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Baby names

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

A Baby Called Dave...

72 replies

Rodgerina · 08/08/2012 17:57

My DH is determined that should our planned child end up a boy it must be called David James Walker.
I have several problems with this:

  1. I'm pretty sure David James is/was a goalkeeper and I don't want to look as though I'm in the habit of gestating a tiny human for the best part of a year and then ruining all that hard work by naming him after a footballer.
  2. I lived next door to a David Walker growing up and he was a weird old man who buried his dead dog under a rockery in the front lawn.
  3. My family is from South Manchester and "Baby David" is too close to actually becoming the Royle Family for comfort.
  4. HE WILL END UP BEING CALLED DAVE. He will drive a white van, drink cheap lager and read The Sun. I literally cannot imagine anyone addressing him in anything other than an Only Fools and Horses "Awright Dave" cockney accent. He will have to move to Essex, which I would not enjoy.

However, DH is insistent. I wouldn't mind if it was a family name, or some deep meaningful connection with the name David, but it isn't. When he was at school, he had a fight with a boy called David, and (FRUITLOOP ALERT) the upshot was that DH ended up saying he would call his son David to prove a point that the David with whom he was fighting was a [swearword]. I have no idea how the logic for this works, but that's my husband for you.
Consequently he says that he has "always imagined" that his son would be called David.

My question is, should I have veto rights over this? Are my reasons for not wanting to give birth to a Dave any better than his for wanting a David? I personally think that the casting vote should belong to the one who has to push it out of their vagina, but heigh ho.

This dilemma is holding up proceedings, if you know what I mean... Need to fix this because I'm pretty sure that my window of natural fertility won't stretch to the day when they can guarantee a girl!

OP posts:
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GaryTankCommander · 08/08/2012 18:08

I'm quite displeased with comment 4 in particular. Names do not define us! Have you forgotten the Prime Minister of this country is known as Dave to his friends?

David James was a footballer yes... England's goalkeeper at one point.

I think David is a nice classic name. Whatever you choose to call your child someone will shorten or lengthen it and that is out of your control.

HappyHippyChick · 08/08/2012 18:09

Are you pregnant?

Labootin · 08/08/2012 18:13

FFs make sure you don't have a c section for this mythical child.

The naming rights are transfered automatically to the father (it's in the small print on the consent form)

HTH

VolAuVent · 08/08/2012 18:15

You should be choosing a name you both like, together. Neither of you should insist on a particular name, it's not fair on the other parent. If you don't like David then you keep looking until you find something both of you can agree on.

If your DH likes James then would you consider James as a first name? (It's pretty overused as a middle name TBH because it "goes with anything")

MrGeresHamster · 08/08/2012 18:17

I stopped reading your OP pretty quickly as you appear to be ranting. If you don't like the name don't use it. There is no reason to be outrageously judgemental about do much stuff.... do you normally read the Daily Mail.

...and FFS Essex is a beautiful place. Have a Biscuit

quitcomplaining · 08/08/2012 18:21

You have obviously never been to EssexAngry

amck5700 · 08/08/2012 18:45

I think David is a lovely, classic name. If the middle name is to be James then you can always call him DJ .

Flossbert · 08/08/2012 18:49

If it helps, everyone that I know called Dave (and there are many) I address in the manner of that character from the League of Gentlemen: "Hey Daaaaaave".

Nowt wrong with a David - good strong Hebrew name. But your DH's reasoning is bonkers. As is yours. Grin

MammaTonic · 08/08/2012 18:57

Oooooh, now, David has a beautiful beautiful meaning, OP: it's a Welsh name, meaning beloved. However, when expecting DD2 (before our 20wk scan!) David was a name I considered ...

For about a minute. Before it dawned on me that my potential little boy would probably be called Dave.

It's a major off-putter.

I mean, there were about 15 men at our wedding called Dave at out wedding.

What about alternative names that mean 'beloved'? That's a good compromise, IMO :)

Best of luck,

MammaT

MammaTonic · 08/08/2012 19:01

Whoops, "at our wedding" a bit overdone there! It may be the phone; it could be the red wine Grin

MT

amck5700 · 08/08/2012 19:04

...in scotland it would be either left as David or replaced with Davie - we don't do Dave up here :)

RillaBlythe · 08/08/2012 19:04

I like David, & Davie.

Are you actually pregnant? You sound very impassioned.

amck5700 · 08/08/2012 19:04

.....or sometimes called Peas, as in Davie = Peas and Gravy!!

MammaTonic · 08/08/2012 19:05

I've just read your whole thread - are you serious? The bit about your DH and the fight? Hmmmmm .....

MT

MarjorieAntrobus · 08/08/2012 19:08

Blimey, OP, I do believe you consider David to be a trifle 'common'. Confused

It isn't.

Anyway, it seems you and your DH both view the name a little strangely so imvho you should try to find another one that you agree on.

Gunznroses · 08/08/2012 19:09

If its a girl, dh can name her "Davida", so girl Dave Grin

amck5700 · 08/08/2012 19:11

or davina.

Labootin · 08/08/2012 19:19

Have you considered Roger?

BikeRaceRunningRaceNoSkiing · 08/08/2012 19:19

Obviously the best thing to do is to choose a name that you both like, but I do think that your dislike of David us a bit extreme and narrow minded. I know several Davids but no Daves.

Labootin · 08/08/2012 19:20

it's the posh Rodger.

CarriMarie · 08/08/2012 20:09

Could you compromise and call him James David, sounds better to me.

cakeismysaviour · 08/08/2012 20:10

I disagree with your opinions on the name, but at the end of the day this baby would be both of yours and your DH has no business insisting on any name that you do not also like.

You will have to compromise.

Would you both be happy with using David as a middle name?

bigkidsdidit · 08/08/2012 20:13

I know a baby Dave (Dave not David).

It makes me giggle. It is such an un baby name. It is a 50 year old man's name!

Gunznroses · 08/08/2012 20:18

imagine calling "Dave!" and a 2ft toddler waddles towards out to meet you Grin

whatdoyoucallaproblemlike · 08/08/2012 20:30

David and James are beautiful names, you need to get over yourself.