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Baby names

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

Original poster

If you have a son ask him what he thinks of...

69 replies

Drunkenmonkey · 23/02/2021 17:33

Gabriel. And I don't mean ask your 4 year old Grin
I'm interested in what older boys (like 8 plus) think of the name as my DH thnks it will invite bullying and also sounds too feminine for a boy and that our future DS (if he is a DS) won't thank us for it.
I disagree but I'd like some opinions. I know it's very popular on here generally as I've done some searching and seen other threads.

OP posts:
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Fembot123 · 23/02/2021 18:27

@Obviouslynotallthere

My NDN is called Gabriel but he's from Spain and the a is pronounced as in apple.
Like grapple 🤣
MamaDane · 23/02/2021 18:30

Not answering your question, but I love the name Gabriel. Unfortunately my partner also vetoed it because of fear of bullying. Sad

Lucked · 23/02/2021 18:30

DS 9 thinks it’s a good name - that was all I could get out of him. At least three Gabriel’s in my kids (RC) school. No bullying or issues but I suppose it could depend on the area

Christmasfairy2020 · 23/02/2021 18:34

So effectively he will be called gay?

CatOnAHotTinHoof · 23/02/2021 18:37

I wouldn't risk the whole 'gay' nickname thing

Fembot123 · 23/02/2021 18:38

@CatOnAHotTinHoof

I wouldn't risk the whole 'gay' nickname thing
Sorry but that’s pathetic
gottakeeponmovin · 23/02/2021 18:38

I love that name. Like you DH said no

Fembot123 · 23/02/2021 18:38

@Christmasfairy2020

So effectively he will be called gay?
No.
Hoppinggreen · 23/02/2021 18:40

I wanted to call DD 11 this but DH wasn’t keen so it’s his middle name
He says he’s really glad I didn’t get my own way because he would hate it.

Hoppinggreen · 23/02/2021 18:41

I also have a Spanish/English friend called Gabriel (Gabi) who hates his name

endlesssnow · 23/02/2021 18:41

DS has a Gabe in his year, popular dc not bullied for his name at all.

sorryiasked · 23/02/2021 18:45

There are some very "out there" names in DS year, but the kids are completely blind to it - they have no expectation or pre set ideas about what is "normal".

I think Gabriel is a great name.

PeskyRooks · 23/02/2021 18:45

Ds 13 says he 'wouldn't care' if he was called Gabriel but he would make everyone call him Gabe.
I said would a boy be bullied with this name "only if he was a dick"

DioneTheDiabolist · 23/02/2021 18:47

DS(14) has a friend Gabriel, he said not to do it as his friend was badly bullied in primary school and still gets a bit of flack now for being "Gay".Sad

Fembot123 · 23/02/2021 18:49

God what kind of pricks are still raising kids with such ridiculous attitudes

seasidefishwife · 23/02/2021 18:51

Both my DS's have friends call Gabriel so it's a completely normal name to them. I know of quite a few other too, some Spanish, some English.
Personally, I love it.

partyatthepalace · 23/02/2021 19:23

One of my cousins kids is Gabriel (Gabe) and has no trouble. There are a lot of them these days...

GinaJaffacake · 23/02/2021 21:51

Ok I asked DD(16) re her school friend and she said no bullying that she’s heard of either at primary or now at senior school. However, she’s not at senior school with him although sees him regularly.
Re ‘gay’ as an insult. It’s definitely frowned upon with DD and people she knows. Not just frowned upon but more if a, ‘why is that an insult?’ Kind of thing.

Redlocks28 · 23/02/2021 21:55

Just asked mine-he said, ‘what-like the angel?’!!

Original poster
Drunkenmonkey · 24/02/2021 07:43

Most people seem to think it's fine then with no issues, with a few that have seen bullying. I wonder if it depends a bit on the area you live in.

OP posts:
ottie27 · 24/02/2021 07:56

I’m a teacher and we have a few Gabriels in our school. Most of them seem to be fine, but I know one did have a bit of hassle when he was younger.

My sense is that it’s not necessarily something that a kid would be teased for in and of itself, but perhaps might be seized on as additional ammunition during an argument / more general bullying.

I like the name, though.

Whatsyourflava · 24/02/2021 08:05

Love the name Gabriel
One of my absolute favourites and not eyebrow raising at all to me

And @EvilEdna1 I'm really surprised people these days would assume your nephew Gabriel was Gabrielle.
over 900 baby boys named Gabriel in 2019 and around 70 girls name Gabrielle.
Gabrielle is practically extinct so I think that mix up will cease soon. Practically no one is called Gabrielle anymore

cptartapp · 24/02/2021 08:13

DS said it's effeminate and makes him think of angels!

AlwaysLatte · 24/02/2021 08:13

So has a friend called Gabriel at school (Gabe). He's not bullied, he does ballet too and isn't bullied for that either.

Fembot123 · 24/02/2021 08:13

@cptartapp

DS said it's effeminate and makes him think of angels!
How old is your DS? Angel Gabriel is a man..