Active discussions

Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Should I name my daughter Alpha?

208 replies

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:09

first time poster, bit new to all this!
Recently my beloved grandfather Alfie passed and the entire family were devastated. About a month later we found out we were expecting our second child and I new right away that I wanted to name it after him. A few weeks ago we discovered that I am having a darling baby girl and after researching some names, I fell in love with the name Alpha. It's a greek name meaning new beginnings and it's so similar to my grandfather's name that it seemed perfect to me.

However my DH and a few other friends disagree and think that she will be bullied for this unconventional name and that I should consider something else. I want a name my husband and I can agree on but I can't think of any more fitting name than Alpha. I came on here to ask for other opinions on this?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Headabovetheparakeet · 09/01/2023 17:12

I wouldn't as it has other meanings to people which could make her life difficult. Maybe use it as a middle name?

KnitterNat · 09/01/2023 17:13

No, there are too many possible jokes, from alpha personality types to the alpha course. It also doesn't mean "new beginnings" in Greek, any more than A means "new beginnings" in English.

How about Aurora? Means "dawn" and is a name.

OwwwMuuuum · 09/01/2023 17:14

Might make people think you wanted her to be “alpha” which means dominant in our culture (UK) eg alpha male.

Aphra is a lovely, outdated and unique name (Aphra Behn was a female playwright in the 17th century)

Pennyforthezombies · 09/01/2023 17:14

I like Alpha and considered it years ago for my DD. It certainly won’t be a common name.

FlounderingFruitcake · 09/01/2023 17:15

Y3 is known as Alpha at my old school. So I wouldn’t and it sounds ridiculous to me.

Also irrelevant what the name is, if your DH doesn’t like it then it’s out. Names are unequivocally a to 2 yes, 1 no situation.

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:15

Headabovetheparakeet · 09/01/2023 17:12

I wouldn't as it has other meanings to people which could make her life difficult. Maybe use it as a middle name?

Yes I feel so conflicted because it has other meanings, but I assumed since it has no negative connotations it might be ok. I'll consider it as a middle name but I really love it as a first name still

OP posts:
WhisperGold · 09/01/2023 17:15

Have you watched the Walking Dead?

MolesOnPoles · 09/01/2023 17:15

It’s not great.

It doesn’t honour an Alfie in the same way, but I really like Aphra.

MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 09/01/2023 17:16

I really love Alfie for a girl, but I was a huge Alison Moyet fan back in the day so don't find it gender specific.

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:16

KnitterNat · 09/01/2023 17:13

No, there are too many possible jokes, from alpha personality types to the alpha course. It also doesn't mean "new beginnings" in Greek, any more than A means "new beginnings" in English.

How about Aurora? Means "dawn" and is a name.

Thanks for the suggestion, I love the name Aurora but I didn't want her to be named after a Disney princess!

OP posts:
MilkshakesBringAllTheCoosToTheYard · 09/01/2023 17:16

Elfie?

Lesserspottedmama · 09/01/2023 17:16

I really like it. There will always be naysayers to any and every name. It’s a lovely name.

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:17

Pennyforthezombies · 09/01/2023 17:14

I like Alpha and considered it years ago for my DD. It certainly won’t be a common name.

Yes I love how unique it is! It's gender neutral too which is great

OP posts:
SoThisisMe · 09/01/2023 17:17

It's awful. Sorry.
Think how bloody daft you'd look shouting that across the playground.

But if your DH doesn't like it that means you can't use it anyway, surely?

AndyWarholsPiehole · 09/01/2023 17:17

What about Althea?

NellietheNumpty · 09/01/2023 17:18

Afra is a lovely name or what about Eve or Aviva.

jamoncrumpets · 09/01/2023 17:18

It doesn't mean new beginnings. It means the letter A.

DemBonesDemBones · 09/01/2023 17:18

Yes, I love it! I've always wanted to use it but had boys! Please use it.

KnitterNat · 09/01/2023 17:18

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:16

Thanks for the suggestion, I love the name Aurora but I didn't want her to be named after a Disney princess!

Show quote history

Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, which predates Disney by a fair bit!

Original poster
paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:18

Lesserspottedmama · 09/01/2023 17:16

I really like it. There will always be naysayers to any and every name. It’s a lovely name.

Exactly the reply I was hoping for, even if the word Alpha has other meanings now, to me it reminds me of my grandfather and I've always been a fan of more historical/classic names

OP posts:
ohyouknowwhatshername · 09/01/2023 17:19

No. How about Athena?

Boringcookingquestion · 09/01/2023 17:19

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:15

Yes I feel so conflicted because it has other meanings, but I assumed since it has no negative connotations it might be ok. I'll consider it as a middle name but I really love it as a first name still

Show quote history

I think it does have some negative connotations… it makes me think of men who strut around calling themselves alpha males but are really just misogynistic and/or bullies.

Fakeairpodsfakeoodie · 09/01/2023 17:19

Alpha was a very strong character in the walking dead, lead a big group of people.
Evil and came to a sticky end but still a strong person while alive.
If I ever met a male Alpha I would think he was a nob, if I met a female Alpha I would think of the walking dead.

Takentomybed · 09/01/2023 17:19

I like it. I know of one child called Alpha and it really suits them. No-one has ever said anything negative about the name. I would go for it

Milkand2sugarsplease · 09/01/2023 17:19

You really love it as a first name but your husband doesn't so it's a no. Baby is half him, he needs a say and you both need to agree on one. It doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks of it but you 2 need to like whatever you choose.