26/10/2008 10:20

Not keen personally I like "proper" names iyswim. Also wouldn't team it with Willow - too much nature going on in one name.

What about Aspen?