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Baby names

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

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?
FayCarew · 11/01/2023 13:54

Would you think it was ok to give a boy a 'girl's' name?

paulinesmithson · 11/01/2023 16:16

FayCarew · 11/01/2023 13:54

Would you think it was ok to give a boy a 'girl's' name?

Yes

OP posts:
Firebird83 · 13/01/2023 22:21

Alphia, this spelling

Ihavehadenoughalready · 14/01/2023 04:00

no.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 14/01/2023 10:05

FayCarew · 11/01/2023 13:54

Would you think it was ok to give a boy a 'girl's' name?

It's funny because I don't see many threads asking if posters should call their little boys Amelia or Sophie (not matter what the OP says). But calling little girls boy's name is "edgy" or subversive.

ChaToilLeam · 14/01/2023 10:08

No, it’s gimmicky and awful. Aphra would be nice though.

FayCarew · 14/01/2023 10:18

@ChildrenOfTheQuorn , I agree. It seems ok on here to call a girl Leo, Theo or Noa (yes, I know it's a girl's name) but nobody is suggesting Lily, Isla or Ava for a boy

JennieTheZebra · 14/01/2023 10:22

I think the biggest problem is that the kid is going to be part of the “Alpha” generation ie the generation that comes after generation Z. Alpha of the Alpha generation is a bit much, it’s like calling your child “boomer”.

53rds · 14/01/2023 10:57

How about a first and middle name along the lines of Alice Fiona to get the nickname Alfie?

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 14/01/2023 11:05

Go for the name Fiona with nn 'Our Fi' 😁

SteveBuscemisRheumyEye · 14/01/2023 16:30

Alfreda? Nn Alfie? I think that would be lovely!!

BabyFour2023 · 14/01/2023 16:32

Middle name Romeo?

BabyFour2023 · 14/01/2023 16:32

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 14/01/2023 10:05

It's funny because I don't see many threads asking if posters should call their little boys Amelia or Sophie (not matter what the OP says). But calling little girls boy's name is "edgy" or subversive.

Agree with this!

KirstenBlest · 14/01/2023 18:17

@BabyFour2023 , nah, middle name Bet.

BabyFour2023 · 14/01/2023 19:40

KirstenBlest · 14/01/2023 18:17

@BabyFour2023 , nah, middle name Bet.

Haha, you win! 😂

SweetPetrichor · 14/01/2023 21:05

Yeah, don’t name your child alpha…it just makes it sound like you’re either really into outdated wolf pack vibes or read a lot of omegaverse. Not what you’re going for!

Beachloveramy · 14/01/2023 21:52

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)

But "Afra" is a type of grilled meat in west Africa - can't win here.

Mydogatemypurse · 14/01/2023 21:57

No

Lacienay · 15/01/2023 12:55

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 17:27

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

I know an Alfia and it gets shortened to Alf all the time at school. She hates it - she’s 10.

Oncemoreoh · 15/01/2023 20:03

paulinesmithson · 09/01/2023 19:21

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

Ridiculous @paulinesmithson your poor daughter having to explain her whole or life she’s got a boys name as her mother called her after her great grandfather as he died around when she was born. Just give her her own first name. Second name Alfie if you must.

Jadviga · 16/01/2023 02:40

"It's funny because I don't see many threads asking if posters should call their little boys Amelia or Sophie (not matter what the OP says). But calling little girls boy's name is "edgy" or subversive."

I don't see a lot of boys wearing skirts yet (thankfully) women being allowed to wear trousers is seen as progressive and modern.

You don't see little boys with girl's names because women are seen as the weaker sex so those boys would be seen as weak. Whereas girls having boy's names is seen as an empowerment. Maybe it's not how it should be, but that's the reality of it.

If you think about the best interests of the child, a girl with a boy's name is less likely to be negatively impacted than a boy with a girl's name.

Anyway, I personally don't find it shocking, depending on the name, though I wouldn't do it - I might use a gender neutral name instead.

This said, OP, boy or girl, I think Alpha can be a difficult name to bear on a daily basis

What about other Alf- names, Alfrieda or Alfonsine, which could have Alfa as a nickname ?

Or other names with similar sounds such as Khalifa for instance ?

Raphaëlle can be called Raphie which sounds close to Alfie ? Obviously it's a bit of a stretch as a way of honouring someone, but throwing this one there as it sounds like you love the sound of the name more than the actual connection ?

Judgyjudgy · 16/01/2023 03:47

Seen The walking dead? Would advise against it. Plus the general connotations. Can you use another variation instead?

Lacienay · 16/01/2023 08:42

I wouldn’t spell it Alpha (male, bet) or Alfa (car), I’d spell it Alfah if you decided upon it.
Alfia would be a bit better.

Allaboardthegroovytrain · 29/01/2023 09:28

Amalfi like the Italian coastline.

Ellmau · 29/01/2023 09:46

Alvina, Alvie for short?