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?

We’ll the feminine version of Alfred is Alfreda …so Freda,Frederica maybe. Alpha isn’t related to Alf at all and is a bit weird for a name.

It's not a Greek name meaning 'new beginnings'. It's just the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

I agree with PP that of your husband dislikes it you shouldn't use it.

There are lots of good suggestions upthread to honour an 'Alfie'. Personally I like 'Elfie'

No.

no you didn't

Someone on here suggested Alfia which I love! I'm still in love with the name Alpha but I'm reconsidering it now

This.

I liked the suggestion of Aphra that someone else made.

I would have slight reservations about Alpha for the reasons others have given, but personally I think that Alfie, your dear grandfather's name, would make a perfectly acceptable name for a girl as well as a boy. Originally, I'm guessing that it might have been used as an abbreviation of Alfreda.

Failing that, could you find, or even invent, a longer girls name that would be acceptable to your DH, but that could easily be shortened to Alfie for everyday use?

Yes and that’s an actual name?

alpha reminds me of alpha male. Sorry. Alfia looks like a mispronunciation of Althea.

I like Alva, Elfie, Elfrida, Alfreda as alternatives. Or just call her Alfie!

... or shortened to Alfa, your own preference.

@bringmetheheadofpastaalfredo it's not a name I've ever heard of, and was something I thought for the op, so effectively yes. If it is a name used, then so much the better.

If you had Icelandic connections you could use Alfrun ("owl-froon"), I have a friend named that and it really suits her. But Alpha makes me think of wolf packs or something.

Actually, just remembered I know a Fia which is close to Alfie.

I'm not a fan of Alfreda that many people are suggesting, it reminds me too much of pasta! I like Alfia and other names such as Aphra so I will likely reconsider and pick something similar.

You absolutely cannot call the poor child Alpha. It has so many psychological connotations: alpha female, alpha male etc. What if your little one turns out to be a bit thick and definitely a delta or a gamma? If you must do something yoonique then Alphia is passable but Sophia much prettier.

Have you considered Elphaba / Alphaba?

My dear MIL is an alphia and gets Alfie .

From my link…

Aeverie
Aubrey
Elfie
Elvene
Elwyn

Please don’t call your child Alpha.

I actually really like Alphia though.

If you like Aurora but don't like the Disney reference, what about Aurelia?

I agree with this.

I mean, I don't like the name Freda, but at least it is a proper name, and a girl's name.

I'm glad you've agreed it needs to be something your dh likes as well, as it sounds like he is thinking about a person having to introduce themselves with this name for the rest of their lives - which should ALWAYS be the main thing to consider when choosing a name.

I was just going to suggest this! Aphra is a fantastic name.

Yes, Alfia sounds great - modern but not contrived, iykwim. I hope you and your DH can find something like that which you both love.

I really love that name, bit too far from Alfie for me but it's beautiful nonetheless