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Original poster

Horrid surname with teasing potential

60 replies

ihatemysurname · 27/05/2009 12:19

Hello, pls be kind, cus my lovely Lancashire DH takes this very personally, but our surname is Rimmer.

He's teased a fair bit for its sexual conocations (more so down here in Bristol than up North), but obviously there are worst names and our DCs are unlikely to experience that until secondary school. However, it's proving extremely difficult for us to pick a name for our first baby, who is due to arrive VERY SOON.

So, my question to you, the mumsnet jury is, which of the following boys and girls names softens the blow most effectively? And do any of them make it sound even WORSE? (pls restrain from any real hooting ladies, I'm a little fragile today). Thank you!

Alicia Rimmer
Ellie Rimmer
Scarlett Rimmer

Jonathan Rimmer
Reuben Rimmer
Cassius Rimmer

OP posts:
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WinkyWinkola · 27/05/2009 12:26

Could you change the pronunciation to Rye-mer or Ree-mer?

But definitely not Scarlett. Ellie for girl and Reuben for boy.

sockmonster · 27/05/2009 12:28

I think Scarlett makes it sound worse, but I'm not sure anyone would notice. Reuben accentuates it as well.

To be perfectly honest though I don't think kids would know what that meant anyway so I don't think dc would suffer from teasing, at least not until they are old enough to change their own surname should they wish to.

Don't panic I have heard of many many far worse surnames.

With this in mind, pick the name that you like the most for your child, not the one that you think goes best with the surname. If it's a girl, she may get married and lose the surname. If it's a boy, he could change it if he hated it. You will always call them by their first name, it is only very rarely that they will have their whole name called out. Friends will call them by their first name, the register will be their first name.. etc etc.

RubyBlueberry · 27/05/2009 12:28

Not Scarlett or Ellie and certainly not Reuben IMHO.
Is it A-leash-a or alice-ee-ya ? if it's Alice-ee-ya it would be nice.
Yes, change pronunciation to Ree-mer - good idea. (just don't tell your MIL)

sockmonster · 27/05/2009 12:30

The other consideration, if it really really bothers you- is the initial 'A' can make a surname a bit worse. as in A Rimmer- may not be the best choice.

But I really don't think the surname will be noticeably bad. Your child won't even know what it means! And when they grow up I expect there will be other terms that are far better known...

honestly it's not that bad!

sockmonster · 27/05/2009 12:33

Just read the pronunciation ploy- great one! If it bothers you a great deal, pronounce Rimmer differently.

I like A-liss-ee-a as the pronunciation for Alicia- it's a lovely name and perhaps a name with more syllables than the surname will distract people!

lljkk · 27/05/2009 12:33

Rimmer isn't that bad; okay I'm a foreigner, but there are lots of English surnames that are no better, eg:

Pratt
Small
Balls
etc.

My cousin married a man with the surname "Smoron". Really, Rimmer is easy going by comparison.

belgo · 27/05/2009 12:35

Can you not give your children your maiden name if you really think that Rimmer will lead them to being teased? I have friends who did that with their children.

ramonaquimby · 27/05/2009 12:36

adolescent boys will have a giggle, but they grow up.

well most of them do!

mustsleep · 27/05/2009 12:37

why don;t you all change your names by depoll then it won;t matter lol

oodlesofpoodles · 27/05/2009 12:39

Scarlett is not good. It sounds to much like an adjective with your surname.

MrsASHLEYBanjo · 27/05/2009 12:40

God, that's a really common name around Southport. Teasing potential wouldn't have occurred to me since such a familiar name in the NW

thedolly · 27/05/2009 12:43

I don't get it

sockmonster · 27/05/2009 12:45

You don't want to get it!

See, lots of people haven't ever heard of it- panic over. Choose the name you like the best (other than Scarlett!)

Original poster
ihatemysurname · 27/05/2009 12:59

Ha, thanks sock, I have probably overblown it a bit in the maelstrom of pregnancy hormones.
The trouble is, Scarlett is my secret favourite

I prefer A-liss-cia too, as Aleeysa sounds too X-Factorish to me and I think it would drive me spare to have to correct it all the time.

Isabella Rimmer?

OP posts:
sockmonster · 27/05/2009 13:10

Isabella is nice. As long as her middle names don't start with M and A

sorry sorry I'm too mean

It's nice. I think Scarlett Rimmer does sound too much like an adjective with that surname, sorry I didn't know it was your fav!

Hmm thing with Alicia is people will nearly always say 'aleeesha' and you will nearly always have to correct them.

OK I'm going to stop posting as I'm not being very helpful!!!

it's not as bad a surname as you fear, really.

sockmonster · 27/05/2009 13:12

Go with Isabella. I like it best out of the names you have listed for a girl and it is 4 syllables thus minimising surname impact and easy to pronounce.

MrsASHLEYBanjo · 27/05/2009 13:15

Isabella is lovely but don't think it works with your agent noun (is that the right term?) name: "Is a bell a rimmer? No, it's a...."

beanieb · 27/05/2009 13:16

I wpouldn't go for anything begingin with an A to be honest.
A Rimmer.

NorkyButNice · 27/05/2009 13:18

Alicia could be turned into ALicker by teenagers with overactive imaginations... if you're worried about Rimmer then I'm not sure I'd add that into the mix.

PuppyMonkey · 27/05/2009 13:21

Is Rimmer a rude word? I just thought it was the character from Red Dwarf.

SoupDragon · 27/05/2009 13:24

Not Reuben. Too many Rs

Isabel is better than Isabella.

totalmisfit · 27/05/2009 13:29

what about a name that's so unusual or so beautiful that the surname gets overlooked altogether? can't think of any offhand but someone else might be able to...

MrsASHLEYBanjo · 27/05/2009 13:32

Eizaque?

mollyroger · 27/05/2009 13:41

I think you also have to accept that children can be foul and if they have a mind to, will turn the most innocent-sounding name into an insult. I remember a school friend being driven to distraction by a boy turning her very common no-nonsense surname (harrison) into hairy scum and hairy bum..

jellybeans · 27/05/2009 14:37

I like these..

Alicia Rimmer
Ellie Rimmer
Jonathan Rimmer
Cassius Rimmer

Not Scarlett or Reuben with your surname. Ellie and Jonathon my faves.