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Original poster

What do you think of Dora?

33 replies

Laindons · 11/08/2015 07:56

I really like the name. I'm part Spanish (Mother is Spanish, father was an English cockney). My OH is an Essex boy.

Would my daughter be ridiculed for the name? I was hoping the TV show 'Dora the Explorer' would die down by the time she is of school age. Then again, I don't know a Thimas that gets any stuck for 'Thomas the tank'.

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BigEasy · 11/08/2015 07:57

Dora is a money making machine - she will not die. Don't do it.

Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 08:01

I respect that but isn't Thomas the tank popular too? In fact, even when in its hay day, I don't remember middle class boys being tormented.

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wigglesrock · 11/08/2015 08:12

I quite like it - I know the connection with the tv show (I've 3 eds), but as you said Thomas has survived as has Barney. Tbh most kids I know are well past Dora (even the new fangled city one Smile ) by the time they start school.

atticusclaw · 11/08/2015 08:15

D d d d d Dora...... It will plague her through school. Mine are 10 and 8 and it was going strong back then so I wouldn't bank on Dora disappearing any time soon.

Mrsindecision · 11/08/2015 08:42

As atticusclaw says, Dora the Explorer has been going strong for well over a decade (was big when my teenager was a pre-schooler!) and I don't think it will disappear anytime soon. The main difference between the two names is that Thomas has been a very popular name in the UK for many centurys (popularity dates back to the 12th Century and St Thomas Becket). It therefore isn't so readily associated with just Thomas the Tank Engine but to people's own families and other famous bearers such as Thomas Hardy etc... Dora on the other hand is not a mainstream name in the UK and is therefore more likely to be associated with the cartoon. I have nothing against the name at all (in fact I think it's quite sweet) but do think you will get a lot of explorer related comments should you use it.

Hellionandfriends · 11/08/2015 08:44

I adore Theodora

Hellionandfriends · 11/08/2015 08:44

Then she has two options - Thea
And Dora

Twistedheartache · 11/08/2015 08:46

Sorry just saw this on active and immediately burst into doha dora dora the Explorer.
Wouldn't use it personally.
I know a Maria, a Monica & a Berta who are all Spanish. Lots of names that work across both languages

Hellionandfriends · 11/08/2015 08:46

The Dora explorer link wouldn't bother me. Potentially tv or books could write off a huge number of names if people were bothered

Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 08:47

Theodora sounds like too much of a mouthful to me lol

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Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 08:50

How about Bill and Ben? No one made the connection when I was younger.

George of the jungle, etc.. No ones said anything although I do agree with the association for history with Thomas.

To add a twist, the name Bessie reminds me of Henry's mistress a lot. It rings in my ears in fact. Although it's a lovely name!

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InQuiteAPickle · 11/08/2015 08:53

I wouldn't be able to hear the name without wanting to sing "do do do do Dora" or from the new programme "Dora, Dora".

But saying that I often can't hear Olivia without wanting to sing "Oh-liv-iah, Oh-liv-iah" and there are plenty of them.

No one remember Olivia the pig? No, just me?

Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 08:53

I remember Olivia the pig! Lol

And Charlie and Lola

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Floggingmolly · 11/08/2015 08:55

There's a Dora in ds1's class (9/10 year olds). There were never any negative reactions, afaik.

HeyDuggee · 11/08/2015 08:56

It's a bit like using Peppa. People will only know the name via the cartoon. Plus, she is the most annoying cartoon character on tv.

TheNumberfaker · 11/08/2015 08:59

Mrsindecision sums it up perfectly.

Unfortunately Dora isn't used frequently enough in the UK for it to have its own (non-Explorer) identity. I would say possibly the same for Lola but not do extreme.

TheNumberfaker · 11/08/2015 08:59

*so

scarletforya · 11/08/2015 08:59

It's such a lovely name. It's a pity its associated with the cartoon, but it's a proper name in its own right, unlike Peppa. I think Theadora is lovely, then you could have Dora as a family nn.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 11/08/2015 09:00

I love Dora.

MrsNuckyThompson · 11/08/2015 09:01

How about Isadora, nn Dora?

Devora · 11/08/2015 09:02

Dora was my first choice for dd1; everyone around me argued she wouldn't thank me for it, and I have to say I think they were right.

I still hanker after it, though - it's way better than the name we finally chose!

Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 09:04

Must say, I'm Spanish and I've never heard the name in Spain/Gib before

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InQuiteAPickle · 11/08/2015 09:05

I think with me it tends to be characters that have a theme song with the name in. It's strange though - if someone calls their son Sam I don't automatically think "Fireman Sam". Confused

Perhaps it's because my DDs have never been fans? My DD1 was a baby when Dora was at the height of her fame and it was one of her first words. She would shout "Dowa, Dowa" at the merchandise in the shops! Grin

Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 09:06

I also like Lydia but wanted Dora because a daughter would be a very special gift after TTC for ages and Lydia seems a little.. I don't know.

Every Lydia I know is very competitive and ambitious, and mean..

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Original poster
Laindons · 11/08/2015 09:07

Dora means Gift of God Thanks

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