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Baby names

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

Original poster

Boo for a boy ....

88 replies

nappyaddict · 14/01/2009 10:36

Yay or nay?

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Bubbaluv · 14/01/2009 19:21

Nappyaddict, I would think the "girls' name" aspect would be the last thing that would come to a child's mind when teasing him about his name. Boo Radley is probably the only Boo that most people have ever heard of and he was a he. I always assumed it was a nickname even for the fictional character- I'm sure there has been some analysis done of the reason for the name choice in the story though - you might wan to see what that says?

Bubbaluv · 14/01/2009 19:18

It's what they yell at the football when they disagree with the ref, no?
Boooooooo!!
If you called him in the playground everyone would think you were heckling him!

Guadalupe · 14/01/2009 19:00

I've never heard it as a name for either. I would think imagine there would be a lot of ghost like booing that would wear thin.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 14/01/2009 18:53

Yes as I have already said possibly for having a girl's name.

OP posts:
Guadalupe · 14/01/2009 18:47

There was a boy in the playbarn today called Boo. I assumed it was a nickname. It has a lot of scope for jibes at school don't you think?

electra · 14/01/2009 18:45

ooh no, it's awful.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 14/01/2009 18:44

No Bo is commonly known as a unisex name. I mean Boo.

OP posts:
BabyBaby123 · 14/01/2009 18:13

do you mean Bo??

KatB · 14/01/2009 16:36

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I used to call dd2 thus when she was a baby too. Cute little pet name but nooo as 'proper' name!

Original poster
nappyaddict · 14/01/2009 15:54

Rempy - what do you mean spell it properly?

Boo is a "real" name but as I said it is conventionally a girl's name. None of the girls I know have ever been teased for being called Boo. I suppose a boy might get teased for having a girl's name though.

OP posts:
RachieB · 14/01/2009 15:11

oh my lordy ! no

NN fine but not as a proper name

BabyBaby123 · 14/01/2009 14:56

NO!!! Please don't

Soph73 · 14/01/2009 14:16

I have to admit to calling my DS2 Boo (he's 9 months), usually when he's just woken up! I normally look over his cot and say "Hello, Boo." However, that is not his real name and would be absolutely horrified if anyone else called him Boo. I call him by his real name in public btw so am not completely mad!

AmIOdetteOrOdile · 14/01/2009 13:06

I keep getting a fright every time I see this thread title.....

vess · 14/01/2009 13:06

Caspar might work better as in the friendly ghost..

Luxmum · 14/01/2009 13:05

Agree, it's just not a name really, is it? And is it pronounced Boooo or beau? No. He will get the shite kicked out of him in the playground. And will hate you forever. he will take on his second name of Nigel rather than be called Boo in school. And then you will be stuck with a resentful teenager called Nigel.

cheesesarnie · 14/01/2009 12:40

we need one more

Joolyjoolyjoo · 14/01/2009 12:30

haha, cheesesarnie- our ds is also tombliboo!

cheesesarnie · 14/01/2009 12:08

just realise ds2 gets called tombliboo.i could change it by dead poll.

Dropdeadfred · 14/01/2009 12:04

my friend had a little boy 2 years ago and for the first year of his life he was nicknamed boo...that isn't his real name and as he got older and knew his real name Boo has gradually disappeared...

If you like it as a baby name then cal him it, but don't name him it officially ifykwim

BoccaDellaVerita · 14/01/2009 11:53

"a term used in hide and seek". Yep, that does it for me!

ComeWhineWithMe · 14/01/2009 11:50

My dd's nickname is boo as in Gaby -Boo it is not on her birth certificate and it's only because when ds forst saw her he said "hello Gaby-boo" .

But no way would I ever use it as a real name it's a bit cruel .

Clarissimo · 14/01/2009 11:49

Maybie they are Boco... but as my female choices (never used) were Katie, Aisha, Bethany and Taya, it won't be me doing the shifting- too big a risk!

DS2 has an unusual name, unusual but neither unheard of nor a term used in hide and seek(major sporetsman of the past shares it with him).

dizzydixies · 14/01/2009 11:46

I wouldn't but WOULD use it as a nn for something like Bodie or Brodie

like Beau though

BoccaDellaVerita · 14/01/2009 11:44

Clarissimo - I think like you about a Prime Minister, Governor of the Bank of England or Professor of Surgery called Boo. But, what if the Chancellor of the Exchequer is called Fifi Honey, the President of the Law Society is called Rainbow and the Professor of Psychiatry is called Indigo Star? Maybe the norms are shifting!