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Original poster

Vivian for a boy's middle name

94 replies

motheroreily · 30/08/2023 23:15

I'm due a boy in November.

My partner suggested Vivian as a middle name. My mum died 9 year's ago and her name was Vivienne so would be a way of remembering her. I hadn't thought of it before he suggested it. It would be nice to use her name but would it be too odd?

Thank you everyone.

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merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 01:19

Love it; I had a wonderful teacher by the name of Vivian. Still, best to use it as a middle name because of the teasing.

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 01:21

I don't like Leslie as a boy's name, though. FWIW.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 31/08/2023 01:22

Still, best to use it as a middle name because of the teasing.

If you know that a name will likely cause your DS to be teased, why would you not just choose one of the other tens of thousands of boy's names that won't get him teased and use that instead - for any of his names?

merrymelodies · 31/08/2023 01:30

@FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper Because I love the name? And an adult male could handle Vivian as a name. Also, the OP is thinking of using Vivian as a middle name, not a first name.

AuntieDe · 31/08/2023 01:43

Or use your dp's mums maiden name as middle name? We did this for one of our boys.

Time40 · 31/08/2023 02:38

No. Sorry it's too feminine

It isn't at all. It's a unisex name. Go for it, OP; it's lovely.

Babyenroute · 31/08/2023 03:03

I love it. Really think you should go for it. So special to have the male equivalent of your mums name in there too

MissedItByThisMuch · 31/08/2023 03:32

The teasing risk is always massively overstated on here I think. If kids want to tease they’ll find something to tease about, I doubt a middle name will be top of the list. Plus historically it is a male name. Like Evelyn and Beverly.

I know a 20 something male Vivian (who didn’t get teased). Surely it’s about time we stopped viewing more “feminine” names for boys as a bad thing, “masculine”/unisex names for girls have been normalised.

SayingwhatIreallythink · 31/08/2023 03:40

I also think it’s too feminine personally

elifont · 31/08/2023 03:48

No! It's just an awful name for that child. There's so many better ways to remember people, but that's forcing them into hating it.

squishee · 31/08/2023 04:20

How about about middle name Marian to echo Marianne? It's sort of dashing as a man's name.

squishee · 31/08/2023 04:22

squishee · 31/08/2023 04:20

How about about middle name Marian to echo Marianne? It's sort of dashing as a man's name.

I meant to echo the name Mary, sorry.

SnackyOnassis · 31/08/2023 05:39

I've got an uncle called Vivian so it's never seemed like a particular feminine name to me, he's just Viv. Great name, lovely uncle, very cool guy.
I suspect the same would happen for your son - he's got no preconceptions of male v female names and by the time he meets other children who do, Vivian won't be either to him, it'll just be his middle name. I'd say go for it!!

Redburnett · 31/08/2023 05:44

A no from me.
I do feel that if people are so unsure about a name that they ask random internet strangers if it is OK then they are already having doubts and should reconsider.

Stratocumulus · 31/08/2023 05:45

It’s lovely. Go for it!
Theres often male/female names like Lindsey and Lindsay.
Hillary and Hilary.
It’s a classy name. I love it.

HoliHormonalTigerLillyTheSecond · 31/08/2023 06:24

No.

Sunflowers76 · 31/08/2023 06:33

motheroreily · 30/08/2023 23:38

I used to watch the young ones when I was about 12 maybe I'll have to rewatch it 😄I can't remember alot about Vyvyan

Her middle name was Mary so I don't think that will work

Thank you for all your messages. I'll think on. I've always felt that middle names can be names you'd never use as a first name but are special.

I don't use my middle name except on official documents. So I hope he wouldn't get bullied.

The reason why I said he'd get bullied is because I have seen this first hand at school when our full names were used or written down.

continentallentil · 31/08/2023 06:35

It’s fine as a middle name

As a first name no because this male version has almost disappeared

continentallentil · 31/08/2023 06:38

motheroreily · 30/08/2023 23:38

I used to watch the young ones when I was about 12 maybe I'll have to rewatch it 😄I can't remember alot about Vyvyan

Her middle name was Mary so I don't think that will work

Thank you for all your messages. I'll think on. I've always felt that middle names can be names you'd never use as a first name but are special.

I don't use my middle name except on official documents. So I hope he wouldn't get bullied.

Marius is a nice male version of Mary, but I’d go with Vivian myself

AnnaTortoiseshell · 31/08/2023 06:43

I like it!

TheBirdintheCave · 31/08/2023 06:55

I forgot to add that my male cousin's middle name is Karol. He's now a GP so it hasn't done him any harm.

DinnaeFashYersel · 31/08/2023 06:56

That's a nice idea.

muddlingthrou · 31/08/2023 07:08

I think it's cool! Go for it OP

IsadoraQuagmire · 31/08/2023 07:11

It's fine for either sex.

thdskdrggs · 31/08/2023 07:15

I've never known it be a boy's name, it could end up being a middle name he hates to admit. I would hold tight on the name to see if you have a girl down the line, it's not even the same name.