I like the name [name_u]Oberon[/name_u]. A Midsummer [name_m]Night[/name_m]'s [name_u]Dream[/name_u] is one of my favourite Shakespearean comedies and I like the sound of the name. However, I discounted it as an option when I came across someone saying they went to school with an [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] and he was teased mercilessly with being called a fairy etc. I was surprised (and slightly impressed) kids young enough to tease over something like that actually knew [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] was ‘[name_m]King[/name_m] of the fairies’ and in the last few days I’ve been wondering how likely it is for it to be picked up on at school? Was this example an unfortunate one-off or do you think it’s a common hazard of the name?
My other concern with [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] is not really like any potential NNs. I really don’t like [name_m]Ron[/name_m] and I’m not overly fond of [name_m]Obi[/name_m]. Can you think of any other NNs?
I don’t think it has more teasing potential than, say, [name_u]Tristan[/name_u]. As for nicknames, I can think of [name_u]Berry[/name_u](when he is little), [name_m]Bron[/name_m] and there is also [name_u]Aubrey[/name_u] which is supposed to be unisex but I am not sure. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like any of these?
I really like [name_m]Bron[/name_m] and actually think that would help to convince DH, too (I think he’ll be underwhelmed by [name_u]Oberon[/name_u]). Thank you.
[name_u]Oberon[/name_u] is on my list and i really doubt anyone who is at the teasing names age knows about the reference… I think the person who made that comment is more likely assuming the kid will be teased rather then actually knowing.
I think ppl who know of the reference would have a level of maturity- well i hope…
I really like [name_m]Bron[/name_m] as a nn I might have to run the name past my husband and see if i can sneak it onto the list.
[name_u]Oberon[/name_u] is cool! [name_m]Bron[/name_m] is a cool, definitely masculine nickname. It even sounds like the word “brawn.” Makes me think of [name_m]LeBron[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], too.
Or how about “Bero?” (Barrow) I’ve heard of other parents using that one for [name_m]Tiberius[/name_m] and similar names.
You could also use [name_m]Ben[/name_m], [name_u]Bern[/name_u], or [name_u]Bernie[/name_u].
Honestly, I think kids who get teased about their names would have been targets of teasing no matter what, you know? Kids would have found something else to pick at if it wasn’t the name. A “cool” kid can get away with having a weird name or being overweight or not being very smart or whatever, but a socially awkward one would be teased about any or all of those things. Plus, in this day an age, where it’s the norm for kids to have unusual or “kre8tive” names, name teasing doesn’t happen as much as people might think.
[name_u]Oberon[/name_u] is not my style, but I think it’s totally usable. It’s unlikely that any of his peers would be familiar with the reference until high school, and then yeah hopefully they’re mature enough at that point it won’t be an issue. I mean, most likely it will be noticed and mentioned (if they’re even still reading [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] in school in the future), but “mercilessly teased”? I doubt it.
Couldn’t use ‘[name_m]Ben[/name_m]’ or anything too close as my brother is [name_m]Ben[/name_m] (FN [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]).
I’m glad everyone so far thinks it’s usable and that teasing is unlikely.
I know what you mean, Thatkathryngirl. My name (not bad for teasing potential) was used against me when I was younger because I liked to be different and so everything from the fact I played the 'cello to my accent was used. As I got older, that particular tease was dropped and I only got a new one in my last year at high school when I was far more popular and me and my BF (now husband) were a bit of a prominent couple. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though the name they came up with then was far worse, it didn’t feel half as bad because the context was more of a ‘we’re teasing you as a way of accepting you into the more popular crowd’ (if that makes any sense?). I think whether you will be teased or not depends on a lot more than just your name. Having said that, I wouldn’t want to give my child a name that had really obvious teasing potential.
I went to school with kids who didn’t even know who [name_m]Will[/name_m] Shatner is, so I would doubt any kid will tease an [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] because of the fairy association. I quite like the name [name_u]Oberon[/name_u], and I think the nickname [name_m]Bear[/name_m] is so cute.
Kids will find anything to pick about but in my time working with children, I’ve only heard a few kids pick on others about their names and those weren’t even the unusual ones being picked on.
