Page 3 | to think kids don't get bullied for their names these days

FunnysInLaJardin · 2022-03-11T21:56:07+00:00

I got bullied in the 80's for my unusual name. My DC have unusual names and say they have never been bullied or laughed at for their names. We live in a part of the country where there are lots of Eastern Europeans, Portuguese and folk from Madeira and so the names of the kids mates are really diverse. I do think we have left the bad old days behind and a persons name is just that with minimal connotations. Obvs there will still be the old class divide between the British, but in general I don't think kids names lead to bullying in the way the used to. And honestly hurrah for that!

Ducksurprise · 12/03/2022 07:20

@gerispringer

Is teasing now the same as bullying? Plus - what’s wrong with Bruno? I’m not in touch with popular culture.

We don't talk about Bruno

thepeopleversuswork · 12/03/2022 08:04

Probably in large part depends where you are as well? In London or Manchester you would be far less likely to be teased because you have got a funny sounding name.

If you’re somewhere quite rural where immigrants are still a talking point it’s much more likely that you would.

Ff10n · 12/03/2022 08:13

I was thinking this when I read a thread on unusual names the other way (Apricot, Ember etc). There is such diversity in naming here in London I think it would be pretty unusual for someone to get teased.
The only kids I can think of in twenty years of parenting who've changed their names have been ones who were named abroad and found their names really didn't work in English.

Jedsnewstar · 12/03/2022 08:16

I don’t see the point of this post.

You are just being happy less kids are bullied for the reasons you were. Kids are still bullied, what kids are bullied for changes all the time. It always has done depending on what’s popular/not in each generation.

JaninaDuszejko · 12/03/2022 08:23

Plus - what’s wrong with Bruno?

The current Disney cartoon Encanto has a song called 'We don't talk about Bruno' which is very popular like now. I suppose it's the opposite of DD2 being furious with me as a small child when she discovered we considered calling her Elsa but didn't, she was obsessed with Frozen back then.

VelvetChairGirl · 12/03/2022 09:05

I live in london and the boys definitely take the piss out of names and appearance, my kid gets called a nerd for wearing glasses and peter from family guy etc.

and they deliberately say his name wrong to annoy him, theres always a few kids that do it and there always will be.

liveforsummer · 12/03/2022 09:09

My dc go to a very diverse city primary and secondary. There's such a wide variation of names from all over the world that I would have never heard at their ages but it's just the norm for them. Add in all the new British 'made up' names, Nevaeh and the likes, which there actually isn't that many of here but they still hear over SM etc, unless it's totally embarrassing like fanny or rhymes with something particularly funny or rude then I doubt names are going to be an issue these days.

liveforsummer · 12/03/2022 09:10

@Ionlydomassiveones

The teachers and TAs all have a good old laugh when they get the new intake lists in the summer trust me. But kids don’t know any different so will just accept it, even if you name your kid Bovril or Toilet (nod to Horrible Histories there - apparently even the vile Victorians wanted yoounique names).

I'm a TA, I'm yet to laugh at anyone name

liveforsummer · 12/03/2022 09:12

Actually I laughed at a new colleagues surname the other day but it is particularly amusing. Can't say because it's extremely outing I imagine but never at a kids name.

Soubriquet · 12/03/2022 09:13

I guess it depends on how bad the name is

I can still see Fanny’s and Dick’s having their names laughed at

liveforsummer · 12/03/2022 09:16

@noplayonasunday

Yabu. Totally. Can you for one minute imagine having called your daughter Alexa. Before the product was invented. My daughter lives with it. Every. Single. Day. When she was in school that is. She doesn’t go any more. Every person on this thread who have stated that names aren’t a bullying thing any more are living in a fantasy world.

We have a couple of Alexas. They've never been bullied but they do get the comments that are meant in a jokey not bullying way. They are too young to care atm but I imagine it will be annoying as they get older. If it's so bad they can't even go to school though can't you change it a little? Loads of variations of alexa.

Superduperpartypooper · 12/03/2022 09:21

Both my children have been picked on in school for their surname. This is in a diverse school in a city. The positive comment I would make is the school made it clear this was absolutely unacceptable and were very tough on the kids concerned. So I’m sorry but if you think we are fully past that kind of thing I think you are wrong.

