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Original poster

Baby Name ? Controversial

229 replies

2021Mum · 26/12/2020 20:36

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 :(

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lyinginthegutterstaringatstars · 26/12/2020 22:06

I mean........ It sounds cute for a baby but do you really want teenage Rebel to live up to her name??

Lifeonmars12 · 26/12/2020 22:08

I don’t like it either. I agree with other PP’s who have said it’s okay for a cute baby but when she’s applying for jobs or whatnot, no one will take her seriously.

BlairCorneliaWaldorf · 26/12/2020 22:08

@TeenageMutantNinjaCovid

What about Ferral?

same theme but even edgier?

I literally just spat my gin out. Love it!
TeenageMutantNinjaCovid · 26/12/2020 22:08

What about subversive? Subby for short

or

Anarchist? Annie for short

Ideasplease322 · 26/12/2020 22:08

I agree with the idea toes rebel as a nickname, but have other names on her birth certificate.

I dislike really trendy names, there is a danger this will become the beyonce or Brooklyn of 2021.

maddiemookins16mum · 26/12/2020 22:10

Don’t saddle your wain with this name. I bet the people who’ve said it’s great are secretly thinking ‘WTF’ and would never dream of calling their child this.

MaryLeeOnHigh · 26/12/2020 22:10

Rebby sounds ugly to me, but if that's what you want to call her then why not opt for Rebecca?

If the poor kid is at all conformist and compliant, she's going to grow up with people banging on about how she doesn't live up to her name. But if she fails to conform at any point, she'll get people saying "Rebel by name, rebel by nature". Who needs to go through life with all that unnecessary baggage? If you insist on it, I bet she'll end up changing her name anyway.

diddl · 26/12/2020 22:11

I think that Rebby might be even worse than Rebel!

TeenageMutantNinjaCovid · 26/12/2020 22:13

@diddl

I think that Rebby might be even worse than Rebel!
Isnt it the word for penis in Norwegian?
Original poster
2021Mum · 26/12/2020 22:14

Thanks all. Maybe I’ll need to have a bit more of a ponder on the name then! As a bit of context- I’m a doctor (not currently practicing) and my first name is Storm. My partner has a very normal name and I loved the fact growing up that my name was unusual, even more so in my job where everyone had very ‘normal’ names! I do really value everyone’s opinions though as sometimes my wackiness runs away with me- and maybe MIL is right this time (unfortunately!) 🤪

OP posts:
Lifeonmars12 · 26/12/2020 22:14

@TeenageMutantNinjaCovid

😂😂😂😂😂 honestly howling here at your suggestions!

cushioncovers · 26/12/2020 22:15

I thought of Rebel Wilson the actress although I don't think that her real name. But I like it.

Lifeonmars12 · 26/12/2020 22:16

@2021Mum Without trying to be mean I just told me partner about this thread and asked her what silly names she’d heard for kids recently and the first one out her mouth was “Storm”
Then I’ve just read your latest post 😂

Qqwweerrtty · 26/12/2020 22:17

Storm is a lot better than Rebel.

RadGlags · 26/12/2020 22:17

I’ve met a few Rebeccas who go by Reb - so I would just have Rebecca on the birth certificate but call her Rebby; then when she’s older if she decides that are Rebby is too out there she has a ‘fall back. Chances are she’ll just see Rebby as her name and not care but it covers all bases.

EvilEdna1 · 26/12/2020 22:17

What about Reba. Almost Rebal without the meaning. Its an awful lot to saddle a child with if she's shy and retiring. We often have ideas of our unborn children that they turn out to be the opposite of.

BesideTheFire · 26/12/2020 22:20

I would hate to be called Rebel. But I'm not you or your daughter. Rebby is worse.

Original poster
2021Mum · 26/12/2020 22:21

[quote Lifeonmars12]@2021Mum Without trying to be mean I just told me partner about this thread and asked her what silly names she’d heard for kids recently and the first one out her mouth was “Storm”
Then I’ve just read your latest post 😂[/quote]
Hahaha! Never mind 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
SweetPetrichor · 26/12/2020 22:22

God no, don’t give the poor kid a name like Rebel. Imagine growing up with a daft name like that. Poor little.

PattyPan · 26/12/2020 22:26

I wouldn’t. I agree with PP, what if she is really shy! I also do think it could hold her back in certain careers - I cannot imagine anyone voting for Prime Minister Rebel, they wouldn’t take her seriously. Especially if she turns out to be a Tory!

DropsofJupiterinherhair · 26/12/2020 22:33

I think you'd have regrets on that one op... Imagine having to shout "REBEL!!" As your darling daughter displays some of the usual, yet undesirable toddler behaviour we all have to put up with as parents... And the eye rolls and "well you asked for it with a name like that didn't you?!" type comments. I like unusual quirky names, and wouldn't want a hugely popular name for my child. But I would give a name that instantly provokes negative connotations and could disadvantage them as children or as adults. Sorry, but definitely not a good/unusual/original name, just a description of something not many people will like. She'll either be embarrassed by her name, or try hard to live up to it...

duckinatruckwithmuck · 26/12/2020 22:39

A bit too 'try hard' for me. Rebecca would be the ideal name for that nn.

LadyLazaruss · 26/12/2020 22:40

@2021Mum
If it's anything, I think Storm is a beautiful name

CodenameVillanelle · 26/12/2020 22:43

It's dreadful! Please don't do that to a child

DoTheNextRightThing · 26/12/2020 23:05

My concern would be for her at school. Like it or not, staff hearing that one of the pupils is called Rebel will make assumptions on how a child with that name will behave. "Keep an eye on her, they call her Rebel". And if she is well behaved, you'll get her classmates trying to get her to act up by saying "come on, you're supposed to be a rebel!". I just think it's a recipe for disaster.

Could you cover it slightly by adjusting it - say, Rebelia?