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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Reeva?

43 replies

Dietru · 19/09/2015 16:35

I love love love this name I think it is so pretty. Obviously I have only heard of it because of the murder trial. I'm wondering if it's a bad choice and if this is all people will think of ? Especially as it says in the paper he could come out on parole after 10 months so it could all come in the media again just after I named my baby Reeva. What do you think?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gonegrey56 · 19/09/2015 16:36

no, too many awful images come to mind of that poor woman...
Just don't, too insensitive I think

Floggingmolly · 19/09/2015 16:37

Don't. It's bloody awful anyway.

scatterthenuns · 19/09/2015 16:55

I wouldn't.

msrisotto · 19/09/2015 17:00

Oh, i'm surprised at the responses so far. I think it is a beautiful name and yes it might be associated with the tragic case when it comes back in the media for a month or so but that will only be for a short time, not her whole life!

Nonnainglese · 19/09/2015 17:01

No, no, no, no, never.
Can't believe you're serious.

msrisotto · 19/09/2015 17:28

What about Holly? Or Jessica? Are they also unacceptable? Horrible though it is, lots of women have been murdered and we haven't stricken all of their names from the record.

CultureSucksDownWords · 19/09/2015 17:50

Reeva is significantly more uncommon than Holly, Jessica or Madeleine. I couldn't use the name, if I liked it, as I would think about the awfulness of it all the time I think. That wouldn't be the case with the other names as I personally know people with those names. They would be who I'd think of first and I think other people wouldn't even be aware of the connection given how common those names are.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 19/09/2015 17:53

Holly and Jessica are totally uncomparable as they are popular. How many do you know? How many Reevas do you know? Exactly.

I wouldn't.

OneBreathAfterAnother · 19/09/2015 17:54

I wouldn't. It's a lovely name but it's relatively unique in the UK, and with Oscar Pistorious due for release and the prosecutions appeal, it will be in the headlines for a while yet.

If it was a more common name or more time had passed, I think it'd be okay, but not at the moment. It's so strongly linked to Pistorious in most people's minds.

Tirfarthoinn · 19/09/2015 17:56

I'm surprised at the strong negative response too. I did immediately make the connection to Reeva Steencamp (SP?) but I think its better to try to remember her than forget.

It is a lovely name.

Tirfarthoinn · 19/09/2015 17:57

Oddly enough I think the name Oscar is on the rise.

squishee · 19/09/2015 17:57

I wouldn't.

GRW · 19/09/2015 18:38

I like it and I think it's becoming more widely used as Eva is popular now. You could spell it Riva to avoid association with Reeva Steenkamp.

Savagebeauty · 19/09/2015 18:45

I just think if it said in a horrible South African accent

MamaLazarou · 19/09/2015 18:50

We had a similar thread on here recently. Just don't, everyone will associate your baby with that poor woman.

squoosh · 19/09/2015 19:03

If you google the name Reeva Reeva Steenkmap seems to be one of the only Reevas it turns up.

It's a very unusual name that most people will identify with a murder victim.

I really wouldn't use it.

KaraokeQueenOfTheNorth · 19/09/2015 19:32

It's the first thing I thought and I imagine the first thing a lot of people will think. I really wouldn't use it.

BlueChampagne · 19/09/2015 22:39

Let us remember and celebrate her.

TeaAndNoSympathy · 19/09/2015 22:41

What about River? Sounds similar.

NotGoingOut17 · 20/09/2015 00:00

Sorry Op but it's not remotely comparable to using Holly or Jessica. You said yourself that the ONLY reason you know this name is because of Reeva Steenkamp, you would be therefore naming your daughter because of her as opposed to using a name that just so happens to be the name of a tragic murder victim.

Unless you have a connection to using this name (which is where it differs to Holly and Jessica because there are a number of people or connections people in the UK may have to those names) then everyone will know the reasons you have come across that name. If you want to celebrate Reeva Steenkamp then that's fine but if not, you look foolish at best, crass at worst for watching a tragic news story and thinking 'ooo what a nice name'. And that's before I get to how your daughter might feel when she grows up and asks you where her unusual name comes from - if you knew the name Reeva before the tragedy, it would be completely different, but you don't so essentially you'd be telling your daughter you named her after a murder victim.

NotGoingOut17 · 20/09/2015 00:02

Apologies OP - jst realised it wasn't you that asked about Holly and Jessica,so sorry if my previous post was harsh. Unfortunately, and i do think Reeva is a pretty name, there are a lot of reasons why I just wouldn't use it.

badtime · 20/09/2015 00:05

I think if you like the sound, the spelling 'Riva' would avoid most of the associations.

Having said that, I just looked at the ONS chart and there were 70 babies called Reeva in 2014, presumably because the case was in the news, so it wouldn't be as unique as all that.

FriendofBill · 20/09/2015 00:07

I think it's lovely, Reeva Steenkamp seemed to be a beautiful person inside and out.

Its a wild speculation but can imagine Reeva smiling at this.

YonicScrewdriver · 20/09/2015 00:12

Lots of (surname) Riva folks here:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riva_(surname)

hollieberrie · 20/09/2015 00:18

I think its lovely. People only think of the famous namesake the first couple of times they hear it and then it just becomes your child's name.

Friend's sister called her dd Beyonce. People were at first but the novelty wore off v quickly and it just became her name. Now we all think of the little girl not the singer when we hear the name mentioned.

And agree with other posters that Reeva Steenkamp did seem like a lovely person, and its a nice tribute / recognition of that in a way.

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