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Baby names

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

Original poster

Hero for a girl?

69 replies

PoppyC · 25/03/2010 22:16

Thinking of naming my upcoming DD Hero, but am worried she will resent having an unusual name.

I love it- it's Greek but I first became aware of it through reading Shakespeare's much ado about nothing.

I also like the feminist implications of naming her Hero- like she could achieve anything.

I also love the name Ophelia (Hamlet) as I think it is very pretty but don't like naming her after a character that goes mad and drowns herself.

What do you think of Hero (or Ophelia?)?? Help would be muchly appreciated- friends and family too polite to be of much proper help!

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MinnieMalone · 26/03/2010 09:29

Truly awful. She will probably change it to Jane by deed poll as soon as she can. DON'T DO IT!

Krugerellie · 26/03/2010 09:27

I would think Hero was a boy - but love Hera.

2old4thislark · 26/03/2010 09:22

I think when people name children they should remember that secondary school children, in particular, can be very mean. I met a girl called 'Beauty' and unfortunately she wasn't........

Earthstar · 26/03/2010 07:16

I know a little Hero, everyone thinks she must be Hera or else must be a boy, so expect a lot of confusion and explaining

Earthstar · 26/03/2010 07:15

I know a little Hero, everyone thinks she must be Hera or else must be a boy, so expect a lot of confusion and explaining

mathanxiety · 26/03/2010 03:49

Prefer Hera (Roman Juno). This is a gyro ('hero').

LadyCressida · 25/03/2010 23:55

I think Beatrice is the more interesting character in that play, and an easier name to live with!

My family have a tradition of using shakesperean names so I have considered it in the past but I think a Hero would just get teased too much, sorry.

Original poster
PoppyC · 25/03/2010 23:33

Actually, I can imagine DH singing that song to me in the 36th hour of labour. As a funny joke.

And then me punching him in the face!

OP posts:
squirrel42 · 25/03/2010 23:28

I agree it brings to mind "I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the niiiiight..."

Not being aware of the Shakespeare character or Greek character or whoever else she might be named for, I would just think it was a weird adjective-y name that the giver hoped would automatically lead to the person becoming heroic.

Oh, and it also reminds me of those Heroes chocolates.

scottishmummy · 25/03/2010 23:23

unusual names usually=trying too hard/bad spelling/pretentious

give it a rest

jasper · 25/03/2010 23:22

appalling name for a boy, even worse for a girl.
Sorry

lowrib · 25/03/2010 23:18

I love it.

Yes it's unusual, but people get used to unusual names pretty quickly once they actually know someone with the name IME.

Original poster
PoppyC · 25/03/2010 23:16

2old4thislark- i see what you're saying, but isn't it a little ridiculous to not name a child something on the off-chance she might go through an awkward phase in teenagerdom?

OP posts:
2old4thislark · 25/03/2010 23:03

No, no, no! Pretentious!

To get away with a name like that she needs to be athletic, slim, beautiful etc. Can you imagine the stick she would get at secondary school if she was overweight and shortsighted with a name like that?

Hobnobfanatic · 25/03/2010 23:00

Same reason as the other current post with Cordelia, I couldn't name a child Ophelia - just too superstitious!

But Hero is lovely!

scottishmummy · 25/03/2010 22:57

hero is trying too hard.all about you.trouble with qualities ascribing names is they are hard to live up to

what if hero is quiet and reflective.not heroic at all

piss take of a name.imagine calling "come on hero, time for tea"

naw

Clary · 25/03/2010 22:55

feisty name sorry been typing too much tonight....

Clary · 25/03/2010 22:55

Hero is great.

A bit out there tho. Also a lot to live up to?

I do like it tho (despite Shakespeare's Hero being a bit of a wet fish imo).

I like a nice fesity name. DD has an old English name that I always think of as a bit warlike rather than pretty pretty (no it's not Boudicca!)

What's yr surname OP? Hero is a bit of a tricky name with some (like mine for instance

LittleWhiteWolf · 25/03/2010 22:51

Love Hero. Was shot down by DH.
Go for it!

Casmama · 25/03/2010 22:50

Sorry I really don't like hero but think Ophelia is lovely - if you discounted names based on associations you would never be able to choose any name.

AllieW · 25/03/2010 22:48

It makes me think of Hero and Leander (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_and_Leander). Interesting that Wikipedia says the Greek pronunciation is actually Hay+raw. Not sure I like that pronunciation at all.

I think it could be quite cool but might be a little difficult if she were shy. Perhaps the name would ensure that she wasn't!

Original poster
PoppyC · 25/03/2010 22:43

I think it can be either a boy's or girl's name.

So glad that (most) of you like it too!

Does anyone think it would create an unrealistic standard for her to live up to? I mean, she'd think she'd have to be HERO-ic all the time?

Sometimes I just want to call her something really plain and normal, so she wont feel like she doesn't have the space to grow into who she wants to be.

OP posts:
jujubean · 25/03/2010 22:42

Hero - lovely. Hermione Norris' (blond bird in Spooks) daughter is called Hero and I think it's just so gorgeous.

EvilTwins · 25/03/2010 22:39

notimetoshop - Hero is the romantic heroine of Much Ado About Nothing.

notimetoshop · 25/03/2010 22:35

I'm sure you're right and Hero is a girl's name, but I would think someone called Hero is a boy.....