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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:
AutumnalLight · 09/09/2025 06:49

mumofoneAloneandwell · 08/09/2025 19:22

No, ewan is not a weird name. Its a proud Scottish name, right?

Pull him out of school until the fucking bullying stops though 😡😡

Go round to their parents houses and shame them!

Are you in a rough area? I'd pull the culture card to the teachers re the Scottish name

Edited

Jeesus

AutumnalLight · 09/09/2025 06:52

SweetnsourNZ · 09/09/2025 06:10

Nothing wrong with Ewan. And very close to Owen so should get weird vibes. I think these children are just bullies and need to be dealt with now before your son gets hurt. Also check any social media he has. I have a feeling this carried on during the summer holidays so that set up the new year.

What do you mean should get weird vibes?!

autienotnaughty · 09/09/2025 06:52

The name is just an excuse he’s being targeted. I’d speak to school immediately and expect it to be dealt with I’d also start looking at other schools.

Doone22 · 09/09/2025 06:54

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.

It's not his name, if it wasn't that they'd find something else to pick on. They're just bullies and he is presenting as a classic victim.
I'd teach him some strategies for dealing with it but not being a victim ever I don't know what to suggest.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 09/09/2025 07:04

I think I voted the wrong way because the poll wasn’t clear. I’m a teacher, there are plenty of Ewans about, just not as many as there are Jacks and Georges. It’s not the name that’s the problem. They’re targeting because they perceive him as an easy target. If it wasn’t his name they’d come up with something else.

Oldglasses · 09/09/2025 07:04

Def not a weird name but there weren’t any in DCs’ schools.
It’s probably more his ND and lack of social awareness and the bullies are picking up on that.
The slightly uncommon name is just easy for them to target. .

Manthide · 09/09/2025 07:51

My ds sounds similar to your ds except mine does have an unusual name (after non English grandfather). He was bullied at primary school so we decided to take him private. He passed the entrance tests to 2 academically selective schools and was offered a full bursary at each one. He chose the all boys one and it was the making of him. He is ND and the school were so good with him. There were a couple of issues with the other boys in prep school but it was quickly nipped in the bud.

Doingmybest12 · 09/09/2025 08:01

It's not a weird name at all. I guess it's a name you can pathetically make something of if you want to and they've decided they want to based on who knows what. Nip it in the bud by talking to his teacher. What does your son say they are commenting on, are they using his name to bully?

Greyhound98 · 09/09/2025 08:05

This crap needs nipping in the bud or it’s going to be a long 5 years for him.
His name is perfectly mainstream but these little shits don’t need an excuse to make other kids lives miserable. Get it stamped on.

raininginlanzarote · 09/09/2025 08:12

QueenClinomania · 08/09/2025 19:24

Not at all. Its a perfectly normal name.

He's not being bullied because of his name.

He's being bullied because he's different and the bullies are little shits.

They'd use any excuse they could. His name is just their excuse of choice.

The school need to come down on them like a tonne of bricks.

You need to go in there and start talking about their duty of care.

This.

see the thread about why were you bullied at school. Huge number because of their name.

MsMiniver · 09/09/2025 08:21

This is nothing to do with a name, this is about bullying. I would take it up with the school immediately.

Tinkerbel64 · 09/09/2025 08:33

Don't leave this go any further contact the school now, make an appointment to get this stopped! Bullying has serious impacts on mental emotional & physical health, if you get no satisfaction from the school please take it to the highest level you can! Do not leave your child suffer one more day

mumofoneAloneandwell · 09/09/2025 09:19

AutumnalLight · 09/09/2025 06:49

Jeesus

Show quote history

??

Original poster
GameSetMatch · 09/09/2025 09:35

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?!

thank you everyone, feel a little bit better knowing it’s not a ‘weird’ name. I was pretty sure it wasn’t.

Ewan’s on the waitlist for an appointment for a diagnosis.

The kids being nasty are called, Jensen, Ted and he couldn’t remember the others names.

OP posts:
Original poster
GameSetMatch · 09/09/2025 09:36

Doingmybest12 · 09/09/2025 08:01

It's not a weird name at all. I guess it's a name you can pathetically make something of if you want to and they've decided they want to based on who knows what. Nip it in the bud by talking to his teacher. What does your son say they are commenting on, are they using his name to bully?

Yes, it’s his name they are taking the mick out of!

OP posts:
SweetnsourNZ · 09/09/2025 09:43

diddl · 08/09/2025 19:52

ranging from a black eye to being made to sit in a puddle.

That is horrific.

That's not only bullying, it's downright assault.

SweetnsourNZ · 09/09/2025 09:58

AutumnalLight · 09/09/2025 06:52

What do you mean should get weird vibes?!

Show quote history

I meant shouldn't. I did write that in the next post below but you may have been too quick to see it. Sorry, bad proofreading on my part.

sassyduck · 09/09/2025 13:38

The name is just an excuse for bullying. You need to be complaining to school whenever any happens to your DS. I know from experience, that if you constantly message the school, they will act on it to stop you from constantly contacting them!

MrsWembley · 09/09/2025 19:43

Ewan is a lovely name. A friend of mine has a son with the same name, nowhere near Scotland, and I thought nothing except, how lovely to hear something a bit different.

MrsWembley · 09/09/2025 19:44

Especially when I think of how common my DS's name is!!😂

birdglasspen · 09/09/2025 19:47

It’s a nice name I have a 13 year old
relative with the same name. Kids will pick at anything.

Phoenixfire1988 · 09/09/2025 21:16

Ewan isn't an odd name I'd get on about the bullying immediately he's been there 4 bloody days and starting secondary is hard enough already without some little shits making it worse

SweetnsourNZ · 10/09/2025 07:27

AutumnalLight · 09/09/2025 06:52

What do you mean should get weird vibes?!

Show quote history

I meant shouldn't, sorry.

lkjhgfdsa · 10/09/2025 07:54

After years of working in a few different schools I've come to the conclusion that the parents who get results for their kids are the ones that make life difficult for the school. They might moan about difficult parents but it does seem to make them act.

I would contact the school in writing (email) and follow up with a phonecall. They should have told you who your point of contact is for issues. Maybe head of year, maybe a pastoral lead. If he's waiting assessment for ND then I'd copy in the SENCO and maybe his form tutor too.

There should be a bullying policy on the school website. Make yourself familiar with that.

Honestly, I'd give them a chance to resolve it but I would also be considering what you can do if they don't deal with it effectively. Some schools are just hell holes and you may need to pull him out.

I know a child who had a managed move to another school to get away from bullying. That's something that is normally used to move children with challenging behaviour. There are options for them to help him move if it comes to it. Don't just accept it if they say it isn't possible.

I think you have to be prepared to go into battle.

hadenoughpassthewine · 10/09/2025 13:25

I have a child named Euan, nothing unusual to me about it and I live in the south. If anything, it’s commented on what a lovely name it is. I think this is a case of the kids just being a-holes and finding anything to pick on your son for