Many couples find it challenging to agree on a baby name.
And one expectant mum has shared her concerns about the name her husband favours for their unborn child if it’s a boy, fearing he might be bullied.
The woman took to Reddit’s r/BabyNames forum to seek opinions on the matter. She revealed they’ve decided not to find out the gender of their baby in advance, and while they have agreed on a girl’s name, choosing a boy’s name is proving more difficult.
She posted: “Our baby is due in May (we’ve decided to keep gender a surprise). If it’s a girl, we will name her Madeleine. For a boy, my husband insists on Harold. It’s his favourite name.”
She further explained her predicament, saying: “I’m worried he might be bullied at school because of it… My list of boy names includes: Henry, Simon, Raphael, Gabriel and William.”
One respondent suggested: “If your husband if that set on it maybe suggest that you use a nickname like Harry or Ro to please both of you? From the names you’ve mentioned Simon or Raphael would be my picks though.”
They also reassured her about potential bullying, adding: “In regard to bullying, a lot of old names such as Benedict, Barnaby, Gretchen, Magnus etc. are all back in style I wouldn’t expect he’d get bullied.”
They concluded: “Also kids can be cruel, they don’t need a name as an excuse to bully someone these days sadly, so I wouldn’t rule the name out completely based on bullying concerns.”
The Bump reveals that Harold is a boy’s name originating from Old English Hereweald, Germanic Hariwald, and Old Norse Haraldr. The moniker signifies “army ruler,” “leader of an army,” and “heroic leader.”
According to the website, “this name and its variants were quite popular among Scandinavian settlers and in the Royal courts of England, Norway, and Denmark.”
Historical figures and fictional characters in comic books and TV shows have also contributed to Harold’s popularity as a baby name. The Bump further notes: “If you’re searching for a title that will help baby stand out on the schoolyard, Harold is the perfect blend of timelessness and boyish charm.”