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?

Alpha - I would say no, for all the reasons mentioned and also your husband vetoed it
Alfia - to me sounds like someone with a lisp trying to say Althea
Aphra - love this!
Althea - ok
Aurora - nice

Only name her 'Alpha' if you call your last child, 'Omega' :-).

It makes me think of the Alpha course amongst other things. Your daughter will not forgive you if you call her that. An alternative could be,'Alfreda', which means 'all powerful'.

However I'm sure there are other names which will remind you of grandfather.

This is something I never understand; unless you're using the same name how is it really honouring anyone? It's a different name! Pointless.

That said, I vote no to Alpha anyway. Stretching the definition of naming after a family member maybe first name beginning with Al and middle name beginning with Fi?

I personally like it as a name, but with the connotations of 'Alpha Male' it might cause problems for your DD in future.
Adelpha?
Afra?
Theta (if you like the greek)?
You could call her Alfreda and nickname Alpha or even Alfie itself?

As others have said, Elfrida/Alfreda are really nice names. Much better than Alpha and closer to your respected deceased relative's name anyway.

Was a much underrated operatic singer called Alfreda Hodgson who died tragically young. Another - if you like classcal music - good reason to remember the name.

No, you shouldn't

I'm genuinely considering just using Alfie! The more I think about it, the more I like it

I agree with this.

You will have had 4 Grandparents. Are you going to use all their names ?

As she is a girl, you won't even be using his name. There really is no point in this.
Choose a name you like. A name that your dh likes also.
You will remember your Grandad without naming your dd something that "might start with the same letter as his name".
Remember she could be wearing this name for 90 years. Don't give her a name that she will have to explain throughout her life and don't give her a name that has such poor connections in people's minds.

Isn’t it the name of one of the velociraptors in Jurassic World?

Alfaye

I agree with pp saying give her her own name, not the name of someone she’ll never know. If all your GP had died recently would you use all their names?
She is a person in her own right, not something to remember your gp by, much as you loved him, find another way to honour him, don’t use your dd.

OP it’s absolutely not a Greek name. It’s like calling your child Doubleyou.

This

Alpha is a man's name.

I know an adult Alpha (male). The name really suits him and he can pull it off. I wouldn’t think of it as a female name.

As a teacher I’ve come across a few boys called Alpha over the years.

Oh God don't call her Alfie. It's such a bloke's name. And a very popular one at that. She'll face a lifetime of people being baffled and confused by her name. Having to add in brackets under her email signature Alfie Johnson (Ms). And still people will assume she's a man.

Why not Freda? Pronounced Freeda. Alpha is a bit much.

If your DH is opposed, you need to come up with another name anyway. You both need to like your child's proposed name.

That said, Alpha will result in all kinds of teasing. It's not a great name for a girl, really, Worse for a boy with all the potential 'alpha male' jokes.

It's not a very pretty name.

The first thing I think of is Alpha Male, that's not very girly..

What about Alifia. It means the one everyone loves or one in a million.

I don't like Alpha

I don't know if it's been suggested but Alfreda with Alfie as a nickname. Or just Alfie? I think that's nice on a girl.

I'd be miffed if I was a woman called Alfie because my great-grandfather Alfie happened to die a few months before I was born. I could cope with it as a middle name (just about) but as a first name? No ta.

There are other ways to honour your beloved grandad. Give your daughter her own lovely name, not one associated with a recent sadness.

I like Alpha but I prefer Alfia

I am another one who feels your dh has to like it.

I think it's unisex, either way I have decided to rethink it