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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Giving baby a famous/well known name?

71 replies

DoYouWantACuppa · 07/04/2022 09:40

Hi All. FTM here. We know we are having a girl. Husband and I struggling to agree on a name. There is a one we both like, but when paired with our surname makes a well-known actress name (born early 70s if that makes a difference!) Would that put you off choosing that name or would you pick it anyway? E.g. Would you pick Scarlett if your surname was Johansson? Would you pick Kate if your surname was Winslet? Not because we want to name our baby after the actress but because we genuinely like the name. Husband says it’s not an issue but I’m not so sure, but we struggling to find alternatives! WWYD? Many thanks!

OP posts:

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DockOTheBay · 07/04/2022 11:02

I know a 5 year old called George Harrison. I clocked it but then forgot really. But then George is a very common first name and Harrison a very common last name. Would be quite different if they had named him Ringo Starr!

Fortyseven007 · 07/04/2022 11:11

Definitely depends how common the first name and surname are. And how famous the person is. And how long lasting their career will be. Someone who is famous now may not be when your dd is 10/20/30.

This.

thefirstmrskelly · 07/04/2022 11:19

I think the how well know the person is is far more important than the how common the names are. Grace is completely unusable for me with the surname Kelly, even though neither name alone is remarkable. I went to school with a Tom Jones and the connection wasn’t missed.

otherbookmarks · 07/04/2022 11:20

Showing my age here but as a child I lived near Glenn Miller and Petula Clark. I felt so sorry for Petula and so relieved I had a boring name.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 07/04/2022 11:22

Generally no, but it depends so much what it is.

If both names are fairly common and the actor is not a massively well known one then not too bad. If the actor uses a shortened version of their name, or if you intend to mainly use a shortened version it might be ok, likewise if you were going with different spellings. So being Kathryn Middleton (generally shortened to Kathy or Katy), or being Michael Fox (known as Mickey and with a middle name that doesn't beging with J) wouldn't be as awkward as being say Angelina Jolie.

If the names are very unusual or very much associated with that actor then no. No one needs to be saddled with being "Keanu Reeves, no not that one, ha ha".

Also consider the connotations of the name now and what they might do in the future. If they are still alive and in the public eye then there is a risk that they become drastically more famous or worse infamous in future and there could be scope for very negative associations.

So I would say no in most cases.

HomeHomeInTheRange · 07/04/2022 11:25

No.

leccybill · 07/04/2022 11:27

I've taught a Grace Kelly, a Daniel O'Donnell and a Mo Salah.

AuntieStella · 07/04/2022 11:28

It definitely depends on how famous the person is, and whether the name is unusual., and whether the name has a short form.

I've known a couple of RL Mike Jacksons and no-one really noticed. But I think a more distinctive name (even if it's a less famous person) could have its difficulties, especially if the person we're ever involved in a scandal.

Could you give the DC the other parents surname, if you love the first name so much you'd even chance the association?

KirstenBlest · 07/04/2022 11:29

I know some people who had such names.

One has the same name as an actor of about the same age, so wasn't an issue until adulthood

One had the same name as an actress but took her husband's surname. It didn't bother her

The other had a hollywood heart throb name and was just an average looking lad

I think that given the number of names that there are, you could probably avoid calling your child the same name.

theqentity · 07/04/2022 11:29

Is it Drake?

Goldenbutterflies · 07/04/2022 11:31

I’ve known people with a famous name and the most anyone has said is ‘oh like X’ when they’ve said their name the first time but then it’s forgotten. Also a lot of interactions only require a first name anyway so it wouldn’t happen often.

Limer · 07/04/2022 11:37

People will automatically assume you've named her after her famous namesake. And you could be setting her up for a lifetime of explaining why to everyone she meets.

Don't do it. There are so many lovely names, choose another one.

GreenClock · 07/04/2022 11:47

I think it depends on how unusual the names are and how big the actress is.

Also, sharing a name with a conventionally attractive celeb could be a hindrance to a plain child.

RuthW · 07/04/2022 12:20

My dd has a famous name. The person became famous after she was born.

Luckily it's not too well known.

I wouldn't do it.

KirstenBlest · 07/04/2022 12:21

I think I used to work with a 'Paul Newman, no not that one'

Whitewolf2 · 07/04/2022 12:25

I wouldn’t do it if they are very well known. I watched a tv show where people named things like ‘Jenifer Lopez’ were finding life very irritating, you call people/companies and they think you’re taking the piss when you tell them your name…

itssquidstella · 07/04/2022 12:37

A family member was called Diana Ross. She was once rushed to hospital close to where the real Diana Ross was due to perform a concert that night. The hospital staff were all very disappointed when my family member was offloaded from the ambulance...

dfendyr · 07/04/2022 12:54

Totally depends on what the name is

SemperIdem · 07/04/2022 12:56

No, I wouldn’t.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 07/04/2022 17:59

Please don't do it. Even if it's only a middling famous person's name it would still be a total fannyache for her. Endless boring conversations about her namesake. And even worse if the famous person is movie star gorgeous and your daughter turns out to be ordinary looking/plain. Being called Cameron Diaz but looking more like Pauline Fowler from Eastenders would be tedious.

SirNicholasDeMimsyPorpington · 07/04/2022 20:07

Sorry to take your thread off on a slight tangent OP, but on this topic, do you all think that the name Matthew Lewis would be an issue?

AntarcticTern · 07/04/2022 20:09

I wouldn't personally. We avoided a first name I liked for this exact reason.

NotRainingToday · 07/04/2022 20:10

There's a lot of Harry Potters out there.....mostly named before JK Rowling. I wouldn't think too hard about it, unless the name is Twiggy or Cher or something.

Obelisk · 07/04/2022 20:14

No. There are so many names out there- why do this unless you want it to be A Thing (eg deliberately calling your son Harry Kane because you love Spurs).

romdowa · 07/04/2022 20:22

A family I know with the surname Murphy, named their son cillian. I don't think many people bat an eye lid at it tbh.

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