How big of deal are initials?

SecondTimeinMSU · November 2010

With the big U/S just a week a way I've been trying to think of girl names since i am feeling fairly confident on boy names. My problem is the initials. My DH would like to keep my unique family middle name going which starts with an "A" and our last name starts with a "R". As a result when thinking of a girl name there are so many combos where the initials spell something, BAR, WAR, TAR, CAR, OAR, JAR, FAR, etc. Do you think initials are a big deal? Maybe just avoid the worst of them but something like JAR isn't too bad? I did go thru most of my life with the initials "sas" and that was fine but it isn't as noticible.

cynnnabun · November 2010

My initials don't spell anything, so I can't say for sure, but in my experience, I knew one kid who's initials spelled a word and when we first figured it out (in like 3rd grade, haha.) it was "neat" for like, a minute, and then we were over it and it was never a big deal. Most of the time in school or whatever you put your first and last initial. Now, I'm not that kid so I can't say if it affected her knowing that her whole life, but I seriously doubt it. I wouldn't rule out the name Brittany just because the initials would be BAR. But that's just my opinion.

kmarkell · November 2010

I would probably avoid WAR...and I had a friend growing up who had PMS for initials...but other than that, I don't think they matter too much. My sister's initials are SAM and she loves the fact that her initials spell something.

Goodysgirl · November 2010

I think it depends on the initials. I don't think the -AR ones are bad at all.

But kids can be mean and I wouldn't want a middle schooler with the initials P-I-G or H-O-E.

ohiostategal · November 2010

I agree with PP, I would avoid the bad ones, probably WAR, but would not worry if my initials spelled any of those other possibilities. I knew a girl who had initials JAR and I thought it was cool. Also, if she had monograms stuff later the R would be in the middle so it isn't like she would have a purse that said "JAR" it would say "JRA"

claytonswife2011 · November 2010

one of my brother's initials spelled SAW and I have a step brother whose initials spell GAS...i myself didnt even think about the initials when i named my kids JLA, XMA, and RCA (well I just noticed my son on the ways initials didnt plan that at all)

ckolak:-) · November 2010

In the end, it doesn't really matter. Mine (before I married) were CAB. Amusing but not really meaningful. However, I have known one person whose initials were EEL and one whose are PEE. If you are spelling something like that, perhaps reconsider, but neutral words are no big deal IMO. I would avoid WAR... GL!

Nanna · November 2010

I wouldn't worry about the more neutral words you have listed. I think there are definitely cases where a name should be reconsidered if the initials are going to spell something really negative, like HPV or PIG or something like that, but that isn't the case here it seems.

grace782 · November 2010

My initial are JAR (grew up as a JAM until I got married). If this baby had been a girl, she would be MAR. So clearly I am not worried. No one ever really noticed that my initials spelled anything.

shaindelr · November 2010

ckolak:-):
In the end, it doesn't really matter. Mine (before I married) were CAB. Amusing but not really meaningful. However, I have known one person whose initials were EEL and one whose are PEE. If you are spelling something like that, perhaps reconsider, but neutral words are no big deal IMO. I would avoid WAR... GL!

I had a student once whose initials were EEL, and he made it work for him :-) He had a giant eel tattoo wrapped around his arm. He was a cool person who would have made anything work for him.

I would just avoid initials that spelled something REALLY bad--like FAT or ASS or something that kids would be cruel about. No really bad AR ones that I can think of :-)

MeggieChris · November 2010

My mom's initials growing up were PDQ (pretty darn quick). Her swimming coach would tease her some but she said it never really bothered her. Mine are MEC, which doesn't have a meaning, so I've never given it a lot of thought. But like PP, I might avoid WAR, ASS, PIG, or something along those lines.

luvdelilah · November 2010

Nanna:
I wouldn't worry about the more neutral words you have listed. I think there are definitely cases where a name should be reconsidered if the initials are going to spell something really negative, like HPV or PIG or something like that, but that isn't the case here it seems.

HA! This was me. I dropped my maiden name and kept my middle name when I got married since it would have made my initials HPV.

katlizabeth · November 2010

We avoided Alexander Samuel with ds (even though we both loved it) because his initials would have been A.S. S. Otherwise, if it doesn't make a "bad" word, I don't think it's a big deal. I was KEB growing up, and that's what my dad called me sometime.

normajeane6126 · November 2010

They definitely can be a big deal, but it sounds like the ones you're considering are pretty neutral. Personally, my initials are KKK which did not make for good times in high school...

ke525 · November 2010

My baby's initials will be APE, and while it's not the most flattering, I decided that it doesn't matter too much. Like PPs said, a monogram would change the order and people often use just first and last initials. Good luck!

kaube · November 2010

I agree with PP. If it spells something bad then maybe rethink. If it is just a neutral word then dont worry about it.

My brothers were MOB and JAB. They thought it was funny. My husband is MRA, which he loves (Mr. A- he thinks its funny)

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