Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Horrid surname with teasing potential

60 replies

ihatemysurname · 27/05/2009 12:19

Hello, pls be kind, cus my lovely Lancashire DH takes this very personally, but our surname is Rimmer.

He's teased a fair bit for its sexual conocations (more so down here in Bristol than up North), but obviously there are worst names and our DCs are unlikely to experience that until secondary school. However, it's proving extremely difficult for us to pick a name for our first baby, who is due to arrive VERY SOON.

So, my question to you, the mumsnet jury is, which of the following boys and girls names softens the blow most effectively? And do any of them make it sound even WORSE? (pls restrain from any real hooting ladies, I'm a little fragile today). Thank you!

Alicia Rimmer
Ellie Rimmer
Scarlett Rimmer

Jonathan Rimmer
Reuben Rimmer
Cassius Rimmer

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
MumGoneCrazy · 08/06/2009 00:31

Rimmer's not so bad

I knew someone whose surname was hiscox and her boyf's surname was long im guessing she wont be double barreling their surnames if they get wed

cheekster · 08/06/2009 00:10

I think Alicia and Cassius really soften your surname

Just dont choose Reuben (even though its a lovely name)it really emphasises your surname.I would probably steer clear of Scarlett too

But love all your name choices

lockets · 07/06/2009 22:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LolaTheShowgirl · 07/06/2009 16:03

Scarlett Rimmer sounds like a porn star!

I love, love, love Cassius! I can imagine a high flying business man working all over the world called Cassius.

LadyThompson · 06/06/2009 17:38

I really think it's quite a decent surname. Cassius is nice. First thing I think of when I see Rimmer is actually Jimmy Rimmer, ace old Aston Villa footballer of the 1980s.

Don't worry about it. But possibly avoid Scarlett.

littlelamb · 06/06/2009 17:24

You know, Rimmer really isn't that bad. And I'm someone with the absolute worst surname in the world. wrt to the teasing, kids will have one day of fun and then get over it ime

dixia · 06/06/2009 17:23

My surname is Dix. I wanted Scarlett if I had a girl - luckily i had a boy as it would have been just awful for the poor thing!

Steer clear of all names that could be adjectives, that what we decided!

MaggieBee · 06/06/2009 17:12

not scarlet!!

I think you should amend the sur name a bit. Make it Rimmerton or Rimmerly. JMVHO. I have a totally normal non-slaggable sur name thank goodness.

simplesusan · 06/06/2009 16:49

Not Reuben or Scarlett-even though these are both my faves from your list. As others have said avoid any names beginning with A.

Metatron · 04/06/2009 02:13

I wouldn't have
A Rimmer
I Rimmer

tbh.

Gattina83 · 04/06/2009 01:47

I don't think it's that bad. Jonathan Rimmer sounds lovely, a good strong name.

Stargazer · 02/06/2009 16:57

Rimmer - oh yes, for me that's Red Dwarf then . I like Ellie for a girl and Jonathan for a boy. Don't worry - it's not as bad as some. And my surname causes all sorts of problems - mostly people don't know how to spell it!!

TwoScrambled · 02/06/2009 16:49

I would go classic, names like Jonothan and Elizabeth are good, with a middle name, or your maiden name and a hyphen maybe?

SkaterGrrrrl · 01/06/2009 21:18

Hey OP, I'm in the same boat and have recently married (and taken the surname of) a lovely man with a sniggery surname.

We are ttc and I'm already keen to avoid certain inital combinations for first & second name such as 'BJ' and will have to be careful with choice of first names too.

As mentioned upthread not everyone knows what rimming is so your kids may get off lightly...

My advice would be, love your kid and give him or her lots of confidence, so any teasing will be like water off a duck's back.

navyeyelasH · 29/05/2009 00:26

Poppy Rimmer is nice.

thumbwitch · 29/05/2009 00:16

I know an Andrew Pratt...

Grammaticus · 28/05/2009 19:13

I know a family called Rimmer. Couldn't BELIEVE it when they called their pfb a Christian name starting with G!

Nancy66 · 28/05/2009 19:10

i actually don't think that's too bad a surname, I've heard a hell of a lot worse. I dated a Simon Smellie many years ago.

GrimmaTheNome · 28/05/2009 18:59

I watched Red Dwarf for years and it never crossed my mind that Rimmer was in any way a rude word.

I guess theres a few initials which might be worth avoiding though... G for instance, not everyone can carry off a name like G.Rimmer though I say it myself.

lockets · 28/05/2009 18:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Tambajam · 28/05/2009 18:48

It's not THAT bad.

Podrick · 28/05/2009 16:59

Why don't you all go with your maiden name - I don't get why you would stick with a surname like this!

CarGirl · 28/05/2009 16:51

Isobel?

Califrau · 28/05/2009 16:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kaylo · 28/05/2009 09:08

I think the idea of dropping an 'm' from your surname (is this an option for you?)

Scarlett Rimer sounds sweet

Swipe left for the next trending thread