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Baby names

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

If we call our son Raven will he get beaten up?

53 replies

Ipp3 · 02/12/2012 16:32

We cannot agree on a boy's name. My husband has suggested Raven. My first response was ' Why on earth are you suggesting that? We have already agreed not to send him to a Steiner school!'. But Dh said it is actually an old English name and not a hippy name. I admit I quite like it but think this is a theoretical like and that I am imagining our son called Raven as the dark, brooding, but deeply charismatic, hero of some gothic teenage flick. When I imagine our son called Raven in the real world I see him being chased around the playground by a group of other boys flapping their arms up and down and shouting 'Caw! Caw!' What do you think? I am not so much asking if you like the name, I have seen enough mumsnet discussions to know how deeply divisive names are, just asking if you think life will be harder being a boy named Raven.......

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Yika · 02/12/2012 20:02

Sounds masculine enough to me. I personally wouldn't though there are so many unusual names about I assume there's less teasing - and even very innocuous, ordinary names can be used to tease if children are determines enough.

Ipp3 · 02/12/2012 21:34

Thanks everyone! Especial thanks to racing heart for the list of old English boys names and to whirligig for the suggestion of Wilf. I quite like that! Will bat it around , it is a definite contender! And Nagoo, I like Mortimer too. I suggested Giles Mortimer but husband was dead against it!

OP posts:
SantasBitch · 02/12/2012 21:40

Raven mad...

CheeseStrawWars · 02/12/2012 21:43

Someone's already linked to the TV series "That's So Raven", she is the only Raven I know of.

Raven will get nn of Ray, surely? If you're happy with that nn, what about something like Rafe/Ralph (pron rayff, as in Ralph Fiennes)?

Narrowboat · 02/12/2012 21:47

how about Parker? More male, low key and quietly different.

Raven is a bit try hard

OwedToAutumn · 02/12/2012 21:49

I know a Raven.

He's a musician, from a family of musicians.

Viviennemary · 02/12/2012 21:51

It's a ridiculous name. Please don't even think about it.

busymummy3 · 02/12/2012 21:53

What Parker as in Lady Penelope's chauffeur ? ThunderBirds are Go !!!

HongKongPooey · 02/12/2012 21:58

Raven loon... not for me Grin

CheeseStrawWars · 02/12/2012 22:01

Nosy parker? Parka jacket? Peter Parker/Spiderman? I think you could get away with Parker in the US (wasn't one of the Sex & The City babies called that?) but in the UK...?

ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 02/12/2012 22:04

Do you like the name Ray? Because that's what he'll be called.

cityangel · 02/12/2012 22:09

Reuben, Ryder, Cavell, Aiden, Evan...

Worley · 02/12/2012 22:09

am I the only one now singing the theme tube to "teen titans" the kids cartoon with a girl called raven in...

(tis what happens when I have 2 ds's obsessed with super heroe cartoons)

lljkk · 02/12/2012 22:18

I think Raven is fine. Boys called Tom & Jack get beaten up too.

Clary · 02/12/2012 22:33

I taught a Raven.

The oddest thing about it was that he was sandy haired and freckly! But AFAIK he got no grief over his name.

Iggly · 02/12/2012 22:35

Raven is one of those names which sound nice in theory.

Don't do it.

Feckbox · 02/12/2012 22:43

yes.
Raven loony
Raven poofter.
and worse

blanksquit · 02/12/2012 22:54

Sorry but it's a silly name.

It sounds hippyish. And he may not be hippyish.

I genuinely feel sad for the Storms and Forests out there. It's on a par with these.

edam · 02/12/2012 22:58

I know a girl called Ocean who doesn't get any stick for her name, can't see why Raven would be any worse in terms of unusual names. ds and I used to love the CBBC programme but if you do use this name, encourage your son NOT to go for the neat tache and beard combo the presenter is sporting. Grin

pecans · 02/12/2012 23:03

I know a Raven ... And he goes to a Steiner school. I quite like it but if you doubt the name don't use it -- you will go off it later. All the semi-hippy names I liked while pg just sound pretentious to me now.

SirBoobAlot · 02/12/2012 23:08

Short answer? Yes.

There was a kid with the middle name Raven at our school. He had the piss ripped out of him despite a normal first name.

Mu1berries · 03/12/2012 08:09

A girl in my old office's brother was expecting a baby and when she came in and said that it was born, a girl, called Raven, some people were wondering if the mom was african american. apparently it's perceived to be african american name there. but names have different assoications in different places.. More to the point though I think it's a GIRL's name! It's a feminine sound and I wouldn't use it for a boy. But I've heard worse and I don't think he'd be beaten up.

HRH008 · 03/12/2012 08:13

Please don`t. If he´s tall he will get called big bird, and teased, a lot.

1978andallthat · 03/12/2012 08:42

I think it's silly. Sorry.

YouCanBe · 03/12/2012 12:10

I agree that he would probably just end up as Ray.