I recently met this British girl who named her 1 year old daughter Belgium nn [name_u]Bell[/name_u]/Belgie
I know it’s quite the weird name but maybe not so much compared to other place names?
So I was just curious to see what you think about this! -[name_f]TIA[/name_f]
To me, it’s no different than naming a girl [name_u]Paris[/name_u], or [name_u]London[/name_u]. I’m not the biggest fan, but I do love the nickname [name_u]Bell[/name_u].
I’m not the biggest fan of place names in general, but I do admit that most of them tend to sit quite well on children, such as [name_f]India[/name_f] and [name_m]Israel[/name_m], simply because their phonetic components are very name-like, and tend to resemble other, more commonly accepted names. However, I’m really disliking Belgium.
The ‘bell’ at the beginning doesn’t save it from the kind of heavy and guttural ending, nor does it give Belgium a sense of femininity - recognisable or otherwise. Plus, a pair of British parents giving their British child a very recognisable [name_m]German[/name_m] place name just seems a bit off to me, and implies that they hold no legitimate connection to the country (though I could be wrong), as people who do usually choose names from the country’s culture as opposed to the country itself.
Overall, it’s not a terrible name by any means, though it certainly isn’t a choice that I would see as sophisticated, or elegant, or charming - which are qualities that I tend to value quite highly. And while I don’t think it’ll cause any hardship or trouble for the child in question - which ultimately is the most important thing to factor in -, at the end of the day I can think of several unusual ‘bel’ names that I would have been happier to see in use.
I don’t think it’s weird at all… different but not weird and also useable. I find it intriguing… I’m not sure if I love it, but it’s growing on me…
I’d probably just skip it and name the baby [name_u]Bell[/name_u]. I’d be curious to know what the mother’s association with Belgium is, considering she felt it was important enough to name her child after it. It’s not really a “pretty” location name like [name_f]India[/name_f] or [name_f]Asia[/name_f]. (Also, Belgie sounds like it could be a derogatory word for a bodily function. [name_u]Bell[/name_u] is much nicer.)
Belgie? Belch? Belchie?
It’s not an ugly sounding country, I see the appeal… but Belgie? Come on!
While I adored my visit to Belgium, as a name it’s not something I’m in to!
I don’t personally like it and find place names a little tacky. Belgium is a lovely country though!
What an awkward name.
Hmm, I’m sorry, I’m just not a fan. It doesn’t sit quite right with me.
Very strange. But I find most place names strange. I hope they have a really good connection to the country.