Hear me out! I’m totally crushing on [name_u]Rebel[/name_u].
What are your thoughts? The meaning could be seen as off-putting, but in today’s climate, I would argue that I want a child that isn’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in and be a bit of a rebel (a la the Rebel Alliance)
It feels like one of those word names that sounds like a name so can squeak by as usable. It also has the built-in nicknames [name_m]Reb[/name_m], Rebby, or [name_f]Bel[/name_f]/le, making it a bit more mainstream if she chooses to go by those. I would pair it with a more traditional middle most likely.
The girls’ definition on nameberry is a bit patronizing compared to the boys though! “[name_u]Rebel[/name_u] might be a good name for getting attention as an actress, but we can’t understand why anyone would give it to their child.” vs. “[name_u]Rebel[/name_u] is undoubtedly one of the coolest boys’ names starting with the letter R.” What’s up with that?! @katinka
Well, it’s not my style, but that doesn’t mean it’s unusable.
Rebel is definitely a name that will bring you polarising opinions, some of them quite strong- unfortunately, some of them quite nasty and hateful. (Some people were never taught how to be polite…)
You make a good point with the nicknames, and this is definitely the sort of name you’d want to pair with a more traditional middle name. (For example, [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] [name_f]Galaxy[/name_f] is a bit too much but [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] would be nice!)
I also think of [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] [name_m]Wilson[/name_m] which helps make the name more useable, since it’s already in use in pop culture. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it isn’t actually her real name, but no one else needs to know that.
With [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] ([name_f]Melanie[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]) [name_m]Wilson[/name_m], the name is more known and approachable. She’s also a lawyer as well as an actress. She legally changed her name to [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] in the early 2000’s.
I prefer it as a nickname that comes from the child’s personality, sort of like [name_u]Scout[/name_u], but it’s a very cool name. And I like that you have [name_f]Belle[/name_f] as a more mainstream nn option.
I like the sentiment of the [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] Alliance and I agree that I’d rather have a child that speaks their mind than does what they’re told even when it’s against their morals. I do think [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] is a name that not every girl would love to have. It comes with baggage that some girls might find off-putting since not every child would feel confident having a name like [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] if they didn’t see themselves as a rebel. I also think it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy of a name—I’m thinking about the kid I went to high school with named [name_u]Rowdy[/name_u] here.
I think it’s usable, especially with [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] [name_m]Wilson[/name_m]. I think it’s a nice name I agree that rebel doesn’t always have a negative meaning.
I love, love, LOVE the name [name_u]Rebel[/name_u]. 100% my style (I also love [name_m]Riot[/name_m], but it’s unusable. [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] is usable, imo, tho!)
Another thought, if you’re really not sure, you could use the name of a real-life rebel you admire! Some of my personal favorites:
I would definitely assume that [name_u]Rebel[/name_u]’s parents were really outside of mainstream. I think a kid could grow into it but it definitely says “oo look I have cool/weird parents.”
I’ll be honest, I don’t love [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] (boy or girl). I agree that the meaning doesn’t have to be negative, but I think it largely comes across as a bit too wild, a bit too much.
However, it’s no more like that than [name_u]Maverick[/name_u] to me, and that’s super popular in the US now. So it could be usable.
I’m just imagining the name on a CV or class list, and my concern would be that it might be (wrongly) prejudged. Obviously I don’t support name prejudice, but it does, unfortunately, exist.
I agree with your description but I still can’t see [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] as a name, it has other sides too and not everyone will think it like you. And when I hear it, that side of rebel won’t be the first thing I think of, complete rebelliousness will.
I just can’t see it as a wearable name, sorry.
I’m not a big fan of this name… But my culture has a rather conservative naming style. I think a name like [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] would not be received well here. But perhaps in other places it’s an acceptable name to have.
I agree that the Nameberry descriptions are oddly different.
I think it could work as a middle name, but it’s too much as a first. It has too much character to fit any child, male, female, or anyone in-between. [name_f]My[/name_f] first thought is teenage rebelliousness, and it honestly feels a bit cheesy.
I feel like [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] is one of those names where it would work on the right person, but it could be hard to pull it off, and it’s hard to guarantee your child would be ok with it as their name?
I do like the sentiment behind it, but it’s one of those names where I personally would not be comfortable having, because I’m too shy to ever pull something rebellious off.
I like [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] because it is a good name to honour a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] in your family (One of [name_f]Mary[/name_f]’s meanings is Rebellious) And as I love [name_f]Mary[/name_f], the Mother of God, it is an unusual way to name a child after her. She feels rebellious me because as a woman in an oppressed community she dared to give birth to and nurture the incarnation of God.
I don’t think the name [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] leaves a child enough freedom to properly develop their own personality without feeling like there are certain expectations placed upon them from birth. That goes for boys and girls.
[name_u]Rebel[/name_u] [name_m]Wilson[/name_m] chose that name for herself, as did her siblings (Annachi & Ryot), which is an entirely different scenario.
One of our biggest responsibilities as a parent is to choose a name for our child that is truly the best name FOR the child, and in this case I feel that it is just too risky. Only certain personalities could thrive with [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] as a name. Sometimes we have to give up a name remembering that it really isn’t about us, but for our child. It isn’t terrible but I honestly don’t think it would be the best choice. Sorry.
I agree that rebel doesn’t always have a negative meaning.
(I also love [name_m]Riot[/name_m], but it’s unusable. [name_u]Rebel[/name_u] is usable, imo, tho!)
