Baby name update - (Alpha)

[paulinesmithson]

This is an update post to the baby name thread I started a few weeks ago deciding whether or not to use the name Alpha for my DD (due March).
If you haven't already read the post, to sum up:
My grandfather Alfie passed just before we found out we are expecting my DD and I wanted to use the name Alpha to honour his name.

There were many mixed opinions but we have settled (DH and I) on the name Alfa.

Its spelling isn't the same as the version with all the bad connotations and I think using the f instead of ph is closer to Alfie anyway so this seemed like the best name we could find. DH is fully on board with the name and we plan to use the nickname Alf too which I think is so cute!

Alfa's a "real" (but pretty old-fashioned) girl's name in Finland, although to be fair I think it is a borrowed man's name, from Alfr, so probably the work of Swedish colonialists to boot. And it's pronounced a bit differently. Then there's Alfa Anderson (former lead singer of Chic).

And Alfre Woodward - fake man's name hasn't done her any harm! 😎

If you are determined to do this then why not name her Alfie instead of a made up name?!

If you’re going to honour him, do it properly instead of saddling her with a ridiculous name.

You might be happy being called Alfa, but you’re an adult, not a child who’s got to deal with it through all those difficult and awkward child and teenage years ahead of her.

Alfie for a girl is a million times better than Alfa.

As someone said, there are girls called Rory, James etc. I know a baby girl called Tommie.

This ☝️

I've started a new job and there's someone called Cinderella who goes by the nn Cindy. She absolutely hates the names and is saving up to change it via deed poll. Be prepared for this possibility if you decide to give her this marmite name.

There are far more nicer names to honour your grandad with but if you're determined than have it as a middle name. She has to go to secondary school and deal with the bullying and name calling. Alfalfa beansprouts?!!

I like Alpha. I really don’t like the spelling Alfa though. It looks made up and ‘yooneek’. Alpha is much classier.

Alfie for a girl is VERY cute. Alfa is questionable. Sorry.

(My daughter has a an old fashioned very feminine name but her nickname, that we all call her, is typically male and she really suits it!)

And you could use Romeo as a middle name. Alfa Romeo sounds fantastic - sleek and sporty.

Put Alfa into Google and see if you want to call a little girl the same as any of the companies and products that come up.

Poor kid!

Well she’s sure never going to find a pen with her name on it.

A is for Alpha, B is for bites, C for yourself that they taste just right?

I'm sure OP and her baby won't be too bothered by 1980's tv ad jingles!

I rather like Alpha - I'm slightly surprised it isn't a more widely established name, as it has a lovely meaning for a baby "beginning", "principal", "first". I'm not wild on Alfa, as this changes that Greek root, but I understand the sentiment.

The singer Alison Moyet - big in the 80s but still recording - was known as Alf. She even had an album called Alf. Check her out, she's cool.

People called Alpha

Alfa is not a made up name, it's just less common

In terms of naming DC after dead relatives, I lost my Mum and Dad between DC1 and DC2. It never crossed my mind to give DC2 their names as first names, she is very much an individual, those names mean nothing to her so she has my mum’s name as a middle name and her very own first name. Their names are quite dated and very much of their time and haven’t come back yet.

Would you have considered this as a name if your Grandad hadn’t died? It sounds like this has only come up because he is no longer with you. Gently, this name means something to you, but it won’t mean anything to your DD. As much as I’d like my parents to mean something to my DC the reality is that they see photos and that’s it. As a middle name go for it, but your DD is going to be her own person and she deserves a name that’s her own.

Do some research, Alfa is an existing Arabic name meaning gift

I think there is a lot of unfounded negativity.

I was named after someone and I often forget I am. It’s my name and I don’t think of it any other way. I can’t say it’s something that has the kind of negative effects that people are saying, like about not being your own person etc.

Someone mentioned earlier that Alfa is a Finnish name and on seeing it I would have thought likely a foreign name. It doesn’t look “made up” the way some names so obviously are.

It’s a short name and so spelling it out over the phone isn’t going to be much of an issue. It also is hard to mispronounce it.

Bullying comes up on any thread where the name isn’t traditional but I’ve never experienced children being bullied for their name alone and there will be much more out there names at school. Also the car name isn’t a big deal.

The name fits in with the style of popular names: Isla, Alba etc

Children are not born to be tributes to deceased grandparents.

And Alfre Woodward - fake man's name hasn't done her any harm! 😎

Actually, OP - Alfre might work! It sounds nicer than the other options.

Alf for a male name isn’t great.

for a female name it’s really ugly

Alfa/Alpha - Aphra is so much nicer, and without the competitive element.

It’s literally hilarious and bizarre that you asked opinions about a name that seems extremely unpopular, decided to ignore all the opinions, and then came back just to argue with posters about it 😂😂😂

You had previously omitted the Arabic or Muslim heritage of your grandfather or family. I apologise.

Also, I believe your original claim to Alpha was something about a Greek character/letter? The cultural contexts here are fascinating here.

Yes that was an original mistake pn my part
My heritage is not Arabic, I was just trying to show that it was an actual name and not made up

I still think Aelfwyn is worth considering. Aelfwyn was Alfred the Greats granddaughter and your DD will be the great granddaughter of Alfred
Alfred is an old Saxon name which means 'Elf counsel' and Aelfwyn means 'Elf joy'. So it all fits nicely
But, obviously go with what you think is best.

I liked Affie from the Saxon list. Aphra is also lovely.

I don’t think it’s as bad a name as most posters seem to think and I don’t feel alfalfa comes within the vocabulary of most children, anyway.
If you both really love it then go with but give your DD a more conventional middle name in case she decides she wants a less unusual name when she’s older. My favourite name is definitely more main stream but similar in sound — Aphra.

Most of MN are against names that aren't old fashioned and classic like Lucy, Emma, Elizabeth, etc. You will get chewed out on any "unique" name choices.
That being said, I think Alfa is nice. I'm 25 y/o and have never heard of the fluffy alien guy "Alf" being brought up. Alfalfa is not my association with the word alpha either. When I hear alpha, my first thought is "alpha the omega", so a strong name. Young kids will not think of the same things these very grown women do when they hear a name. I do also really like Alfie for a girl, but Alfa is cute and a nice way to honor your grandfather.