Calling a baby Bear

[WayneRooneysHair]

I've NC for this.

A few weeks ago a friend gave birth to a baby boy and her and her boyfriend decided to call him Bear. The name has generated a pretty strong reaction among the families and friends concerned. My friend is pretty upset that people's opinions are strongly divided with most people thinking it's a joke.

Are these people being unfair on the name or is their concern and reaction understandable?

As for what I think, it's their choice but I can see why people are reacting in a negative way. I know MN can be funny about names but I'm interested to see what other people think.

Well I like it!

Agree with sparechange I think quite a few people want to give their children 'different' names because it makes them appear wacky and a bit 'out there' but they aren't the ones who have to go through life with a name that's everyone is bound to comment on or made fun of.

It's fine if you call your child something like Bear, although not sure why you would, and he's full of confidence growing up and doesn't give a damn what people say, but I do think you're taking a bit of a gamble.

Good job you name changed, a few weeks ago someone asked mn about calling her son bear, probably your friend.

reni1 probably!

That's a good point fred, maybe Bear will start going up the name charts.

I thought Björn was pretty mainstream these days. Can't really see why an anglicised version raises eyebrows.

Had an ex named Bear, he was a huge hulking 6.6 Icelandic fella though so it suited him!

It took me a while to get used to saying it though. I'm sure everyone will adjust in time to the baby's name!

Should be short for Theodore though, as in Roosevelt and the root of the nickname.

Lots of kids are called Fred and George now ime!

People did tell her exactly what they thought, mn style, so she is quite aware how it will be perceived .

I quite like Bear. To me it's in the same category as Ocean, River, Summer, India etc.

There's a lot worse names to be called IMO and unless a couple decide to call their baby Fuckface or Chris if their surname is Peacock similar people should butt out.
My Mum and Sister hated my 4th child's name when I was pg. We still used it and it's grown on them.

I don't see the point of having a 'proper' name. If you don't like being called Charlie chances are you won't like Charles either. I have a diminutive name and it really annoys me when people assume my 'real' name is the long version. It's not my name.

Why should it be short for Theodore? As someone who's lived their life with multiple names because one is "short for" another, it's extremely annoying!

In 2013 Fred had just 40 kids more popular than Bear - not much difference, and pretty unlikely to know one - Freddie is much more common. George is still pretty common (280 times more popular than Bear and in the top 10)

Names seem to be the one thing people have no problem being rude about. Its like a holiday from their usual manners.

Wasn't it Kate Winslet and her very sensibly named husband - Mr RocknRoll - that called theirs Bear very recently? I think it was.

It's quite a long way the wrong side of ridiculous.

Your friend cannot seriously be shocked that people are somewhat taken aback by the choice of name?

Sniggering at crispycock

I like it.
It sounds nice, short and sweet.

It isn't a particularity unusual name, I know several. The only problem I can for see is people joking about it meaning naked.

This is one of the many reasons why people should have a licence to breed.

We have our names chosen for our new arrival.
We told people the girls name and have been met with many responses. MIL is the worse one though with 'have you chosen a proper name yet?' over and over again and also 'it's a f*ing stupid name!'.
So we haven't told anyone the boys name yet. Not until he/she arrives. Her response upset me in the beginning but now I am just angry about it and it makes me more determined to call my child what I like! Humph!

I didn't really think it was that unusual any more tbh. Being rude about a baby's name is unpleasant, and only seems to be considered acceptable when it is a name that someone considers unusual. Presumably your friend's DS can use his middle name if he wants when he's older?

I think it's a stupid name tbh and if a friend asked me my opinion BEFORE they named their child I would say so.

If I wasn't asked and/or it was too late I'd keep my beak out and say it was cute. Which, to be fair, it is. On a child. But that child will grow up one day.

Pinkie I told an acquaintance I rarely see our boy's name idea for DC1 due Oct (she asked) and I was met with a snort of derision, which I thought was pretty rich because she gave all three of her kids totally stupid names imo (along the lines of 'moonbeam' etc.). So we have not told anyone else our ideas, not even our family know.

MIL is dreading what we are going to call him/her.