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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Could you use the name of a serious ex-boyfriend??

30 replies

Swiddle · 30/03/2009 13:39

I really like the name of a former boyfriend of mine (someone I was with for a couple of years). I do not hold any affection for the old boyfriend, but I do still like the name - a lot!! Would it be too weird, especially cooing sweet nothings, to use for DS name?

OP posts:

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neolara · 30/03/2009 13:40

Yes. Weird. Sorry.

ilovetochat · 30/03/2009 13:40

yes too weird, imagine you dp and ds are on an outing and bump into your ex who looks at your dc and says whats his name. who would be more embarassed?

LetThemEatCake · 30/03/2009 13:42

It's a shame isn't it? But no, it can't be done.

Funnybunnyyumyum · 30/03/2009 13:45

If you love the name that much then i'd go for it. Does your other half know?!

lastboxoftampons · 30/03/2009 13:48

At first I might say - if your partner doesn't mind. But, actually, I think it is kind of weird. Not that I usually care what other people think, but family and friends might get the wrong idea.

drlove8 · 30/03/2009 13:49

i called a cat after an ex-boyfriend. lol ,but i wouldnt call a baby after an ex- would seem like i was pining after him or something!

WilyWombat · 30/03/2009 13:50

You could and ultimately if you and your OH are fine with it then its no one elses business is it?

Personally I think its a rather odd/insensitive thing to do and bound to make people a bit.

There a websites out there with thousands of names on them, im sure you could find one you liked.

WowOoo · 30/03/2009 13:51

I wouldn't. My ex has nice name and there is NO WAY I could suggest this to DH.

Silly really as it is just a name, but connotations and associations are actually important to me.

tummytickler · 30/03/2009 19:10

No way! I think someone at college whom i was with for a couple of months would be fine, but i had one major relationship before i met dh that lasted for years and i could never use his name - which is a shame because it is Felix and i quite like it!

sarah76 · 30/03/2009 19:13

I wouldn't do it. I do like my ex's name but

a) it would be weird for DH

b) wouldn't want ex to hear about it and think it had anything to do with him

milou2 · 30/03/2009 19:21

Better not I think.

KAEKAE · 30/03/2009 19:27

Nooooo! How would you feel if your DH suggested calling your baby after his ex?

troutpout · 30/03/2009 19:30

Ooh don't know...It would be a little weird (for you your dh and indeed the ex shoud he ever come across your ds in the future)...so best not i guess

RachieB · 30/03/2009 19:45

My youngest son's middle name is the same as my exes (my eldest sons dad) first name!

(I am married to youngests' dad)

BUT it's also my hubbys (deceased) dads name ,which is why we used it as a middle name

otherwise definitely not!

ScummyMummy · 30/03/2009 19:52

I think it depends if it's a popular name or not, a bit. You should tell us what the name is so we can comment properly! Go on- what name are we discussing here?

IwishIwereonthebeach · 31/03/2009 11:44

I love the name of someone I had a MAJOR crush on as a teenager, moreover, I love the nn he had from it, but I'd worry so much about bumping into him and introducing my DS with that name. Not that I've seen him for 12 years and I still fancied him then!! (also I don't have a DS) I saw his wedding pic in my parents paper a couple of years ago and, although happily married to my gorgeous DH, I still swooned!!

I was on a course a year ago with a girl who's sisters and her were all named after old girlfriends of her fathers!

Wigglesworth · 31/03/2009 11:51

Good God no I couldn't do it, if my DH even dared suggest naming our baby after his ex he would lose his testicles. Luckily I don't like the name of my ex so it isn't a problem and I don't like the name of his ex, not just cos it's his ex's name though, I hated it before I knew him.

Original poster

Swiddle · 03/04/2009 10:24

The name in question is James. It's just so rare to find a boys name that DH & I agree on (especially as we have 2 DS's already). I've tried living with the idea for a while but I think it sits a bit weirdly and I'm going to have to let it go. Why does no one tell you not to date people with lovely names in case you want to use the name for babies later?!?!

OP posts:

Hassled · 03/04/2009 10:26

I did. But I'd split with the BF as a teenager - DC in question was born a good 15 years later. And BF was always a bit of a tosser - but he did have a great name.

MarchNowFebMum · 03/04/2009 10:27

I think James is fine actually common enough that you might be able to get away with it.

Just heard of a friend who called her daughter after her very serious ex's BROTHER's name - it's both unusual for a boy and a girl. So very weird.

francagoestohollywood · 03/04/2009 10:31

My ds shares the name of an old boyfriend of mine. Dh loves the name (it is also a family name for him) and I liked it (and not at all an unusual name, anyway). I can't see the problem, really.

wotulookinat · 03/04/2009 10:38

I love the name Peter - it's my BIL's name. Annoyingly, it's also my ex's name and so I feel that I can't use it.

MarlaSinger · 03/04/2009 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedFraggle · 03/04/2009 10:52

I used the name of an ex-boyfriend for my DS. It was the only name DH and I both liked! DH doesn't mind (ex-boyfriend came out of the closet a long time ago ) I am still in touch with him over Facebook and have fond memories of him. but I don't think about him when I call DS by his name IYSWIM.

If you really like the name, your DH doesn't mind and you aren't secretly pining for the ex in question then use the name!

fizzpops · 03/04/2009 10:58

My husband kept suggesting the name of one of my ex-boyfriends for our bump (unknowingly). I do like the name but couldn't tell DH why I didn't want to use it and as I am still in touch with the ex it would have been embarassing to announce the birth and name etc.

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