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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Would you change baby's name....

25 replies

CyrilSneer30 · 05/03/2017 20:12

DS2 is 10 weeks old, born Christmas Day Due to this, we decide to name him Caspar (after one of the 3 wise men), which was originally going to be his middle name. I was uncertain at first (but was reassured after starting a thread here!) and now I've really grown to love it. Here's the issue....after many weeks of being jaundiced, his real skin tone has only just shown through - he's pale. REALLY pale. I can't believe I didn't even consider this could happen! DH and DS1 have a gorgeous skin tone that tans really easily, clearly DS2 is going to take after me and be milk bottle white and not able to tan. So, I guess my question is - am I setting him up for a lifetime of ridicule??

Thanks in advance.

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Rockaby · 05/03/2017 20:14

No I definitely wouldn't change it under those circumstances. His skin tone will change as he gets older.

LarkDescending · 05/03/2017 20:15

Why would a pale Caspar be ridiculed?

I love it BTW - don't see any reason why you should change it unless you really want to.

Lovelilies · 05/03/2017 20:18

Aw Caspar the friendly ghost
I think it's lovely and you shouldn't change it

LarkDescending · 05/03/2017 20:18

BTW I know plenty of blond Scandinavians with this name in its variant spellings - it is popular with my Danish relatives and friends there.

LarkDescending · 05/03/2017 20:19

Oh the ghost!! Totally passed me by.

Wishiwasmoiradingle2017 · 05/03/2017 20:20

My dd is called Ruby and has red hair. Never been an issue. .
His name is his name imo - not yours to change now!!

Juveniledelinquent · 05/03/2017 20:20

Lovely name, no need to change it.

TalkingofMichaelAngel0 · 05/03/2017 20:22

Lol no dont change his name!

It hink id have gone for Balthazar and pretended it was about the three wise men too and not julian mcmahon

RuthB4 · 05/03/2017 21:57

I really didn't get the issue until someone else mentioned Caspar the friendly ghost! No, I really think you don't need to change it! The chances of him being made fun of for it are really slim, and anyway children tease each other for all sorts of random things, and can turn virtually any name into something silly (I'm a teacher)!
Plus his skin tone might change. My DD was very pale as a baby and went pink despite all precautions (shade, suncream, sun hat etc) so I thought she must be taking after her red headed daddy. Fast forward to 18 months old and she's got my creamy skin tone which tans easily!

rainbowdash888 · 05/03/2017 22:17

I honestly didn't get it until another poster said it. I think it's a complete non-issue. Caspar the friendly ghost is ancient anyway none of his friends will have a clue! I have never looked at a pale child and thought of them as a ghost....

Rainbowqueeen · 05/03/2017 22:19

Gorgeous name and I would keep it.

I don't know if kids these days even know who Caspar the friendly ghost is!

Rainbowqueeen · 05/03/2017 22:22

Gorgeous name and I would keep it.

I don't know if kids these days even know who Caspar the friendly ghost is!

Emily7708 · 05/03/2017 22:25

I wouldn't change it, it's a really great name.

2014newme · 05/03/2017 22:28

I know someone who gets called caspar . After the ghost, because he is so pale, and it's not even his real name. So it's fine for a,pale person although I think most people would think ghost not three wise man

BikeRunSki · 05/03/2017 22:28

It's fine

girlname900 · 05/03/2017 22:31

think it's quite cool tbh even if he stays pale as he grows up! lovely name keep it!!!!!!!!

Motheroffourdragons · 05/03/2017 22:33

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ to protect the privacy of the user.

Hellmouth · 05/03/2017 22:35

My name means darkness, and I'm black.

I'm still not sure if my mum did it on purpose :D

I think it's a lovely name and you should keep it!

Joeybee · 05/03/2017 22:37

I think maybe if he was born 20 years ago when the film had come out, then people probably would've made the friendly ghost association. But kids now probably haven't even heard of the film, so doubt it would be a problem.
Plus if you like the name and it suits him, and so far people haven't ridiculed him/you for it, then go for it.

ILikeSalmon · 06/03/2017 07:11

He's a baby!
My kids are pale if they haven't seen sunlight.
The minute they step into the sun they tan really well (yes they use cream etc)

Original poster

CyrilSneer30 · 06/03/2017 11:44

Thank you so much for all your lovely replies! MN to the rescue again I very much doubt DH would agree to change it even if the consensus was a resounding yes, but I'm so reassured by you all. Amazed how many people didn't get the connection! Thank youuuuuuu

OP posts:

Oysterbabe · 06/03/2017 13:08

I think it's absolutely fine.

Lemondrop09 · 08/03/2017 17:49

Caspar is a fab name! Defiantly keep it

And tbh, he runs the risk of getting the ghost teasing due to his name, without or without pale skin. And if not his name, kids will find something else. You can't stave off all possibilities for teasing. As above, most kids his age will have no idea about the film anyway

ClaryIsTheBest · 08/03/2017 18:21

Caspar is a lovely name :)
I don't think you need to change it.

And if he really does hate the name... As long as he has a middle name he could always use that one, right? :)

soundsystem · 08/03/2017 18:27

No don't change it, it's a lovely name!

(I have a 6 week old Caspar. Same thought process as you for choosing the name, but he was a couple of weeks late! We are all very pale, and it didn't occur to me until now that he'd look ghostly )

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