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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?

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Stravaig · 09/01/2023 20:31

No. 6 July 1988. Never forgotten.

Cinnamonandcoal · 09/01/2023 20:32

I quite like it although personally might go for Aphra or Elfrida. I met a child Elfrida the other day and thought that was pretty cool.

ElizaSkye · 09/01/2023 20:41

I do agree with other comments that directly naming after a relative can be a heavy burden to bear, particularly when it’s not a common name or not common to that gender.

Is there another subtle reference you could use as an honour to him perhaps as a middle name? It doesn’t have to be derived from Alfie. It could be a name with a special meaning for another reason. Alfie means wise counsel or similar, so maybe a nice female name with the same meaning?

WandaWomblesaurus · 09/01/2023 20:42

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/01/2023 19:54

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.

Yep this and it will just mean she gets told she's a boy all the time.

Just give her her own name.

ElizaSkye · 09/01/2023 20:43

I do agree with other comments that directly naming after a relative can be a heavy burden to bear, particularly when it’s not a common name or not common to that gender.

Is there another subtle reference you could use as an honour to him perhaps as a middle name? It doesn’t have to be derived from Alfie. It could be a name with a special meaning for another reason. Alfie means wise counsel or similar, so maybe a nice female name with the same meaning?

WandaWomblesaurus · 09/01/2023 20:47

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 09/01/2023 20:18

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.

Yep and seriously - who would want to be called Alfie as a little girl? It's going to make her teachers think you are trying to gender neutralise your infant.

BadlyArrangedToasties · 09/01/2023 21:06

How about alfreda or aphra as pp said.

inappropriateraspberry · 09/01/2023 21:32

Just give her Alfie as a middle name.

Whatwhatwhatnow · 09/01/2023 23:12

Personally hate it as I think Alpha Male and the Alpha Course. But plenty of people use names I hate, so. Sounds like you are really after support for a choice you've made already.

albairlanda · 10/01/2023 07:19

Alfina or Alfreda

AnotherCountryMummy · 10/01/2023 07:31

I'm going to go against the grain and say I like it!

Billslills · 10/01/2023 08:57

I prefer the name Alfie (for a her) than Alpha…

Reindear · 10/01/2023 09:18

Alfie is not good for a little girl.
effie?

UsuallySuze · 10/01/2023 09:36

I quite like Alfie for a little girl but I do wonder whether it only works if she's quite feminine- speaking as someone whose mum got them the shortest possible haircut and dressed them in their brother's hand-me-downs, being mistaken for a boy throughout your childhood is no fun and if I'd had a typical boy's name that would have been worse. I know that lots of girls are called things like Jamie and Bobby and I really like those names but I can't help but think that they work best when playing against type. (Of course, you may have a daughter who is quite happy being mistaken for a boy or you may be happy to dress her in a very feminine way, in which case fine.)

WhatAmIDoingWrong123 · 10/01/2023 09:39

Honestly? Don’t be so bloody stupid. It instantly makes me think ‘alpha male’, not appropriate for a daughter and I wouldn’t use it on a son either. I just wish people would recognise that they are naming people when they come up with these silly names.

Youcancallmenighthawk · 10/01/2023 09:42

I know an adult Alfeya/Alfaya (Al-fay-uh), I forget which spelling. I've always liked it and everyone calls her Alf, which I also love.

TrashyPanda · 10/01/2023 09:52

Alpha gives off mean girl vibes

Insomnia23 · 10/01/2023 22:38

What if you name her Alphabet and you ca her Alpha?

Sorry OP it’s a no from me.

Rhi86 · 10/01/2023 22:50

Alphi looks like a g
Malaysian girls' name if that's helpful!

tattygrl · 11/01/2023 11:18

I have to agree with PP saying it seems a bit unfair to give her such a boy's name as Alfie. I have nothing against gender neutral names, or names that are typically for another gender, but I think that should be chosen by the individual for themselves because it can be a big hassle dealing with other peoples' perceptions/misconceptions. Having to sign off as Alfie Surname is definitely going to have people thinking she's male, and while she might be a person who doesn't care about that, on the other hand she might. I think it's kinder to give her the option. Maybe have Alfie as a middle name? Did your grandad have any other names (middle name, surname) that could be adapted into a name?

Orphlids · 11/01/2023 11:24

I know an Alpha. She’s a cool, intelligent woman. Her name suits her. I really like it.

bravotango · 11/01/2023 11:26

I'd call her Frida, Alfie for short tbh! Frida is a lovely name that she might choose to use as an adult, and Alfie is a great NN for a girl

liveforsummer · 11/01/2023 11:40

I lived in a Greek speaking county for 10 years and never came across it as a name? I'd assume in Greece you'd get a raised eyebrow on introducing and they'd be wondering why you'd named your dd a letter of the alphabet. If you introduced me here I'd wonder why you'd named your girl after the type of bloke who's likely to be a bit of a dick. Alpha isn't the feminine version of Alfie either. Agree Freda/Alfreda is lovely. Or Athena if you specifically like Greek names

goldenfoliage · 11/01/2023 13:09

I would personally be more into names such as Elva, Aelflaed (but of course change spelling to something more usable) or just use Alfie on a girl. In fact, Elva might as well be modern Alpha as first part of Alfred (alf) comes from old English word for elf, so Elva would be modernized form of Aelf-a

Aloezebra · 11/01/2023 13:17

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with giving her a “boys” name, I know a few girls with typically masculine names that are really pretty on them! I prefer Althea nn Alfie though (I know it’s a th and an f sound difference but that’s similar to Anthony nn tony)