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

This is cruel right?

43 replies

sparkleshine · 31/05/2010 19:58

A neighbour told me today that her son and daughter in law are thinking of calling their soon to be born baby boy William, but their surname is Billington.
Surely this child is gonna get Billy Billington for short at some point. Another option apparantly was Benjamin ( just as bad I think)

It's not right is it? It's as bad as being called Robert Robertson or something similar.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
mathanxiety · 04/06/2010 05:32

I knew a 'Firstname' DeBlieux who hailed from New Orleans and pronounced her surname Double-yeu. On the phone she had endless trouble with people asking her what came after W, was W her middle initial -- and she never understood what their problem was.

moonbird · 03/06/2010 20:29

Cruel? No not at all, think you're over reacting. Billy Billington - really quite nice.

starshaker · 02/06/2010 21:13

i knew a leslie leslie (married name)

elliemental · 02/06/2010 21:12

yellowrose - I'd love to have seen him on University Challenge ...

I was a school with a Rosie Gentles. (say it out loud)

undercovamutha · 02/06/2010 20:56

Will Williams, David Davies and John Jones are all REALLY common here. In fact there are 3 Will Williams' where I work. That's Wales for you!

YellowRoseofTexas · 02/06/2010 20:52

There was a boy at my university named Robert Holding Aycock...

PuzzleRocks · 02/06/2010 13:50

Kris Kristofferson?

ShowOfHands · 02/06/2010 13:48

I think it's fine actually.

One of my most favourite MNers is called Jenny Taylor in real life.

I am related to a Delilah White. Which is a holiday resort off the south coast said in a Jamaican accent.

CaveMum · 02/06/2010 13:43

If you want some really crazy names, this is one of the best sites to amuse youself with: www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/

Enjoy!

elliemental · 02/06/2010 12:37

(and I am loving the idea of the meeting....)

elliemental · 02/06/2010 12:36

oh I may go and namechange to Zak De Marvellous!!

DastardlyandSmugly · 02/06/2010 11:08

Ellie - we used to do that too. We had an idea it would be great to invite them all to a meeting and leave them to work out why they were there. We had:

Dick Dastardly (really)
Angus McSporran
Steve McQueen
Zak de Marvellous (I always pictured him with a top hat, cane, cape and moustache)
Rich Ricci

comtessa · 02/06/2010 10:11

I think some things are worse than sound-alike first and second names.
Examples:

Pheonix (spelt that way)
Missy
Shardonnay
Tiny (this was a boy's name)

elliemental · 02/06/2010 10:00

used to 'collect' silly names at work

Rosie Cox
Dick Seed
Miss P Uryn (I swear!)
Sam Lamb
Mandi Ince (M.Ince)
Quentin Cumber (Q-cumber..)

were some of my favourites

as was coronor Bob Stiff
and
PC Hassell and PC Grabham

Fliight · 02/06/2010 09:59

thanks!

comtessa · 02/06/2010 09:56

Megan Spooner = Egg and Spooner - at least that's all I can think of Fliight!

Fliight · 02/06/2010 09:53

I don't get the Megan one. Someone please explain!

Original poster
sparkleshine · 02/06/2010 09:50

Well I guess seeing some of these other names People have called their kids, William billington doesn't seem that bad.

Love Christian hayter and jenna Taylor though :-)

OP posts:
DastardlyandSmugly · 02/06/2010 09:39

What about Lee Ryan from Blue - he called his son Rayn Ryan!

pulpfiction · 02/06/2010 09:24

Don't think it's that bad.

alexisfaith · 02/06/2010 09:20

The difference is that names like Gregor MacGregor are culturally accurate. 'Mac' means son of therefore MacGregor means son of Gregor. It's not unusual for a child to be named after his father, right? Meeting a Gregor MacGregor is a daily occurance up here in the far north. My childhood sweetheart was called Donald MacDonald. I think the difference is that this is a naming pattern rooted in specific histories and culture. Billy Billington is just unnecessarily cruel!

angelene · 01/06/2010 22:20

My driving instructor was called Bill Hollocks.

PiratePrincess · 01/06/2010 22:17

LOL at Jenna Taylor!

I went to school with Richard Head, Rubena, do you come from Devon?!

sedgiebaby · 01/06/2010 22:15

love it! especially owlets comments

SparklyJules · 01/06/2010 22:09

I knew a Gregor Rae (sounds like Gregory) once and DH once went on a stag do with a bloke called Alexander Alexander, who lived in Alexandria. His parents must have had NO imagination whatsoever.

Swipe left for the next trending thread