We never even read A Midsummer Nights [name_u]Dream[/name_u] in high school. We read [name_m]Hamlet[/name_m], [name_m]Romeo[/name_m] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_m]Julius[/name_m] [name_m]Caesar[/name_m], and one other I can’t remember. I don’t actually think Midsummer is a typical one in high school curriculum.
As for nicknames – [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Bron[/name_m], [name_m]Ron[/name_m], [name_u]Berry[/name_u], [name_m]Obi[/name_m], Eron (like [name_m]Aaron[/name_m]), [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u]
I love [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] (I prefer the [name_u]Auberon[/name_u] spelling I think)! It’s a great name. Honestly, I have a pretty unusual name that has some teasing potential, but I barely ever got teased for it at all. I’m sure an [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] would be fine at school. I think the biggest thing you have to face when you have an unusual name like me is getting people to learn how to spell/say/remember it correctly!
I love the idea of using [name_m]Bear[/name_m] as a nn as well. I think that is the best suggestion.
Well, I’ve had a chance to discuss it with the other half, now. His initial reaction was ‘no’ but I’ve talked him round to a maybe (which is as much as I was hoping for - our first son’s name started as a ‘maybe’ so that’s not bad). As I suspected, it was the possibility of the NN [name_m]Bron[/name_m] that really helped my cause the most but he has asked why we can’t just use [name_m]Bron[/name_m] as a FN instead. This is a recurring theme with our naming conversations as I like [name_m]Ezekiel[/name_m] but he just wants to use [name_m]Zeke[/name_m] and I only convinced him to add [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] to our list because he likes [name_u]Mal[/name_u].
The thing is, on the whole, I’m not a huge fan of monosyllabic names as FNs. Plus, [name_m]Bron[/name_m] is a character in the A Song of Ice and [name_m]Fire[/name_m] series of books and a lot of our friends know we’re fans of these so I wouldn’t want them to think our baby was named after that character.
I knew an [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] in college. He was way too big for his britches and the name kind of added to the air of pomposity… Now if he’d been a nice guy, I would have thought his name was EXCELLENT. It’s the kind of name that can be silly on the wrong person, you know? As for nicknames, how about just O?
I agree with what everyone else has said about teasing- most of the time, it’s not the name that causes it. [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] is pretty fantastic, [name_m]Bron[/name_m] is a great nickname, and I also like the suggestion of [name_m]Bear[/name_m].
[name_u]Renny[/name_u] beat me too it. I love [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] and have [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] nn [name_m]Bear[/name_m] on a longer favorites list (somewhere).
I think the kid who was “mercilessly” teased probably brought it upon himself a bit….
“Hey [name_u]Oberon[/name_u]’s a weird name”
“It’s not weird… it mean’s [name_m]King[/name_m] of Fairies”
“Oh so you’re a fairy then?”
“No, I’m not….” etc.
I mean I think it depends on how young the kids were. High School, I’d hope they know 12th [name_m]Night[/name_m] (actually I think we read it in 8th) but I think one can easily help a child focus on the [name_m]King[/name_m] part of the name. Or on how bad-ass, and downright frightening the original fae-lore fairies can be. I think if you name your kid [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] and help him define fairy in a far sense instead of a “ballet slippers & sparkles” sense it’s going to be hard to tease him. A “yeah, not just any fairy but the ruler” will probably keep the teasing to a minimum - should it ever start to begin with. I think it’s the same with all teasing really - if you don’t let it bug you it tappers off quickly - if it consistently bugs you it becomes a much larger issue.
Told my husband about all the love for [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] this thread has generated and he seemed surprised. [name_f]May[/name_f] have helped the cause a bit!
Now, the fact it doesn’t really go very well with our son’s name is a whole other problem but with all the issues we’ve been having simply trying to find names we both like, I’m past caring about sibsets!
[name_u]Oberon[/name_u] has been rapidly climbing my favorites list–it’s my #2 favorite atm.
I don’t think the “[name_m]King[/name_m] of the Fairies” thing would be a problem until at least high school, and probably not even then. If you’re concerned about the Midsummer connection, spelling it [name_u]Auberon[/name_u] would distance it from that a bit.
And yep, like previous posters I adore the nickname [name_m]Bear[/name_m]! [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] means “bearlike” so it’s doubly perfect.