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AIBU?

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Original poster

Outgrowing names

494 replies

Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:22

In dentist waiting room yesterday and dental nurse calls "Alfie". A near 6ft 16 year old with a tracksuit and key wig rises from his seat. He probably made a cute Alfie when he was a toddler. Do kids outgrow cutesy names?

OP posts:
nodogsinthebedroom · 05/09/2017 20:24

What's a key wig?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/09/2017 20:24

Most Alfie's I know are around 17-21 so seems fine to me. Along with all the Charlie's, Archie's, Teddy's, Millie's, Mollys, Lucy's. Perfectly fine names for any age.

flumpybear · 05/09/2017 20:26

No dogs it's a bit like a small patch of hair for balding keys 🔑 Hmm

user1499786242 · 05/09/2017 20:31

Ah I really wish parents would think more carefully about their kids name
Met a beau (bow)
It did not suit him AT ALL
Felt so sorry for the lad...

MargaretTwatyer · 05/09/2017 20:32

I imagine they will be called 'Alf' a lot of the time and are just going to spend the rest of their lives being mortified on the occasions when officialdom means the cutesy version is dredged up.

Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:33

It's the new skin head. A shaggy mop sported by young men who use the funds they would have spent on the barber to buy ketamine instead.

As someone involved in recruiting sometimes, I think I'd not take a CV from a 22 year old Teddy seriously, however wrong that may be

OP posts:
emma8t4 · 05/09/2017 20:35

On the other hand how long did it take some of our dads/grandads to grow into their name, my grandad was a Harold I think it suited him from about 50 onwards Wink

treaclesoda · 05/09/2017 20:37

Teddy Roosevelt managed to become president of the USA despite being called Teddy. I've never really thought of Teddy as a cutesy name. Although I suppose I do think of Timmy as cutesy and that's fairly similar I suppose...

Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:37

User14....etc. I knew a woman who called her daughter Beau and wouldn't accept that it wasn't a girls name. She insisted it meant beautiful girl, till someone mentioned Belle. Of course any name can be unisex but a bit of thought and research should go into the name if you have a specific reason behind the choice.

OP posts:
Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:39

Yes treacle but his full name was Theodore and I expect was used in office

OP posts:
loaferloveforyou · 05/09/2017 20:39

You wouldn't interview a 22 year old Teddy?

I think some names age with people. I know a lot of Claire's and Laura's in their 30s but none under 10.

In a few years when you hear the name Alfie- for example- you will think of a guy in their 20s.

emma8t4 · 05/09/2017 20:44

I worked with a Freddie, he was mid 20's at the time.His name never felt childish or cutesy he was just Freddie. I suppose if parents were that worried they would give them the full version of the name to grow into Frederick, Theodore, Alfred, Albert etc

BannedFromNarnia · 05/09/2017 20:44

I love all those cutie names on boys and on men but I really think people should give them a full version too for CVs and things - just to protect them from bias.

And name bias is a real and terrible thing - people make all sorts of unconscious and conscious judgements that aren't fair.

Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:44

Loafer I think it's the "ee" sound that is off putting. Charlie/billy/harry also have that sound but are derived from traditional names. I'm not sure many mums had Alfred in mind when they chose Alfie.

OP posts:
Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:47

I agree Banned, but I do it often. I chose my own son's name to be future proofed but also solid and memorable. I remember a pregnant teacher struggling to choose a name because everything she liked reminded her of a kid she didn't like!

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DonutCone · 05/09/2017 20:51

MIL's sister is called 'Gilly' and honestly, it hurts me to say it out loud. She 60 odd. It's just so totally cringe to have such a little girls name on an adult. I would have imagined she would have reverted to Gill or Gillian at about 10.

Mamabear4180 · 05/09/2017 20:54

You are a name snob OP

Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 20:56

I know Mamabear. But I just couldn't bring myself to employ someone who shares a name popular with pets

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 05/09/2017 20:58

I must admit that when I posted earlier about Teddy Roosevelt, it didn't occur to me that someone called Teddy nowadays would just be called Teddy. I assumed it would be Edward or something...

toffee1000 · 05/09/2017 20:58

Oh FFS a person's name should not have any bearing on their competence at a job. Remind me not to apply at your company.

CrochetBelle · 05/09/2017 21:01

DonutCone My SIL is called Jilly, and she's a cunt Grin

Maybe instead of giving our children names we don't pick, so they are not judged on CVs, we should just concentrate on being - and bringing our children up to be - less judgemental.

Original poster
Happydoingitjusttheonce · 05/09/2017 21:04

It shouldn't toffee but when competition for jobs is so fierce, it only takes one thing to overlook a cv.

Treacle I think parents could massively help their kids by choosing the formal version of the name for use in later life, and using the informal version day to day if that's what they want

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Benedikte2 · 05/09/2017 21:04

I totally agree with you OP and I have expressed this opinion before myself but many don't agree. I think it is more considerate of the child to give them the full name, call them the diminutive ( if you want to) and giving the child the choice of what they wish to be known as in later life.

musicposy · 05/09/2017 21:06

My DD has a cutesy name with an ee sound and loves it; she's 18. We originally called her by a more formal version but we changed it by deed poll at her long term insistence when she was 12 and she's never regretted it.

We gave her the formal version for precisely the reason you describe - we felt it wouldn't suit if she wanted to be a barrister or accountant etc. But she's grown with the cutesy name and I think it suits her despite being technically an adult now. I'm sure once she's 50 all the other 50 year olds will have similar names too and it will sound like an old person name to the younger generation!

museumum · 05/09/2017 21:07

Still have no idea what a key wig is and Google not helping.