Wilberforce

[Fartbaby]

We have decided to call this baby Wilberforce if it is a boy. We absolutely love it, as do my family and my best friend. I haven't told anyone else as I know for a fact lots of people would be horrified by the name. We will be almost exclusively calling him Wilbur due to the aforementioned probability of loathing for the full name, so my question is: is there any point to putting Wilberforce on the birth certificate?

I know it sounds as if I don't have the courage of my convictions regarding the name Wilberforce and that makes me a little sad, too, as I absolutely love it. Would you introduce your baby as Wilberforce if you were me or would you pretend he is simply Wilbur?

Oh blimey, I sound like an idiot

[JakeyBurd]

Oh yes, Purdey is absolutely fantastic! I toyed with it for a girl, although I knew I was having boys. But I'd have loved a little Purdey to go to karate with!

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

Oh, I should add, even teachers gave me crap about my name. It's not just kids.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Oh BTW, if by 'christen' you mean 'put on birth certificate' - the teachers will have that name on the register.

I have a kid with an unusual name (well unusual for England cos his dad was Italian and it was a family name). He has been known his whole life by the Anglicised shortened form of his name. But trust me, the full name as per birth cert goes on registers. And other kids will see it. And supply teachers will read it out.

[Fartbaby]

I'm still going with it. My surname is Bone, so you can imagine the ribbing I got (and still do). I remember wishing I hadn't been saddled with such a mock- worthy, stupid name but then I grew up. And I really like that it's a little bit special. I like the bluntness of it and that people still go, 'Bone? As in the femur?' I have even decided to keep it in marriage.

Smugair, I couldn't resist doing a search of your posting history to see if you are always so blunt you are and I see on another Baby Names thread you favoured Delta, Yara and Elvisham as names. Forgive me, then, if I disregard your opinion on my baby's name

[Fartbaby]

Joffrey, does it make you sad or glad that your son's name has been changed to the Anglicised version? Does it make you wonder why you bothered christening him the Italian way? Genuine question.

[BertrandRussell]

"I'm still going with it. My surname is Bone, so you can imagine the ribbing I got (and still do). I remember wishing I hadn't been saddled with such a mock- worthy, stupid name but then I grew up"

So you're happy with the idea of giving your child a name that might make him even slightly unhappy on a daily basis until "he grows up" for entirely selfish reasons- because you love the name? Are you absolutely sure about that?

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

Forum stalking is not OK, Fartbaby. And he's going to get a lot more than a bit of ribbing with a name like Wilberforce. If you can't see that, fair enough. I wouldn't take any opinions from mumsnet on baby names really. Between all the Stanleys, Wilfred's, Gertrude's and Ethels, it seems half this site think they're giving birth to 90 year olds anyway. Not a reflection on the real world at all. However, you've obviously decided, don't know why you bothered asking really .

[Vixxfacee]

Sounds like you hate your baby.

[Fartbaby]

Gosh, it gets rather..erm...horrid around here, doesn't it? Baby-hating?

Thanks for all the views and taking the time to reply

[ChristineDePisan]

If your question was really "is it worth bothering putting a full name on a birth certificate when you intend to call them the short version", then I would say yes, because for me personally I like that they can have the option of the longer version (eg Katherine) not just the short one (eg Katey) when they are older.

If you want to know views on Wilberforce, I would say that it is an appalling name for a baby but perfect for a pet if you are really really sold on it.

[msgrinch]

stalking others posts?! Grow up op, that's not on. Wilberforce megatron Bone. Yes, he's not going to be bullied at all.

[Fartbaby]

The baby will take my husband's name, which is uber-safe, don't worry.

Is it wrong, then, to look at how posters have spoken in the past, then? I'm sorry Smugair, I didn't think it was a 'wrong' thing to do

[reuset]

Lots of posters use the AS feature, for various reasons. But...Smugairs names you listed were still marginally preferable to Wilberforce

[BertrandRussell]

I just don't understand why people deliberately do things that might make life even slightly more difficult for their child than it need be. My dd once said to me "it's not fair, you gave me red hair, freckles, glasses and a posh accent!" Imagine if I had also decided to call her Porphyria or something........

We want to smoothe our children's lives as far as we can........

[ThreeRuddyTubs]

Delta and yara are nice, if unusual, names. Wilbur and wilberforce are not

[kansasmum]

Well my Pug is called Wilburforce ( Willie) so I'm afraid I can't imagine calling my son that name!

[FuzzyWizard]

I think it's fine. Wouldn't be my personal choice but it's not outrageous or anything. If you like it go for it!

[spanisharmada]

Sounds fine, he'll be known as Will anyway so doubt he'll end up with a hateful life cos of it ridiculous notion think you should put the full version on the BC as that's the one you like

[Eminybob]

I seriously can't believe the vitriol of some of the posters.

Wilberforce is a perfectly litigimate name.

[WutheringFrights]

I think it's a great name, it's strong, unusual and you are unlikely to meet another.
You have chosen the name Wilberforce so put it on his birth certificate, it is his choice in later years what derivative of that he would like to be addressed as.
Mind you, it's probably unwise to take advice from someone who named their DS Heathcliff...

[SmugairleRoin]

I didn't list Delta and Yara myself mind, as I recall they were on a list of about 8 and those were the best of the bunch. Elvisham...that I don't remember but I'll assume I said yes to it. Can't imagine why I don't remember it, it's unusual to say the least.
I stand by Delta and Yara though!

Slightly flattered that someone's gone forum stalking me

Anyway yes, I am blunt. I actually posted my own name thread and asked people to be blunt. You can go tell me they're dire yourself, if you like. The benefit of MN is that you get impartial views from people...while you mightnt hear people be so blunt irl this is an example of what they'll be thinking. I do tell people when I like something, I tell them when I don't and I tell them of any unfortunate associations with the name...because this forum is for getting opinions.

Sadly in your case the names remind me of pigs. I do like pigs mind, but I'd avoid those names because of that.
Wilbur is the pig from Charlottes Web and Purdy...well I just hear Purdy Pig. Like I said, GREAT names for pigs. But I don't think it's fair to give them to a human.

[Fartbaby]

Oh, thank you, to the last couple of posters! It's hard to hear the vitriol when I find Wilbur so utterly lovely and Wilberforce so gloriously noble. Different strokes though....each and every poster on here will have their child(ren)'s name considered shit or uninspired by some.

I have decided to use Wilberforce on the birth certificate and Wilbur in everyday life. Thanks again, everyone.

[Eminybob]

Good for you OP. Glad you've made a good choice and not been swayed by the twats less appreciative people of mumsnet.

I like it.

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

If you find it hard to deal with the 'vitriol' over the name, imagine how the poor boy will feel. However, you obviously do not want to consider that, so good luck to you, and especially to the boy, if it turns out to be so.

[SillyStuffBiting]

Great name for a pug.

Shite name for a baby.