Should I name my daughter Alpha?

[paulinesmithson]

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?

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

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.

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Aphra is a lovely, outdated and unique name (Aphra Behn was a female playwright in the 17th century)

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

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.

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

Have you watched the Walking Dead?

It’s not great.

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

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.

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

Elfie?

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

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

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?

What about Althea?

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

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

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

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

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

No. How about Athena?

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.

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.

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

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.