worry about our boy name

[radiowave]

at this point is Declan Michael...
We both love Declan (Irish, means full of goodness) but I have just started worrying that kids will tease him and call him "Dicklan"...what do you think?

Luckily, our girl name, Mirah Constance, does not seem to lend itself to a specific curse word...

[~Megan~]

Kids will make fun of any name. Though I think its less common that we all think. Its like the whole concern with locker room jokes about intact guys, it rarely happens.

[triana1326]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

Kids will make fun of any name. Though I think its less common that we all think.

Speak for yourself

My maiden name was Everett, and since I was so tall, I was called Mount Everest throughout grade school - then in high school it took on a more sexual nature "so and so mounted Everest last night"...And that was only one of the many oh-so-fun names I was called.

[AKA_PI]

Originally Posted by triana1326

Speak for yourself

My maiden name was Everett, and since I was so tall, I was called Mount Everest throughout grade school - then in high school it took on a more sexual nature "so and so mounted Everest last night"...And that was only one of the many oh-so-fun names I was called.

That's awful. Yea, kids can be cruel about jokes related to your name.

[fyoosh]

Kids will find a way to make fun of any name you choose, so don't use that as your gauge for what a good name would be (unless it is REALLY HORRIBLE... I went to school with a Marcia Malo... marshmallows, anyone?)

[PassionateWriter]

kids will make fun of any and everything....period.

[triana1326]

Go with whatever name you love. Kids will be kids. And even if the name doesn't lend itself to an easy tease, something else will. One of the most popular girls at our school was named Corrine, but she was called Oatmeal behind her back because she put on so much makeup to hide her severe acne - which looked like she had plastered oatmeal all over her face.

Just don't make it easy - Jack Zopf from grade school comes to my mind. WAY too easy...

[zinemama]

Kids will make fun of everything, I agree. But some names are more amenable to really awful teasing. For example, someone named Kate might be called Kate the Date (I speak from experience). Which isn't that bad. Whereas a boy named Tucker...well, that kid's going to be called "fucker" for a good long time. Much worse.

In the case of Declan, I'd worry more about people knowing how to pronounce it in the first place. De clan? (like the little guy on Fantasy Island saying "de plane!) Deck-lan? Duh-clan? Dee-clan? Kind of a lot to saddle a kid with all that explanation for life. On the other hand, people get used to it.

[Aliviasmom]

If kids cant think of a way to make fun of another's name, they'll make fun of an attribute. It's pointless to try and prevent it all. Just don't go NAMING him Dicklan, and you'll be fine!

[Surfer Rosa]

I think it's a great name-don't change it
In kid land, nothing is sacred. Any and all names are up for making fun of-even if you go through allllll your names, making sure they don't rhyme with a body part/function/etc, some kid, on some playground, will find a way to make fun of his/her name. You can definitely make it easier for your kid (ie. avoiding the Mike Hunt, Jack Zopf, etc. kind of names), but it's not foolproof!

[Shiloh]

I like Declan and its uber cool nn like Dex..
Also remember boys like to talk about their Dicks...

[Sigrid]

When I was pregnant with my first the making fun of names topic came up at work. My boss, Ron, was called Ronnie Ringworm (and he didn't even have ringworm). So if kids are gonna make fun, they'll find a way no matter what their name is. I think Declan is a fine name.

[mjg013]

I actually know quite a few moms with Declans. Kids will tease for a variety of things. And any name can be made fun of. I go by my first and middle name. They were the plainest, most traditional names you could think of but when put with my last name I got teased. Mary Jane Gardner. Of course by the time I got to high school my name was cool not weird. As for pronunciation and spelling, just because you choose and easy, common name doesn't mean they will not have to spell and pronounce the name for half the population. We have a very simple last name that is spelled exactly the way it sounds and no one ever spells or pronounces it correctly. Of course my kids have "weird" names. Vada, Brynna, Tea, Moira, Kyan, Aslan, Ambria and soon to be born either Anakin or Kalena. I hear all the time how my kids are going to be teased. So far it hasn't been an issue. Vada gets teased for being clumsy and there have been the occasional Darth Vada comments but nothing traumatic and it's mostly done with good humor rather than as hurtful.

[Mommoo]

My only thoughts are to name your child what you want to name him, and to somehow get the confidence instilled in him so that teasing doesn't bother him. I'm not sure how, but I had braces at a young age (11 yrs) and it never bothered me when people called me names. I was so happy to have my teeth straightened!

[Astoria]

There are so many more names these days. My kids take all sorts of names in stride. There classes are full of names that would have once been seen as hard to pronounce or too ethnic or whatever. There's such a variety now that kids don't have the same conformity mindset that we might have grown up with.

Also, I think Declan is not an uncommon name. I know several kids with that name and while its not nearly as popular as Aidan or Liam, its definitely an up and coming Irish name. I wouldn't worry about teasing at all. There might even be another Declan in his class. There's more than one in playgroups I've been to.

[3boysmom]

We know a few young boys named Declan...they usually need to help folks with pronunciation at first but then it is fine. I haven't heard them being teased about it at all. I really like the name!

[jule924]

This was THE boy name for Quentin. Sadly, dh nixed it. (Not that I don't love Quentin, but Declan was my first pick.) He said that it was too unusual, but then we saw it on 2 TV show that summer (2006) - Brotherhood and Kyle XY. I still couldn't get him to change his mind We know one little boy with that name. I LOVE it!! Use it if you love it, too.

Also, I thought Dec or Deco were cool nicknames for it.

[foogoomomma]

I like the name and it's true kids will find a way to make fun of any name they can. Look at the whole Bennifer thing. I think your lil' guy will have a unique name. As far as pronouncing it.. I knew right away, but I had heard the name before. Both of my sons have unusual names, but I have always just flat out said to people their name is pronounced like this.. and have always taught my children how to politely correct anyone that mispronounces it. It's not a problem for them at all and they LOVE their names as I'm sure your lil' guy will too.