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?

Ah, I have to go against most here & say I love it! It’s a cute name for a children, but something cool about it when they are that little bit older! Love it :)

Wow @EdgeOfACoin - this is a really unfair comment. You can ask for the opinions of others but it doesn't mean you can't disagree with them or enter into any sort of debate.*

In what way is it unfair? She has dismissed every point raised by PPs.

It is absolutely her prerogative to do so, but many of the points would have given me pause for thought (I didn't know about 'Bear' being a slang term, for example). I just feel that if you are that set on a name, there's very little point in canvassing opinions from others. Surely the point of an anonymous baby name board is that you can get brutal honesty?

Bear is cute as a nickname. It does, however, have fairly big drawbacks as a given name, and ultimately it is the OP's son who will have to live with those drawbacks.

She doesn't have to name her son Edward or Oliver, but something like Beric (as pp suggested) seems like a decent compromise.

As much as I'm debating the points raised, I honestly am taking the comments on board and they will for sure have an impact on my decision. Just because I don't agree doesn't mean I can't see the potential impact these opinions could have on my child. I genuinely do appreciate everyone's comments!

Very cute as a nickname for a baby/toddler. The name Orson means bear cub which I think is lovely. To be honest the fact that Cheryl Cole and Jamie Oliver used it would put me off Bear more than the fact it’s unusual for a first name. I know Coleen Rooney put me off a few boys names that I had on my list.

Just my two pence worth, but I'm so grateful my birth certificate name is a classic, sensible name. I have many nicknames though, and my name allows for many nicknames (both cutsie and more serious). This has allowed me as an adult to go whichever way I choose whilst still retaining my formal name. I personally find this important as I still have a consistent identity. It also means that rightly or wrongly, when in the work place I use my formal name, which gives people a good first impression. I don't understand why anyone would formally name their child something which is a nickname and therefore reduce their options in the future, leaving them with having to change their name my deed poll.

When he starts school, there will be a 'known as' option, he won't automatically be called the name on his birth certificate. You could therefore give him a more 'sensible' name, with Bear as a nickname, so he has a choice when he's older.

@DoctorBambino

Uhoh off to Google Stephen Bear now

Don't! Please don't.

It seems like lots of points habe been well covered but just to add that despite the fairly posh Bear Grylls, I think it's a name that will immediately say working class to people in the future. Obviously nothing wrong with that at all but work out if you find that a positive or a negative for you personally as people judge and also welcome by name, so it will have an effect. Much as choosing to use Jolyon or Something of that sort will be useful for some but negative for others.

It's too much as a given name for me. Cute "animal" names - Bear, Fox, Teddy, Wolf/ie, Kit/ty don't suit every child imo so they are better as nn's.

I haven't read through the whole thread but I'm guessing pp have suggested Theodore/Theoden, Thaddeus, Arthur, Rupert, Edmund/Edwin/Edgar/Edison or Hugh/Hugo as other potential BC names for "Bear" instead of Edward? Basically lots of boys names have links to Teddy's/ Bear's!

@goldenrachita

It seems like lots of points habe been well covered but just to add that despite the fairly posh Bear Grylls, I think it's a name that will immediately say working class to people in the future. Obviously nothing wrong with that at all but work out if you find that a positive or a negative for you personally as people judge and also welcome by name, so it will have an effect. Much as choosing to use Jolyon or Something of that sort will be useful for some but negative for others.

Bear grylls’ real name is Edward.

I agree with everything you’ve said.

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.

Not true. On the paperwork you can elect to have the school call them a different name than on their BC, there’s a box for that. Once they get into tear 3 they ask the child what name they want to go by and the child tells them. My child now wants to be known as his nickname even though everyone outside of school calls him his long name.

@LittleMissMoggy

Just my two pence worth, but I'm so grateful my birth certificate name is a classic, sensible name. I have many nicknames though, and my name allows for many nicknames (both cutsie and more serious). This has allowed me as an adult to go whichever way I choose whilst still retaining my formal name. I personally find this important as I still have a consistent identity. It also means that rightly or wrongly, when in the work place I use my formal name, which gives people a good first impression. I don't understand why anyone would formally name their child something which is a nickname and therefore reduce their options in the future, leaving them with having to change their name my deed poll.

^ exactly. You are limiting your child and what parent wants to do that! 🤷‍♀️

I think the age is works least for is 9-21.

If you know any teenage boys/young men, ask them if they’d like it. I’ve just asked my nephews and they snorted and said a very clear, ‘no’.

I have a nephew called Bear.
Jury is still out I'm afraid.
We all sort of said 'eh?' when we found out his name. This was quite a while ago now & it still feels weird saying his name. It's all a bit 'wrestly' & hairy back.
I'm with the other posters who think it's a nickname.
Sorry OP!

I like it and think people "grow into" their names. I don't think it will be odd for an adult by the time he is one. As you say, there are a few around at the moment.
I wouldn't give your baby another name and use this as a nickname. Bear on it's own is great in that it can't be shortened.
He could change it himself if he really hated it but he may well not.
If you love it, go with it.

Oh dear ... no...fine as a cute nickname for a baby/ toddler but not for an older child/ teen. Agree with others- choose a more trad name like Edward and use it as a NN then at least the poor kid has a choice later on.

I really like it. I think if you went with it he would grow into it. I have relatively unique names for my DC, one of which was strongly disliked on this forum but my DD just is that name now and no one bats an eye.

Oh god no. So twee, infantile and faddish. One of the women I work with has a toddler Bear and the staff are still collectively going every time he's mentioned, you don't get used to it ime.

Awful, but I know of 3

I think Bear is trendy, and not in a good way. Animal names (Bear, Fox, Wren) are rising rapidly in popularity, and being discussed a lot on online naming communities and I think they'll drop just as quickly and end up as fast fashion type names. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but something I'd personally want to avoid.

It won't ruin your child's life and isn't dreadful. Mumsnet are very conservative and middle class with name advice. As you've pointed out, Bear is moderately well used at the moment; there have been around 500 Bears born in the last 20 years.

I use Bear as one of my son's nicknames, but he has a regular name (nothing to do with Bears). I think unless you are fabulously wealthy so your son doesn't have to ever care how people judge the name it would be a not very nice thing to do to the poor little chap!

I do like bears, and these names all mean bear and are accepted names:

Bernard/ Bern/ Bernie
Bjørn
Arthur
Math/ Mathghamhain - Matt, Mahon

"Arthur" is from the word "ardd" meaning "tall", and "Math" means "good". (Gamhain means cub).

The sound of the English word "bear" is not nice, especially when people don't say r. It sounds a lot like "meh". That would be my main objection.
It is said that there was a Spanish princess named Beara who married an Irish king and their land was named after her. Lovely as the story is, the placename is more likely to mean "water" as "beer" does in placenames.

I know a lovely Beren, easily shortened to Bear.

We have a 13 year old Bear. Can honestly say it's never been an issue. Well, once, we were camping and a girl said my mum said your name is stupid.

I also have an unusual name and it's never been an issue for me either.

I find only the odd person to have ever said anything about my name would likely have found something else to poke at if not my name.

We love it. Go for it. Max, people forget. Bear, they don't.

I know one ...he's 5