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Should you not use your fav name due to fears of bullying in future?

113 replies

KathyLou1981 · 26/01/2016 19:46

Feels like I'm being weak. Some say it will make him individual and any bullying strengthens. Others that my vanity could cause future problems for child. So hard to know what to do?!

OP posts:
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Mynd · 28/01/2016 14:02

My name is very unusual. I'm 38 and have yet to meet another one. It was changed when I was 4 because my dad thought Kate was dull. It's been a big help in my career actually - I'm the only one on Google and people remember it (I'm a freelancer so I'm constantly networking). It's a real name, just very very rare.

I've never been bullied for it (despite getting bullied for a ton of other stuff), and bear in mind the 80s was a world full of Daves, Steves and Emmas. Today it's very different. I volunteer at my daughter's school and there's all kinds of names, from all cultures and backgrounds. None of the kids know or care about the difference between a kid called Joe and one called Jobo (Jobo is in my daughter's class - real name Joseph). The only way they'd realise it was an odd name is if their parents commented on it and they overheard. So I think a lot of 'your kids will get bullied' rubbish is coming from people who MIGHT harbour very critical opinions themselves.

There's a massive difference too between 'yoonique' and 'different'. Just because you don't want Florence, it doesn't mean you want to be yoonique. If you really like the name, and it's not sexually suggestive, I'd say ignore the sheep and go with it. FWIW, my own daughter has an unusual 'boys' name. Her classmates either haven't noticed or haven't cared.

Fluffy24 · 28/01/2016 18:29
CarbonEmittingPenguin · 28/01/2016 18:35

I second the comment that if you can't write it on an anonymous forum then you probably shouldn't give that name to your child.

MackerelOfFact · 29/01/2016 16:28

It totally depends on the name, surely - whether it's downright ridiculous and outrageous, or just a bit unusual and not to everyone's taste.

Banana or Adoph - YABU.

Ephraim or Sonny - YANBU.

KERALA1 · 29/01/2016 17:25

Lorelei is quite out there but fine but NOT with our surname which begins with an l and has two syllables. The end result sounds like a circus performer. Dd1 (now 9) when I told her was horrified!

AbbyCadabby · 29/01/2016 17:57

Come back, OP, we need to know! (Feel free to PM me!)

Enrique, I totally LOVE Scheherazade! It is a shame I am done at two babies! :)

The more variety, the better. Unless, as Mackeral says, it's something like Banana.

jaykay34 · 30/01/2016 21:27

How older people view names will be very different to how your child's classmates do.

When I was at school everybody was called Claire, Helen, Sarah - with names like Chloe, Charlene and Stacey being more cool "out - there" names. Older girls were Donna, Vanessa and Lisa. Mums were Mary, Wendy and Linda - and grannies were Mabel, Florence and Ada.
The old man names - Charlie, Alfie, George, Jack etc were exactly that - old man names.

My older teenage children go to school with such a broad section of names - the most popular being the flower names; the old man names; the surnames ie Bailey, Mason, Logan, Ryan etc, the "-aidans" - Jayden, brayden, kaden, hayden; the Millies, Tillies, Mias, Tias, Ellas and Ellies. Then there are also some Tallulahs, a Mowgli and a Freedom. I asked them what the most unusual name in their year was and they said "David". Yes, seriously.

My toddler son goes to nursery and groups with a new resurgence of names - Ophelia, Rupert, Noah, Lincoln, Persephone, Jaxon, an Emma and a Jason.

I think anything goes as a name nowadays and it is more likely to be judgey adults who raise eyebrows than other children. Unless the initials are something like BJ, or it is a name with connotations ie Dick or Fanny - then it really is fine.

EmmaWoodlouse · 10/02/2016 16:44

Georgie Porgie. - implying fat child

How does that imply being fat? To me it implies kissing the girls and making them cry.

BarbarianMum · 10/02/2016 17:03

Ds1 has an unusual name. When he was a baby people were queing up to tell us they liked it but would never use it in case it led to bullying. 10 years later we are still waiting for the bullying Hmm Actually, I don't think I've ever heard a child comment on it.

Squashybanana · 10/02/2016 17:17

My mum said she named us with names that suit an adult as well as a baby/ small child, and that would never be humiliating or ridiculous. I used the same principles on my own kids. For example I love the name Titus, but didn't use it because, even to my biassed ear, I can hear that it sounds like 'tight arse' and could cause problems.

ukfirestorm · 11/02/2016 22:16

But
What
Is
The
Name.

Canyouforgiveher · 11/02/2016 22:27

*Georgie Porgie. - implying fat child

How does that imply being fat? To me it implies kissing the girls and making them cry.*

Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie

It was written about the Prince Regent/George IV and was poking fun at him being fat.

Badgerloco · 13/02/2016 19:33

I chose an unusual name, would probably get slated for it on here, but it means something special to me. I'm really glad I didn't allow myself to be swayed. To each their own, but to me Alfie, Henry, William or Thomas are dull, and not like us. The benefit is people always remember my son, it's not that easy for everyone to spell, but neither are some more common names. The downside is some people probably think I'm a bit of a knob for choosing it, however I couldn't give a toss. It's our life and who we are.

Shemozzle · 13/02/2016 19:46

I don't think kids tend to bully based on names either. I know several kids with really out there names, and none of them are bullied for it or dislike their names. The only kids who would turn their nose up at different names are those with ignorant parents who discuss the important of a boring sensible name in front of them.

Shemozzle · 13/02/2016 19:48

For the record, my daughters name isn't even registered on the stats the year she was born as its so uncommon, and she has an animal middle name to boot, but I have no regrets at all. We all love her name and have had no one turn their noses up to our face. I'm certain it's not for everyone, but we weren't trying to satisfy as many people as possible.

Lweji · 13/02/2016 19:53
cheapandcheerful · 13/02/2016 19:58

Pony? Butterfly? ...

Floggingmolly · 13/02/2016 20:02

Tiger? Cougar?

Shemozzle · 13/02/2016 20:04

Keep them coming, I'm struggling with another animal middle name for dc3...

Lweji · 13/02/2016 20:05

I hope it's Robin or Jay (just googled as I knew there was an obvious one) and not cow or bitch.
But then, Robin is quite common and hardly asociated with an animal, I imagine.

Lweji · 13/02/2016 20:06

I'd like Eagle or Leo. Possibly Dolphinne.

RosaDiazepam · 13/02/2016 20:15

Can you tell us why it has negative connotations?
Is it something like Adolf? Or something younique/dorky or what?

JasperDamerel · 13/02/2016 20:16

Linnet, Tiger, Wolf, Moth, Fox, Bunny, Bear, Falcon, Hawk, Crow, Raven, and Dove are all names of people I know it have heard of. Birds seem to be the most popular sort of animal name.

3luckystars · 13/02/2016 20:17

Martin?

RosaDiazepam · 13/02/2016 20:24

I have a Wren (and Verdi) they are unusual but not so much to cause bullying (I hope!)

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