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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To call my baby

125 replies

NameDilema1 · 19/07/2023 16:44

Horace? It was my dear grandads name and I would love to honour him by naming my DS after him. Nobody has been rude about the name so far but I can tell people aren’t keen. My thinking is it can be nicknamed to Harry?

OP posts:
Notajollyholly · 19/07/2023 17:27

It's a proper name, I knew one who was my bfs father his mates called him Mac because that was his surname but Ace was mentioned, and nothing wrong with Horry if Harry is OK?

Thoughtful2355 · 19/07/2023 17:28

Personally i couldnt do it to him.

ActDottie · 19/07/2023 17:30

Go for it! At least it’s an actual name unlike some of the things kids are called now days

loislovesstewie · 19/07/2023 17:30

It horrid! Sorry. My dear old dad had a really unusual name, I loved him dearly but there is no way on earth that I would have saddled a child with that name. He didn't use the name because he hated it too!

FriedasCarLoad · 19/07/2023 17:31

A divisive name but I prefer it to plenty more common ones!

And Harry is quite some distance from Henry, which it's traditionally short for, so I don't see why it can't be used for Horace as well.

TheOrigRights · 19/07/2023 17:33

VeridicalVagabond · 19/07/2023 17:25

This is a stupid thing to say. I know someone called Candida. She's absolutely lovely, I still think it's a fuck ugly name and would judge anyone giving it to a little girl.

Show quote history

Thanks 😕
Candida is also a yeast infection common in the vagina. It's use as a name is somewhat more questionable than Horace.

BlairWaldorfOG · 19/07/2023 17:34

The main thing is that you like it OP, it isn't an offence name or anything with ridiculous spelling so you do you!

Daphnis156 · 19/07/2023 17:34

He'd be "Horrible Horace" "Horror" "Hor" "Doris" and much much more.
It may be an old name, used in your family, but that's no reason to inflict it on a modern child.

VisionsOfSplendour · 19/07/2023 17:35

TheKeatingFive · 19/07/2023 17:00

It's your baby. Do what you want.

Do what you want but if for some reason you can't make decisions at least post in the baby names topic.

StopStartStop · 19/07/2023 17:35

Horace is fine.
Horatio if you want a bit more pretention.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 19/07/2023 17:36

Hmmm. Obviously you can call a baby whatever you want. But remember that child will go to school and horrible Horace has a good playground ring to it.

id use it as a middle name and pick something a bit less controversial for his first name.

IfItAintBrokeBreakIt · 19/07/2023 17:36

I don’t think he’d thank you for it. Sorry.

PercyPigInAWig · 19/07/2023 17:37

I've honoured my grandparents by telling my DC all about them and having their photos up in the house. Lots of people expected that I would use DGM's (quite lovely and classic) name either as a first or middle name when I had DD1 but I wanted her to have her own name.

Do you have a partner and if so what do they think of Horace?

Georgyporky · 19/07/2023 17:42

My DS was at school with a Horrid !

Hankunamatata · 19/07/2023 17:48

Only thing that strikes me is that it sounds quite a bit like whore

TheIsleOfTheLost · 19/07/2023 17:49

It's not due a revival. Leave it with the Keith's, Garry's and Nigels. Henry Horace would be much better of you want to nickname Harry.

As a Terry Pratchett reader, it makes me think of a sentient wheel of cheese.

CornedBeef451 · 19/07/2023 17:50

I'm surprised but I like it!

Your baby, do what you want.

Iwishmymumwouldbemymum · 19/07/2023 17:52

I love it. Do you like it apart from the honouring element? If yes then lose it. Opinions were wildly divided on my child's name but now it's so so so perfect for her.

Plymsoul · 19/07/2023 17:52

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 19/07/2023 17:36

Hmmm. Obviously you can call a baby whatever you want. But remember that child will go to school and horrible Horace has a good playground ring to it.

id use it as a middle name and pick something a bit less controversial for his first name.

Would you say the same to someone who wants to call their baby Henry? I know millions of them but none that get called horrid Henry.

DDivaStar · 19/07/2023 17:53

Obviously you can call your baby whatever you like and honouring a relative is lovely.

However I don't see the point in choosing a name which you already think you and your son will change to a completely different 'nickname'. Idomt really see that as honouring your relative.

I would use it as a second name.

NannyGythaOgg · 19/07/2023 17:54

My dad was Horace. He'd be 103 if he was still alive.

Mum called him Horace, everyone else called him Harry. (So Harry is definitely used). Once they were retired Mum got used to calling him Harry too.

PickledMuffin · 19/07/2023 17:54

I like it! What an honour to your father also ❤️

CallMeDiaz · 19/07/2023 17:55

I would only be thoroughly pissed off if my parents named me after someone I'd never met. Not a nice name either!

I don't get it as a tradition.

useitorlose · 19/07/2023 17:55

It was my granddad's name too. Grandma was called Matilda, which has come back into fashion. I think he was born around 1908.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 19/07/2023 17:56

Brilliant bake and very thoughtful.