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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Do other adults decide whether children pick on other children over their name?

102 replies

LilQueenie · 29/01/2011 17:52

We chose our baby names well before hormones took over and really thought it through. By this I mean a year before i conceived. There is one name which is highly unusual but the first girl is getting a fairly commonish name. However several of my partners co workers have said its not fair on her! Am I right in thinking that if an adult starts on about a name then its usually only then the children think its ok to bully a child? Shes not even born yet and I feel like telling them to fuck off. Willow Green is in our opinion a rather normal name. Opinions please.

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GnomeDePlume · 29/01/2011 18:28

I honestly dont think that the name will cause a child to be picked on by others. Some children get picked on and it doesnt really matter what they are called, the bullies will find something to use as a handle.

Call your DC what you want and teach her to deal with bullies whether they pick on her or others.

Chandon · 29/01/2011 18:28

There are a fair few unusual names in our primary (Precious, Tarquin, Makenzy, Sid (short for Sidharta), Mini (no, not Minnie, Mini like the car) and a Romano to name a few that spring to mind.

Unusual names are more "usual" now.

Nobody gets bullied for their name, maybe that starts in Secondary school???

choose what you like, but don't get snooty if people make comments is my advice.

FWIW, I LONGED to have a "normal" name, mine is very unusual, and like most kids up to the age of 18, I just wanted to blend in and be "normal". I still don't like it, but accept it is my given name. I did get teased, but only when I was around 14.

Original poster
LilQueenie · 29/01/2011 18:29

Thank you very fucking much soupdragon. I am having a girl and she is also very much wanted as I was told i couldnt have kids.So dont tell me you hope I only have boys. Im lucky to have her.

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cat64 · 29/01/2011 18:35

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TheSecondComing · 29/01/2011 18:37

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Megglevache · 29/01/2011 18:51

I really like it. My dd's best friend is called Willow, we have loads of them here. GrinI like really traditional names and really whacky ones so don't ask me- the only thing that isn't my bag is hypens in names...

We have some really unusual names at my dd's nursery and IIRC there were some corkers.

kerala · 29/01/2011 18:57

Personally find names like Willow or Grace quite risky as there is no way of knowing what sort of person your DD will be. There was a Willow at school who was rather dumpy and her name cruelly made the point that she was anything but Willowy. Yes people did snigger it was mean and would not want to set a child up for that. But thats just my opinion dont understand why you are getting so furious - I was told on here that my DD2s name sounded like a boat Grin.

AllieW · 29/01/2011 19:08

It is possible with a combination like that that she will get teased. Sometimes teasing is a result of adult comments (I know this from experience because I was bullied at primary school because the kids' parents didn't like my Dad) and sometimes it isn't. However, Willow will have the option of changing both her first name & her surname if she so wishes.

IF she gets teased and wishes to change her name then I hope you will let her, regardless of how much you like the name. My Mum really liked my name (obviously), but I couldn't bear it and it was only after she died that I felt able to change it.

AllieW · 29/01/2011 19:09

Sorry, meant to add, she would have the option of changing her surname at marriage rather than suggesting she ought to change that by Deed Poll!

Original poster
LilQueenie · 29/01/2011 19:17

ok I dont mean to be off the handle with comments you are all entitled to opinions I just felt some were more rude and out of line than others. AllieW she will have the option of using her middle name as a child if she wishes. DH and I thought all that through too.

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Megglevache · 29/01/2011 19:20

Yes LilQueenie unless you use Moon Crust Warble as her middle names.

Psssst just call her what you like and don't ask for people's opinions- that's what I did.

pinkhebe · 29/01/2011 19:20

our surname is Heath, we found that all plant/flower names sounded like a place. Steer clear is my advice

TheSecondComing · 29/01/2011 20:24

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Hatterbox · 29/01/2011 20:30

Willow Green is a name I'd expect to see on a paint colour chart.

onimolap · 29/01/2011 20:33

It's also a district of Preston, a care home in Darlington, the name of a number of other businesses, and a paint colour for both Volvo and Land Rover.

You sound very sure of your choice, so I hope it goes well, despite the obvious downsides.

And you could have a field day with sibling names: Emerald, Viridian, Moss, Sage, Jade, etc

Rainydaze · 29/01/2011 20:40

Why put your DD through a potentially embarrassing situation? You fear that she may be bullied because of the name, so why do it? There are squillions of other names to choose from!

OK, you're not interested in my opinion, but I think calling a child Willow Green is really mean.

usedtobeyoung · 29/01/2011 20:43

I think its a pretty name. Where i live there are such a variety of names, I don't think anyone would bat an eyelid at that.
Just asked my 12 year old and he agreed.

MrsvWoolf · 29/01/2011 21:52

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Firawla · 29/01/2011 21:56

I don't think its too bad, it may be a bit like a "phrase" but atleast its not something with a negative meaning, there is nothing negative about a green willow tree or anything along those lines so should be fine. It's quite a pretty combination actually. I wouldnt worry too much about teasing with that name

maryz · 29/01/2011 22:22

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mathanxiety · 29/01/2011 23:28

In my observation, it's children who get hot under the collar when someone first makes a remark about a name or some other personal characteristic that get teased more - and as children learn their social skills from their parents, be careful to cultivate an air of insouciance and to try to impart it as a defence against teasing and a model of how to respond. There's more to teasing avoidance than just that, but it's a start, (I also feel that parents who expect their children to be teased and are all primed and ready for it have children who are teased; there's more to it than that though).

FWIW, I think it's a lovely name.

SoupDragon · 30/01/2011 10:42

I spent the first 29 years of my life living with a ridiculous name combination. I know what I am taking about.

You asked for opinions, I gave mine which is based on personal experience. I am sorry it is not what you wanted to hear.

tammytoby · 30/01/2011 11:06

Personally I don't think Willow Green is any more teaseworthy than most of the names in my ds's primary class (e.g. Will -> Willy,
Ravi -> Ravioli to name just two examples that I hear on the playground). More importantly, children will tease a child that is 'teasable' regardless of their name (not because of their name), so my advice is 1) give your child lots of confidence and 2) teach our childrenn to be more open minded and tolerant about differences.

usualsuspect · 30/01/2011 11:11

My ds went to school with kids with all kinds of names ...very multicultural comp,nobody took the piss out of names,its the parents that have the problem with names especially on MN , not the kids

McHobbes · 30/01/2011 11:18

I think Willow Green is ok. I can see where the others are coming from though.

Lil Queenie - I think you should perhaps not choose the name as you are already getting a bit aggro and defensive over it, and the baby isn't even here yet. It IS a noteable name, and if the girl is to come up against any bullying at all ever, the idiots WILL go for her name.

I like it, I think it's quite nice...but it won't be 'too bad' for any of us....it will be your daughter that is targeted.