Baby Name ? Controversial

[2021Mum]

I’ve just found out I’m expecting a baby girl. My partner and I plan on calling our little girl Rebel with the intention she will be Rebby for short after a very close friend. My family love the name and I was going to keep it a secret but my MIL found out my mum knew and pestered me to tell her. She hates the name (part of the reason I kind of didn’t want to tell her) and now I’m having second thoughts on a name we have loved for a long time. Is it such a bad name? She says people will just automatically assume ‘rebel’ as in troublemaker :(

Yup - it’s dreadful.

Give your daughter a proper name that is not going to be awful for her to live with - kids have it hard enough these days.

Save the “Uneeque” names for your pet... or change your own name and you live with it.

@NameChange84

Rebecca Isabel with Rebel as a nickname is a brilliant suggestion.

What if she’s quiet, shy and a total conformist?

Or decides to be a barrister? Or a teacher? Or a nun? Or a funeral director? Or politician?

It’s a loaded name. There’s a hell of a weight of expectation there. I’d not like to have to live up to a name like that. And I’m known as a total rebel so that’s saying something.

Exactly this. I wouldn't use this name

Sorry but It's an awful name. Why would you want to name your child after something that basically transpires as ive been a 'little shit'

Not that keen on Rebel as can imagine the dd growing up not liking it if it doesn’t fit her personality.
And “Rebby” is dreadful.

Oh God, don't do this to your daughter. That's one heck of a name to carry round. "Your child your choice" is an OK slogan if the question is "Charlotte or Amelia?". It's a less appropriate sentiment when you're considering putting a flashing red sign on someone else's head for life. Use your choice wisely.

@ZadieZadie

I wouldn't say anything if I simply disliked a name.

But I would if I thought using a name was actively unkind, and this would be.

Rebel is dreadful. Some people will see it as a negative trait.

Many won't, but even then it could be very hard for your daughter to live with. What if she's totally unrebellious? It would seem absurd, and she could be horribly embarrassed.

I agree. Children are cruel and might make fun of her, especially if she’s shy and well behaved. Or she might try to live up to the name. The name might embarrass her growing up. Rebel Wilson’s name isn’t really Rebel, it’s a stage name.

It's awful and it's not you who has to live with it.

I’m really sorry op but it’s utterly awful. I mean really truly bloody awful

I don’t like the name Controversial. Camilla or Clara are much nicer. Or Balonz.

Tracey traces things all day lol!

However

Rebel is a horrendous name to lumber a child with. It doesn’t sound nice, has negative connotations, and the child will spend her whole life explaining/spelling it and putting up with other people’s ‘hilarious’ jokes about it.

Rebel is the bargain brand of kids clothing at Primark.

@Sway19 is right. Awful! Rebecca - Rebby. Rebel - ugh poor child.

@NameChange84 and @2bazookas have summed it up perfectly imo. I'd never use the name.

I strongly dislike it

@scissorspaperrock

I just thought I would point out that Rebel Wilson has a law degree....

But her name wasn't rebel when she was born.

Why dont you like your child?

Rebby/Rebel is dire.

Why would you, I don't get it?

I absolutely love it! And I don't think for a second an unusual name hinders a child. It's unusual yes, but not completely ridiculous like Abcde and others I've heard.

Your baby, your choice. I hate all traditional names, I find them all so bland and I wish I had a more unusual name.

I also think it's far more common for children to have unusual names now than when we were growing up. So I don't think it will attract the attention it may have gotten if a child in our class at school in the 90s had been called Rebel.

I'm currently 28 weeks and really wanted Rumer or Scout for my little girl. OH prefers more traditional names and we've compromised on Blake Harper which we both really love but neither of us would have chosen if it weren't for the need to find some common ground.

If you and your partner love it I'd say go for it. I can't imagine your child will think anything other than 'my name's Rebel', I don't think she'd have an opinion on it whilst she's young. Perhaps go for a safer/more mainstream middle name to go with it? So when she's older if she does feel she's not comfortable using it for professional reasons etc she could perhaps use her middle name (not that I think she actually would!)

Rebel Wilson! She’s awesome! Go for it! It’s your baby!

Better to be a rebel than a docile conformist.

But that’s the point isn’t it?

What if the child IS a docile conformist? Giving a child a name doesn’t dictate what the child is going to become.

An acquaintance of mine gave her daughter a very goth “alternative” name. She’s one right now and does not suit her name. Imagine that she’s called “Darkness” (that’s not far off, in fairness) but she’s got white blonde curls, huge blue eyes, rosy cheeks and the sunniest, sweetest, angelic and gentle little personality. But her Mum is determined she’s going to be an alternative, risqué, bolshy, loud mouth so as well as giving her an awful name, she’s dressing her baby in all dark clothing with satanic motifs, skull and crossbones on everything, edgy slogans etc. It’s really sickening to see. This poor child is never going to be allowed to be herself. And I’m not against alternative/goth culture - I was a goth. But it was my choice. Not my mother’s.

A child is not a statement. They are a person. And they have every right to be whoever they want to be. Rebel OR docile conformist. It’s better to allow the child’s personality to shine through before giving them adjectives as names. Why can’t rebel be a nickname IF the child is a rebel?

It's not a horrible sound, it's just such a strong meaning that it seems unfair to burden a child with it. What if she's a mild little girl who doesn't like to break rules?

What if she turns out to be a quiet book worm? I don't like names that assume a child's personality. She might not be the trouble making rock star girl the name evokes

What about Ferral?

same theme but even edgier?

Poor kid. Remember your naming an adult woman. Imagine her applying for a job... she's going to spend her entire life having to fight her name.

Are you happy for people to make negative assumptions based on her name? Because they will, whether they should or not.

If so, and you think she'll be strong enough to assume the burden of confounding expectations, go ahead.