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AIBU?

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Original poster

Did I really give my child an unusual name?

197 replies

GameSetMatch · 08/09/2025 19:20

My DS1 who is 11years old and has just started high school has come home every day since starting upset with different children taking the mick out of his name! He’s been shoved and his chair kicked whilst being taunted because his name is ‘weird’ according to the children.

His name is …. Ewan, to me it’s just an ordinary name not popular but not out there or strange, is it??

I also would like opinions please on what to do, do I just let everything pan out and see if it settles because it’s only been four days or do I set my stall out with the teachers early? I’m leaning towards the wait and see option.

A bit of background is, he’s extremely intelligent but not socially aware as we think he is ND he was bullied in primary school but only the last year and it was never really delt with properly, with the teachers turning a blind eye to it. The bullying was verbal and physical ranging from a black eye to being made to sit in a puddle.

Any advice or opinions would be appreciated.

OP posts:
FioFioSILK · 08/09/2025 21:48

He's being bullied. If you'd called him Dave it would be the same. He's ND possibly and isn't able to stand up for himself or recognise how to cope. Teach him some coping skills. Or get him into a school where ND kids thrive. Definitely don't let it slide with he teachers. Does he like Art/science as he could help out there. Does he have a friend ?

AlwaysTheRenegade · 08/09/2025 21:53

Your poor son, I feel so sorry for him. Kids are bloody horrible sometimes.

The only thing I can think of is if you have a surname that sort of reads funnily, like "onion" or something. I went to school with someone called Ewan Onion, my dad thought it was the best name in the world haha. A different school someone called Chelsea Bunn.

Even then we never ever said anything, my dad would just chuckle in the car home because we were all primary school age. Nothing malicious or to the kids!I
Get onto the form teacher and head of year straight away.

Ablondiebutagoody · 08/09/2025 21:58

He needs to shove and kick back harder. Every single time. That's the problem, not his name.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/09/2025 21:59

Not weird. Both my dc have friends called Ewan and we’re nowhere near Scotlabd (sadly).

Luke Skywalker is played by Ewan McGregor!!

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 08/09/2025 22:05

Everybody is saying it's not weird which I completely agree with.

However since being on MN every thread that has a description of something not very nice has a large number of responses of people saying Ew!

It's a new word to me but wondering if this is something being picked up on

2025mustbebetter · 08/09/2025 22:08

Get in and tell the teachers straight away. He obviously has problems self advocating so you need to do it for him. Ask that he is sat away from specific children (it won't be everyone) and if they don't folllow up then keep contacting them.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 08/09/2025 22:11

No, it's a lovely name, poor kid.
I hope he's okay. I'd be tempted to move schools.

Windywuss · 08/09/2025 22:13

DS was bullied from the first week of y7. Also autistic.

My advice would be get to school for a meeting asap. Get a diagnosis asap. Ask school what their plan will be to stop the bullying.

Get a copy of the behaviour policy.

Note everything that happens.

If it doesn't improve very quickly, ask that they move his class.

Waterweight · 08/09/2025 22:18

Muffsies · 08/09/2025 20:13

Surely these kids have heard of Ewan McGregor, aka Obi Wan Kenobi?? I would have done anyway, sheesh! Kids these days!

Err. No their probably all under the age of 30/40 if there all at school

brunettemic · 08/09/2025 22:23

It’s a normal name, but probably not for kids now. People on here saying they have a friend called Ewan, work with a Ewan or went to uni with a Ewan perfectly illustrate that.

BigOldBlobsy · 08/09/2025 22:25

It doesn’t matter if the name is weird or rare or not ! If he’s being targeted then the target is him, not the name.

What are school saying about it? Is it the same peers each time and are they known to your DS from a previous school? How long has it been going on and in any other contexts (online for example). Gather all the info and speak to tutor /DSL or HoY about it, you will possibly have to keep following it up to make sure it’s taken seriously.

as an aside…I’ve never understood this about Mumsnet, the idea that a ‘normal’ name will prevent bullying or social disaster.
I have a very unusual name and never got bullied or any issues at all, have a friend with a very normal name and she had all sorts said to her. Kids will find anything!