Parfait · 12/03/2022 09:22

@malificent7

I didn't call dd Venus as it rhymes with penis even though i love the name. I know what kids are like.

I know an adult who makes you say it Vee-nouss

Gowithme · 12/03/2022 09:22

It's bizarre to me that people think that because they don't know anyone bullied for their name then children must not be bullied for their names at all anywhere. I don't know anyone bullied for being black - does that mean it doesn't happen? If you're being bullied then the bully will pick on anything especially if it's something that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Parfait · 12/03/2022 09:27

40 years ago at my school there were 3 or 4 proper boho familes with unusual kids names. Rural community. People didn't laugh or tease, but it was a sort of talking point - almost separating their kids out from the herds or Sarahs, Marks and Carols.

Chasingaftermidnight · 12/03/2022 09:35

@PourSomeLove

It’s not that kids get badly bullied due to names, but they do have to deal with small comments often. The comments are not necessarily even meant negatively but to have your name commented on so often is really annoying for them.

I agree with this. I was never bullied for my name as such but I’ve endured a childhood full of comments and jokes and it does get really fucking annoying.

RobertaFirmino · 12/03/2022 09:37

@gerispringer

Is teasing now the same as bullying? Plus - what’s wrong with Bruno? I’m not in touch with popular culture.

I expect it all boils down to how the subject of the teasing feels. Regardless of intent, if the child in question is made to feel upset or uncomfortable then I'd say it is bullying.

There's a lot of denial here. The playground can be the cruellest judge of all. Comments made there can affect a person for the rest of their lives.

Flaskfan · 12/03/2022 09:41

Try teaching a Christmas Carol.

Scrooge's sister is called Little Fan.

Once the kids have got over that, we learn his mate was called Dick.

"Miss, are we allowed to say that?"

gogohm · 12/03/2022 09:42

It's not as bad as years ago but there is some - seems to be more nuanced now. Also it seemed to be the playground mums who did the gossiping and teasing about names though some don't help their poor kids - yes a Chardonnay and Merlot twins! And the mum looked like and spoke like she was straight out of The only way is Essex (I don't mean accent I mean expressions). Kids couldn't care less though (infants)

VelvetChairGirl · 12/03/2022 09:44

@liveforsummer

My dc go to a very diverse city primary and secondary. There's such a wide variation of names from all over the world that I would have never heard at their ages but it's just the norm for them. Add in all the new British 'made up' names, Nevaeh and the likes, which there actually isn't that many of here but they still hear over SM etc, unless it's totally embarrassing like fanny or rhymes with something particularly funny or rude then I doubt names are going to be an issue these days.

how do you know they are made up? I have spent my entire life being accused by some idiots of having a made up name, just because my name fell out of popularity over 100 years ago, doesn't make it made up.

the male version of my name is still very common.

Someonemustknowtheanswer · 12/03/2022 09:53

I work in a school. They most definitely do.

melonhead · 12/03/2022 09:59

Missing the point I know. But what's wrong with Bruno?!

Sportslady44 · 12/03/2022 10:19

Friend just called her daughter Nelly. My first thought was Nelly the elephant and smelly nelly. No idea if I'm right or not it's not a name I would choose.

Aworldofmyown · 12/03/2022 10:28

@Violetmo0n

I agree. Along with wearing glasses and ginger hair. It was horrendous for people when I was at school, it's completely different now thankfully.

My daughter has red hair; it is definitely used as a focus to be unkind to her. I was shocked it's still the case, but kids will use whatever is slightly different to pick on, unfortunately.

liveforsummer · 12/03/2022 10:32

how do you know they are made up? I have spent my entire life being accused by some idiots of having a made up name, just because my name fell out of popularity over 100 years ago, doesn't make it made up.

Can you let me know at what point in history Nevaeh or Mykennzee were last in fashion? As it's only in the last few years I've ever heard of such.

All the dc at my school are obsessed with Bruno. Anyone with that name would be a full scale celeb atm