A name no one likes... what do you think?

Question

We are about to have our fourth child. My husband and I have gone around with names for weeks. We finally decided on "Rebel Jeffery Nixon" We like the name Rebel and it means something to us but everyone squishs their noses at it or saids our child is going to be pre judged because of his name... What do you think?

Answer 1

Rebel Jeffery doesn't flow well, but ultimately it's up to you. Do keep in mind, though, that children aren't the only ruthless ones. Adults will probably prejudge him based on his name and associate it with roudy behavior or think him to be "redneck".

Decide what's more important to you. Using a name that means something to you and your husband is one of the best ways to choose your baby's name, but use it in such a way that it won't be at your child's expense.

My suggestion would be to name him Jeffery Rebel. That way he can grow up going by Rebel, if that's what you so choose, but once he's an adult in the workforce, he'll be Jeffery R. Nixon, which looks and sounds nice. Also affords him the opportunity to go by JR as an adult.

Answer 2

I say it is your kid. Who else cares. You can spell Jeffery however you want too. If you like the name Rebel, then go for it. How do you think all names were thought up. Not everyone is named david, or mathew, or joseph. I think picking something creative is great. So what, will people pre judge him as a bully? it is just a name.

Answer 3

Even though the name has a nice ring to it, I think it would be a bad choice in names. Names are powerful (or at least they have the potential of being powerful). How many girls named Bertha are skinny? How many girls named Candy aren't on the streets trying to turn a trick? How many boys named Rebel aren't out stealing cars? Basically, everyone who talks to your son will be reenforcing the idea that he is a rebel. Name him something cool like Jeffrey Ramone Nixon or Dane Cook Nixon.

Reverend Jank

Answer 4

I don't necessarily like that name but it is your choice. It doesn't matter what name a person has, because all names have stereotypes associated with them. I actually just answered a question yesterday about the bad associations with names. They were all the more popular ones. If your child doesn't like Rebel ( he probably will because kids like to be unique for the most part) then let him use the name Jeffrey. Especially if it has meaning to you. Hell, Rebel is not as bad as some of the celeberties kids names.

Answer 5

I think "everyone" is right. Think of the future you see for your son. Doctor, Lawyer, businessman. What type of name portrays this type of person? Rebel sounds like a druggie or at best rockstar wannabe. Think of him putting his name on an application. He will have to write R. Jeffery just to be taken seriously. If you really must have the name Rebel why not use it as a middle name - although cheesy movie lines come to mind "Rebel is my middle name."

Jeffrey Rebel sounds better and then he could sign Jeffrey R. and reveal his middle name only if he wants to.

Answer 6

It isn't my style at all. I am not a big fan of any of the names - especially Jeffrey. I think Rebel would be a cute middle name but never as a first name.

Can you imagine a professional adult named Rebel? Rebel, your 4 oclock appointment is here. Or, "Hi! I am here to see Rebel."

Nixson could be cute.....I like the nickname Nick.

Take Care! SD

Answer 7

my sister is pregnant with her first child and i just had my first child, and we had a discussion about names and what other people think. a) don't tell people the name you have chosen - then they have no opportunity to turn up their noses. once the baby is born, and named, everyone will say "Rebel - how adorable!" because it is a brand new baby, and adorable, so therefore so is its name. b) choose carefully - even thought the name may have significance for you and your husband, that may be lost on your child, and this is something your child will have to live with until they are old enough to petition the courts to change it... my husband and i both wanted to choose a name for our daughter that would be appropriate for both a little girl, and a grown woman. my name ends in an "ee" sound, and when I'm 80, its going to sound a little ridiculous.

Answer 8

Parents are the people that are suppose to care the most for their children's well being and if you don't who will?



Given names are important because they represent a voluntary choice by the parents or, sometimes, by an individual. A name is usually not given lightly. It represents thought and feelings and can be significant to the researcher.

They're only words or names. Some believe the school-yard taunt: "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." They're wrong. Words and names can hurt you.


These words, like black ice, are not an obvious danger at first glance. But, they can impact your results. So, user-beware.

Words create impressions, images and expectations. They build psychological connections. They influence how we think. Since thoughts determine actions, there's a powerful connection between the words we use and the results we get.



Knowing how names may shape a child's experience

When considering possible negative consequences of particular names, you usually think in terms of childhood teasing. But there's a darker side to the first impressions of names. Scientific studies have shown that people respond very differently to certain names or certain types of names. You may have heard about experiments where different names were put on the same homework assignment and given to multiple teachers to grade. Names that were perceived as "old fashioned," like Bertha or Marmaduke, were given lower grades on the average. The problem is, "old fashioned" is a relative term. When those studies were first done, Emily and Ethan would have been considered old-fashioned names, now they're as current as can be.

Names with novelty spellings can also fare badly. Sindee may be considered inherently more frivolous than Cindy. Diminutives are seen as less formal and so less serious than the full forms of names. Jimmy Carter made a bit of a stir by using Jimmy rather than James in politics. (At least he had the choice — name your son "Jimmy" and it's harder to go in the other direction.)

You want to give your child every advantage . . . but there comes a point when you wonder whether maybe you ought to be challenging these attitudes instead. When it's a matter of someone considering a name "too old-fashioned," you can chalk it up to personal taste. But the same types of scientific studies show even stronger effects if a name looks "too African American" or "too Hispanic." If you're thinking twice about naming your daughter Shanika (whether you're African American or not) because you're worried that her resumes may end up in the second stack, or if you're really wavering between naming your son Jose after his grandfather, or going with Joseph instead because it'll make teachers think he's smarter, are you making a rational decision for your child's best interests or surrendering to prejudice?

There is no good answer to this problem because we can't make prejudice disappear except in our own actions. Decide for yourself whether to make this consideration a factor in your choice of names.

Answer 9

How about Jeffrey Rebel Nixon?

Answer 10

If it means something special to you then I would say go for it. this is your child, if you can live with the name then your child will love it also. As far as people thinking about people judging your child due to the name, every one is judge for something and someone will always find a way to mean ( kids wise). That is just a normal part of growing up. I like the name myself.
Go with your hart.