Bear

[DoctorBambino]

Fully prepared for this one to get pulled apart. Me and DH love the name Bear but know it's a bit out there.

We really don't like names like Edward which Bear comes from, just Bear itself.

What do people think?

I agree that people will assume it's a nickname and ask what his actual name is. Entirely different if he has Native American heritage, but not if he's a middle-class white kid from Camden.

Thanks @cloudmamma nice to hear of someone who knows an adult with this name. I think the same, once people know someone's name do you really ever question it!?

If I raise him to be a kind, friendly, overall nice person surely only dickheads would judge him badly on his name. Would you really ask someone to explain their name!? And judge them negatively for it? Really!?!

I think that says more about you.

I actually do have Native American heritage. You would never know it to look at me though!

We used a shortening of a popular name for our son, and had that on his birth certificate rather than the long name. I think it's easier than putting the full name on certificate and then never using it.

I quite like Bear, but would be concerned it doesn't suit our child, and they don't have the big personality to pull it off. I think if you were very shy, and wanted to blend into background, Bear would not suit you.

I have a friend with a Ned, and it's Ned on birth certificate too. Would this work as a name? Less out there than Bear.

@NotMaryWhitehouse

I never comment on these threads, but honestly I think the Scandinavian way is best: a set number of names that a baby can be called to avoid saddling a child with such a ridiculous non-name.

I take it you didn't read the thread recently where a girl wanted desperately to change her name from that given to her by her mother? Don't be that mum.

Would you call a child Lego? Jigsaw? Tonka truck?

It doesn't say that you're cool, or different, it says that you're a bellend. Think about your child, who will one day be an adult.

Interesting you mention Scandinavia-Björn (which literally means Bear) is a perfectly normal/common name there. As is Thorbjörn-ThunderBear. And other names like Stig meaning Beach. Bear is awful in the UK though!

He's from Fiji and I thought it might be a common Fijian name as I've never heard it before on anyone else

That’s a bit like saying I know a Native American who is called Running Bear and I’ve never considered it odd so it wouldn’t be odd if someone (who was obviously not Native American) used it and their child would grow into it and people wouldn’t think it unusual.

Awful as actual name

The one i know has an unusual but more formal actual name, though was known as Bear since birth. However, now that he’s in Reception, he is vocal about finding Bear babyish and a bit embarrassing, and is insisting on his BC name.

OP, read Freakonomics, yes of course people judge others by their name since it shows what type of parents and therefore upbringing they had. People will make assumptions, it’s basic nature.

Bear is dreadful, it doesn’t even sound nice. ‘Beh’ in English accents, ‘bur’ in mine, bleargh in general 😄

I love it, I love unusual names but you have to be prepared to shrug off judgement and teach your child to do the same.

I wonder how many parents love unusual names would be happy to have the same names themselves. Have they changed their boring normal name to something more weird and wonderful by deed poll?

Terrible, please don’t. How about Beau?

I like it. But then I like Kitty, Teddy etc. I didn't name my DC any of these names as my DH thought I was a little odd. Persephone was another My DC have names that are unsual in that they aren't popular today like Jennifer or Caroline.

Use it as a middle name so he can at least avoid it when the inevitable bullying begins 😬

This attitude of avoiding bullying just seems really wrong to me on a moral level. Why should we teach our children to conform and behave a particular way because some horrible kid might bully them? If a kid bullies my child because of their name, I would like to teach my child how to manage bellends and stand up for what is right rather than shy away and do what people expect of you.

I say that as someone who grew up with a very bully friendly surname!

Why are you asking people what they think then?

Can you imagine introducing yourself at interviews etc. as Bear? Please don’t inflict that on a child.

I use bear as a nickname- baby bear as she’s only 4 months. She has an actual name though!

Because I'm looking for what I consider as valid reasons for such negative opinions. I want to see if people can persuade me and test how confident I feel about the name. I'm very interested in people's opinions, doesn't mean I have to agree with them or not question them.

@DoctorBambino

I get people's point about having a choice but if he hates Bear, he could just go with whatever name he wants. Otherwise at school he will always be his official name and then have to correct people.

Thank you for your story @Anotheruser02 that's how I feel too!

Re the celebrity comments we are very un-celebrity people. Very normal, both quite introverted, not at all rock star or hipster or anything like that. We just genuinely love the name. I do find it off putting that Cheryl Cole used it but she's pretty outdated now, I'm hoping people will have forgotten about it 😊

You’re very introverted but you’re giving your son a name that instantly puts a target on his back.

It’s not about avoiding bullies but it’s about limiting the exposure of ridicule you set him up for. Imagine a fifteen year old scrawny kid called Bear. Call him it as a nickname but please for the love of god don’t call him bear and expect him not to get the absolute shit ripped out of him.

It would be great as a nickname but I personally don't love it alone. I feel the same way about Ted / Teddy (I prefer Bear to these two though.)

There's a lady popular on Instagram called Skye Wheatley who just had a son called Bear. Her other sons name is Forrest. I actually think Bear could work as a nickname for Forrest!

My nickname is Bear as of years. My husband and son now have variations on Bear and we are known as the Bears (by family, who are mocking us gently). Mercifully it’s not on any of our passports though! Give him a normal name, doesn’t have to be related to Bear. Every second person calls their child something Bear affectionately anyway.

Cheryl Cole is very outdated now but Liam Payne isn’t. In fact he’s still very much at the forefront of media, especially with teenagers.

How about Beric?
Very cool GOT character, not widely used but passes the high court judge/doctor test
Eg Dr Beric Surname will see you now
And you can happily call him Bear as a nickname…

Personally not a fan of bear, but have you considered Bjorn? It was a common Viking name and translated to bear. A friend of mine was considering it if she'd had a boy but ended up with 3 girls 😂