Gabriel for a boy...do DH's veto because they think he'll be called 'gay'?

Our son is Gabriel, he turned 11 months yesterday!

I actually vetoed it 6 years ago when pg with our dd.

Gabriel has always been HIS favourite name and i really felt it was too girlie and any boy with that name was hard done to by his parents.

HOWEVER during this pg i grew to absolutley love it.

DP is a rugby type and ran it past his rugby mates. They actually all thought it was uber cool and not used enough.

Gabe for short is not at all feminine, (the the moment ours is called all sorts, mostly Mr Moo, Gabey and Gabey-Wu, (which is how we got Mr Moo as it rhymed, poor kid!)

My family HATED it at first, but now adore it and are so glad we used it, we've had many great comments and equal raised eyebrows - but he could not be anything else.

I was going to call our youngest Gabriel but his brothers said boys at school with that name were called "gay" We gave to him it as a middle name instead. Aren't kids horrible ?

I agree with your DH. NN could be 'Gay' or 'Gabe' which is equally awful. It's also the sort of name that is very feminine sounding ... sorry.

yes. This was on our list. DS was almost called it, it was a close call between this and the name he has. The deciding factor was that DH did not want him to be called 'gay' at school.

I really like it. I know a Gabriel who's about my age, a bit younger maybe, and as far as I'm aware he's never had any problems with teasing etc.

DS's friend, 8, is called Gabriel. They go to a state primary in a notorious inner-city area (since this sort of thing has been raised as a possible environment fo name calling)and I have never once heard anyone refer to him as 'gay', or heard DS or his mother refer to any name calling / teasing over his name.

i used it and can vouch that no-one has ever even mentioned "Gay"
that said he is only 2 and a bit.
he gets called Gabe, but mostly only by us, most other people call him Gabriel

I think people will use the name/s you use. so if you always call him Gabriel/Gabe then they will too

I hear people say 'Gabrielle' by accident to one I know which would put me off abit. I'm not that keen on it.

We have a 7yr old Gabriel, he has never been teased (and he does ballet and wants to be a fashion designer when he grows up).

I named my first son Gabriel. he's 2 1/2 now. People in my mums generation (including my mum) said that people would call him Gay but that just seemed like a closed minded, old fashioned view and there are negative nicknames for most names. Most people call him Gabe now and think it's a cool name. I often call him Gaby and he tells everyone his name is Babriel. I have no regrets about calling him Gabriel and neither does my hubby

It's my favourite boys name, but was vetoed by DH. I still think we could have got away with it.

None of the Gabriels that I know (from age 2 to 35) have been teased about their name any more than friends called Joanna (who've been Joanna Spanner), Hannah (Hannah Bannana), Ollie (Wally) etc. etc.

I've taught a couple of Gabriels and have only ever heard them called Gabriel/Gabe/Gaby/Gabey. If it's a name you like then go for it as others have said, people will find something to pick on at some point in a child's life.

i think as long as your surname doesn't begin with B it should be ok, surely? That's the reason we vetoed Gabriel. I love Gabe, but Gabe Biggles (for example) would quickly become Gay Biggles in any classroom! A non-B surname, eg Gabe Williams, sounds fine IMO though.

I know a toddler Gabriel - nickname Gabe. And 60-something Gabriel - nickname Gabby.

I like the name. My dh has never commented negatively on either their names or their nicknames.

however, gabriel is a good name. but you know what i mean, IF you'd been going to call him Lucifer or Poxy or something

"i really feel like i shouldn't give in to the potential that he could get teased at school - afterall, how will homophobia ever be irradicated unless we get rid of such stigmas!"

I agree with you,,, BUT, i wouldn't use my children to attempt to push back boundaries. I take it on all the time myself though! my gob is always open challenging people about something or other.

It will probably happen - kids can turn any name into something it's not. The shortened form is Gabe, so it'll only be the numpties that he will doubtless not give a toss about that will call him Gay. It's definitely something to consider, though why 'gay' is still used as an insult by children these days I just don't know

i would be tempted to call my son gabriel if i had another one. thought would probably be more because of peter gabriel

Hmm, I think there is something feminine about Gabriel, not sure whether it is the Gay sound or the fact that Gabriel was an angel....

My dh vetoed it for that reason too.