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Original poster

Boy's name Tiger

144 replies

MissesandMuddles · 28/04/2015 16:15

I'm 28 weeks pregnant with ds3. Ds1 and ds2 both have unusual names. I like Atticus for ds3 but husband isn't so keen. The only name we both like and can agree on so far is Tiger but I'm worried it's a little too out there.

What are people's thoughts?

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SoupDragon · 30/04/2015 13:32

Funny you should say that soup, our cat is called tiger

And, oddly enough, mine is called Atticus

DiDiddlyIDi · 30/04/2015 13:34

You'd be a tiger mum/mom google it

lemonyone · 30/04/2015 13:34

Red - or, you can lumber a child with a name they detest.
My friend was named after an exotic foreign person - think a name like Ghengis Khan (literally as bad as that) - which was double barrelled so there could be no escape. It was coupled with a really British last name like Smith.
He was incredibly pissed off with having to be called Ghengis for his early life and changed it to something like "Gerry Smith" as soon as his twittish parents allowed him.

SoupDragon · 30/04/2015 13:35

A name can help define a character rather than be the opposite. Its not something to live up to as such, it will have more influence on the way others react to him.

So its a bold and strong name choice. People will respond accordingly. I think its a powerful gift to give a child

Yeah... I"m guessing you didn't grow up with such a character defining "gift". You're right, it will have more influence on the way others react to him and that reaction will very possibly be ridicule, thus destroying the child's confidence.

TheNewStatesman · 30/04/2015 13:37

Tiger???
Christ almighty, NO. It's awful, sorry.

MrsAmaretto · 30/04/2015 13:42

Sorry but it's daft.

dancestomyowntune · 30/04/2015 13:44

I have just (12 weeks ago) called my new baby girl Tiger-Rose. I was unsure during pregnancy (my mums suggestion that my husband fell in love with... I was out numbered!). However it really suits her. And she is unique. We do not know another Tiger-Rose! The hospital said they had never had a Tiger before and in the space of a month they have had two, our little girl and one of a pair of twin boys.

It is a marmite name though. Some people love it , some don't. I call her Tiggy at home!

RedToothBrush · 30/04/2015 14:02

'Sensible' middle name is the solution. You do not have to be known by your first name.

Simple. And there is no guarantee your child won't detest a 'sensible' or common name either.

MythicalKings · 30/04/2015 14:05

Too silly

RedToothBrush · 30/04/2015 14:05

Yeah... I"m guessing you didn't grow up with such a character defining "gift". You're right, it will have more influence on the way others react to him and that reaction will very possibly be ridicule, thus destroying the child's confidence.

You do realise who tiger will be growing up with? There are a rash of Teddys... or more 'not name' names. It won't stand out hugely.

SoupDragon · 30/04/2015 14:18

So no, you didn't grow up with the "gift" of a "character defining" name.

RedToothBrush · 30/04/2015 14:58

There were 5 Tiger (boy) and 5 Tyger (boy) in 2013 - the last year records are available for.

There were also 14 Tigerlily (girl)
3 Tigerlilly (girl)
6 Tiger-Lily (girl)

And
Wolf (6 boys)
Fox (21 boys)
Bear (15 boys)
Raven (5 boys)
Raven (26 girls)

I had the gift of never ever standing out and being one of hundreds and THAT destroyed my confidence. I wouldn't want to inflict that either.

And like I say, I don't think it would stand out hugely given the names I keep coming across for newborns.

squoosh · 30/04/2015 15:10

I had the gift of never ever standing out and being one of hundreds and THAT destroyed my confidence. I wouldn't want to inflict that either.

If this is how you felt in childhood I really doubt that it had anything to do with your name. How could being called Sarah/Claire/Louise/other name popular in your year of birth destroy your confidence?

reuset · 30/04/2015 15:25

Red - Surely you want to stand out because of who you are and your achievements etc etc not because you have some ridiculous, though perhaps memorable, name
There's a wealth of names to choose from between the extremities, some even less used than 'names' like Tiger.

DixieNormas · 30/04/2015 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedToothBrush · 30/04/2015 16:04

Except I did. And I was still one of the X's rather than having a name of my own.

To be honest I do think can call your child something pretty normal and they'll still be some who will look at you as though you had two heads. People can mutter something about 'fancy notions' or its 'not a name its an animal' or 'well you don't get any wildebeest'. Whilst naming their child Lily, Poppy or Daisy. (Lets do the 'Its not a name, its a flower' argument here too. Oh wait you don't get too many girls called Crocus or Snapdragon either. Oh best not use any flower name then).

You can get away with a lot more now than you could twenty years ago thankfully.

FunkyPeacock · 30/04/2015 16:13

I have to agree with Red in the sense that things have moved on a lot since the 1970s. Being a child of the 70s called Tiger (other than as a nn) would have definitely made you a target for bullies unless you were a spectacularly confident individual. These days there are so many more names in circulation that I don't actually think other kids would think it particularly strange.

NickiFury · 30/04/2015 16:15

I like it but then I like "Bear" too. I think they're great names.

squoosh · 30/04/2015 16:20

Other kids his age might not find the name Tiger unusual but it won't just be other kids that little Tiger will come into contact with.

Merse · 30/04/2015 16:20

Er - The Archers anyone???? Sorry but just makes me think of Matt (a.k.a. 'Tiger')

RedToothBrush · 30/04/2015 16:20

That's the thing I see. We carry our own prejudices with names based on the era we grow up in whilst failing to see how our children live in a very different world where names are incredibly diverse and different.

SevTSnape · 30/04/2015 16:21

Tiger Woods anyone?

squoosh · 30/04/2015 16:24

I think the best idea for someone who wants to call their child Tiger or Zowie etc. is to spend a month introducing yourself to all the new people you meet as that name. Try it on for size so to speak.

FunkyPeacock · 30/04/2015 16:33

I don't think Tiger is comparable to Zowie though

Tiger Woods has already 'normalised' it to some degree and it is a recognisable word so no problems with spelling or pronunciation

Both my DC have fairly normal names so I am not personally a huge fan of 'out there' names but Tiger wouldn't make me raise an eyebrow like many of the yuneek names mentioned on MN do

squoosh · 30/04/2015 16:37

You mightn't think Tiger and Zowie are comparable but a lot of people would. My idea is more that if someone is so proud of choosing a 'brave' name for their baby they should be brave enough to try it for themselves first.