Crazybigtoe · 08/09/2025 22:26

Yes yes speak to the school etc but I firmly believe that doing so can sometimes, if not handled appropriately, make him more of a target. I would be monitoring closely and any persistent whiff and I would be taking him out...

But, in the interim....

Does Ewan have an older sibling or a slightly younger sibling? I ask as they can be helpful in these situations. I suggest role play for what to retort/ say/ do / act in certain scenarios to that group of kids. He needs to speak the same language / phrases etc as kids his own age- which is why parents helping here sometimes does not work.

If they started to get physical, I would tell him to walk away once, but if they do it again, push them back. I'm sure I'm going to get a stream of people to say that's wrong, and it is if you aren't the target of bullies, but I think if you are, it's a decent strategy.

Encourage him to 'find his people' join clubs- ones he likes- to meet other kids.

In the meantime, to help him with self esteem, maintain friendships outside of school.

Toooldtopretend · 08/09/2025 22:31

It’s a lovely name. A great mix of not being common but also being a known name. Out of interest, what are the kids called that are giving him a tough time?!

readingmakesmehappy · 08/09/2025 22:36

Where is the school? If a kid was being teased for a non British name you can bet the school would be on it like a ton of bricks, so don’t let an English school get away with tolerating a kid being bullied for a Scottish name

Moonlightdust · 08/09/2025 22:47

That’s the name of one of my DS’s close friends - I have never thought of it being unusual or weird at all!

TicklishMintDuck · 08/09/2025 22:51

I’ve taught a few Ewans and it’s a standard name! I’d make contact with the school and see if they can stamp this bullying out.

redfairy · 08/09/2025 22:54

It's bullying and tormentors will find any excuse to pick on another child.My DD was being picked on for only eating cheese and crackers at lunchtime. When I queried what the bully was eating...it was tongue sandwiches! 🤢 So it doesn't matter if your son's name was John or Moonbeam- no excuse for bullying

samplesalequeen · 08/09/2025 22:56

Unless your surname is Kerr then it’s completely normal

i know a Ewan Kerr btw.

how his parents didn’t spot the blindingly obvious word in the middle of his name ill never know

MotherJessAndKittens · 08/09/2025 23:04

Ewan is a normal name to me but I’m Scottish. Agree with Stranger. Report and keep reporting. Tell your child to ignore and walk away and to tell a support teacher. Can you enrol in a better school?

HeyThereDelila · 08/09/2025 23:07

Totally normal name.

But school must act immediately on the bullying: report it and don’t let them fob you off.

blubberball · 08/09/2025 23:08

I think the bullying needs to be reported to the school and nipped in the budd. Your ds has a lovely name 💐

Morningsleepin · 08/09/2025 23:10

Sounds like a horrible school. I'd pull him out

zanahoria · 08/09/2025 23:10

JustFish · 08/09/2025 19:24

It's not exactly Balonz, is it?
Ewan is a lovely name

Hey, that's my name!

Zoono · 08/09/2025 23:11

It's not overly popular but I've met younger and older ewans and it's a nice name. In my unfortunate experience bullies will target anyone who is slightly different. You could have called your son any other name and he would still be bullied by frankly, horrible kids. If the school won't help your son, you need to remove him from the school.

ChelseaDetective · 08/09/2025 23:24

NuffSaidSam · 08/09/2025 19:28

Ewan is a perfectly normal name, but anything is strange to kids who haven't heard it before. I went to school with a boy called William who got bullied because everyone thought it was posh!

I would speak to the teachers immediately. Don't let it fester. It's unacceptable and they need to be pulled up immediately.

At my school (in the 1980’s) it was a boy called Nigel who was bullied for having a ‘posh’ name.

Kids will always find something to bully someone ‘for’ but the reality is they don’t need a reason. Ewan is a beautiful, strong, Scottish name I’d give a son of mine any day of the week.

Contact the school, OP, they should be dealing with this decisively.