Alberta

[MooritRomney]

We cannot decide on a name for the baby and seem to be running out the clock on registering her. We have a short list, but can’t make up our minds.

Alberta is a very meaningful family name but it’s a bit outré and I’m not sure … I love it pronounced in Spanish (ahl-bear-ta) less so in English. I think Bertie and Albie are adorable nicknames but … is too much? Do we think 9,14 and 23 year old Alberta will hate it or she won’t care because she goes by a nickname?

We have other children with traditional names that are also from the family, but they’re all more common than Alberta.

Love it, was tempted to use it for DD but DH has 2 girls and I didn't want people thinking we wanted a boy Albert.

It was on our list. I know an Alberta in her 20s now, goes by Bertie, v cool. Although I despise Bertie for a boy . Took it off the list because I don't really like the concept of feminised boys' names for girls from a feminist standpoint, although Alberta makes me think of Canada and exploring and adventure.

I think it's totally wonderful.

I really like it!

I love it!

My daughter has a pretty unusual name and it's never been a problem for her. It gets remarked on sometimes then just becomes normal.

Do it!

I think Bert’s a really ugly sound (also Albert, Robert etc are pretty awful) but I know a lot of MNers disagree on that.

Does it not sound dated in Spanish, like Angustias or Elvira? I'd check on that.

Alberta with Alba for short works beautifully though especiallyl if you have a connection to Canada

How is the Spanish pronunciation different from the English?

I find the "bert" part very ugly. There's an Instagram mum with triplet girls, and one of them is called Bertie. The others have beautiful names, but Bertie is so ugly.

The name, not the girl!

It's not a pretty name
Albie is a boy's name and is awful

Now see, this is why you take a poll on Mumsnet, no one would ever say, “It’s horrid!” to your face 😂

The Canadian allusion is actually a plus — the province is a very meaningful place for us but we don’t ever plan to live in Canada so I’m not concerned about Canadians finding it odd.

The other names on our list are all much more common, Lucia, Sara, Dorothy, Hannah. All meaningful in their own way but by far the one that’s the most meaningful to us is Alberta, which is also the most unusual.

@EishetChayil the pronunciation in Spanish is “bear” not “bur” — I have resigned myself to the English pronunciation but it’s part of what makes me hesitate. If we were living in Spain I’d have no qualms about the pronunciation.

I like it!!

Don't see why the fact it's a Canadian province is being made such a big deal of. Victoria is a waterfall, Adelaide is a city... Big deal.

With regards to the pronunciation, yes people will read it wrong but they'll get it - everyone she's at school with will learn how to say it, so will family. She'll just have to live with correcting people as she gets older and is meeting new people. It's not that difficult. People don't tell others not to use Irish or Welsh names because they'll be pronounced wrong!

Also I think Bertie is a cute nickname for a girl.

As much as I wouldn't enjoy being called Alberta, I would absolutely haaaaaaaaaaaaate to be called Bertie. Yuck.

I agree that Albertine is a much nicer name and lends to the same shortenings.

Omg I love that name. If I had another Dd (will never happen) would have wanted that though Dh and my mother both agreed it was terrible!

Hmm... not sure. How about just Alba?

Dorothy?! 😳

@HomeCountiesMum

Dorothy?! 😳

Dorothy is nice! Dot is a good nickname too.

@SirSamuelVimes

I like it!!

Don't see why the fact it's a Canadian province is being made such a big deal of. Victoria is a waterfall, Adelaide is a city... Big deal.

With regards to the pronunciation, yes people will read it wrong but they'll get it - everyone she's at school with will learn how to say it, so will family. She'll just have to live with correcting people as she gets older and is meeting new people. It's not that difficult. People don't tell others not to use Irish or Welsh names because they'll be pronounced wrong!

Also I think Bertie is a cute nickname for a girl.

@SirSamuelVimes Don't see why the fact it's a Canadian province is being made such a big deal of. Victoria is a waterfall, Adelaide is a city... Big deal.

Victoria Falls was named after Queen Victoria, and Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide, so they were girl's names first.

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Prince Albert's daughter.

I would not use a place name or an Irish or Welsh name without there being some connection, and there are plenty of comments about how Irish and Welsh names are mispronounced

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Prince Albert's daughter.

And thus was a well know person's name before it was a place name. Just like Victoria etc.

I find the discounting it because there's a province with the name bizarre logic and it's so inconsistent.

Discounting it because it's ugly and a feminisation off a male name (they're generally unsuccessful to my ear) is however fair enough

Victoria Falls was named after Queen Victoria, and Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide, so they were girl's names first.

Alberta was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Prince Albert's daughter.

So Alberta was also a girl's name first, then? No difference!

I would not use a place name or an Irish or Welsh name without there being some connection

OP has said there is a connection, hasn't she?

and there are plenty of comments about how Irish and Welsh names are mispronounced

And they generally get rightfully criticised as ignorant / xenophobic.

I love it OP, especially with nn Alba which I prefer to either of your options (I'm not keen on boys' nn on girls).

Interesting that some Canadians on here dislike it because of the province; I'm Canadian and I love it for that reason. For me it sounds wild, beautiful and regal rather than just "girl version of Albert".

No how about aubrey instead

wild, beautiful and regal

Or oil and cowboys (and right wingers)!

Roberta is nicer.