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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Are the initials BJ really that bad?

54 replies

JammyTodger · 12/02/2015 09:52

We decided on a first name for our son early on (initial B), and have since decided to let our older DS give him a middle name. He's set on James, which is a lovely name and flows well. We all love the name and I thought all was set. However, now DH has said we can't call him that as his initials will be BJ. He has suggested swapping the names around/losing the middle name, but I like it as it is. Am I being naive and will my boy be forever known as 'blowjob' if we stick with the original name? It hadn't even occurred to me tbh. What do you think?

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Orangeisthenewbanana · 13/02/2015 02:24

We're having similar issues. Our top choice for a boy's name, plus family middle name would give us ARS !

FishWithABicycle · 13/02/2015 05:19

I wouldn't.

tiggy2610 · 13/02/2015 05:30

One of my oldest friends is a Benjamin Joseph and in our 15+ years of friendship I've never known him be bullied or laughed at because of his initials (that includes 7years of high school/sixth form)

Are you planning on using his middle name regularly? E.g. My middle name is barely ever used and I dare say the majority of my friends don't even know what it is as I soley go by first name-surname

sleepybee · 13/02/2015 17:51

I wouldn't use it if it was first & surname initials but don't think it will matter if it's the first & middle name unless you intend to use his first middle & surname frequently I have a middle name and it's rarely ever used tbh

Juno321 · 13/02/2015 20:29

I would avoid it personally!

pinkandsparklytoo · 13/02/2015 23:41

My MILs initials are BJ. She's 57 and has only just raised the additional meaning

usualsuspect333 · 13/02/2015 23:46

It's not a big deal.

Well it is on MN, but meanwhile back in the real world.

madmother1 · 13/02/2015 23:55

I think it's a recent thing. I was reading out the internet password the other night to my daughter's friends and it ended in BJ and all the girls started sniggering!!

AmantesSuntAmentes · 14/02/2015 00:01

It's an absolute non issue. I know children with these (first and middle) initials, who have never encountered a single problem

ProbablyMe · 14/02/2015 07:09

My DS has the initials BJ (he's 15) and it's not been a issue. My exH and his family are very puerile and it's never been mentioned.

ProbablyMe · 14/02/2015 07:10

I even call him BJ sometimes - then again I remember the character BJ Hunnycut (sp?) from the series MASH!

Bowlersarm · 14/02/2015 07:14

I really can't see a problem. Chatting with friends recently whose son is a BJ, and no one has commented in his 19 years.

Norfolknway · 14/02/2015 07:34

I know a bj and no one seems to care :)

D0nnaO · 14/02/2015 08:29

it wouldn't put me off, I think your OH is being a bit immature. if it's a name you really like then yiu should go for it regardless of what letters it begins with

lecherslady · 14/02/2015 10:05

As a former secondary school teacher I wouldn't do it. I have seen kids being mercilessly teased for those exact same initials and other similar ones. But that's not to say he will be - other people can go through life without it! Would totally depend on the school and children there. But they can be cruel, very cruel and I wouldn't take the risk.

Why not just solve the problem by adding another middle name so it's BDJ etc....?

ClashCityRocker · 14/02/2015 10:16

I know a few bjs and never known them have an issue.

I must admit, it did put my DB off the name Bobbi-Jo though.

Does anyone say BJ anymore anyway? Last time I mentioned in front of my neice she was appalled. Apparently the current parlance is 'noshing'

ClashCityRocker · 14/02/2015 10:17

Um, neice is an adult btw!

skylark2 · 14/02/2015 11:25

"If kids want to tease, they will find something - suggestive initials or not."

I'm afraid I think that's a ridiculous excuse. Would you call your child Crapella because if kids want to tease her they'll find something anyway?

It's never going to be possible to find a perfect name. That's no excuse for giving your child an awful one.

But I agree that middle names only come up rarely, and that on the scale of awful names, having BJ as initials is nowhere near as bad as some things parents use "because if a kid's going to tease them, they.'ll do it anyway, so it doesn't matter."

I notice that such parents always have, and go by, common, normal names themselves. I do think it's very unkind to submit your child to something that you won't do yourself.

schokolade · 14/02/2015 11:31

I'm with you OP. Might be a problem if they were his actual initials. But they're not - he's BJX isn't he?

FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson · 14/02/2015 11:34

It really is fine. I really don't get why people have a problem with this. It's also a first name and a middle name so there is another initial afterwards.

HoppityVoosh · 14/02/2015 11:38

I was just having this conversation with DH this morning because our favourite first name and middle name would result in the initials BJ. We've decided to put another middle name before the J.

curlii103 · 07/03/2015 12:12

I couldn't decide on this but I'm putting a middle name in...just to be on the safe side!

Breezy1985 · 07/03/2015 12:21

I know a BJ, First and last initial he's 19 and had no issues at school, no one has mentioned it so far.

Gemerama · 07/03/2015 19:29

This reply has been deleted

This poster has privacy concerns, so we've agreed to remove this now.

Redbookworm · 07/03/2015 19:39

My 14 year old son is Ben James.. It's not been an issue so far!

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