AN expectant mum received mixed reactions after sharing the unique moniker she planned to call her son.
The pregnant woman explained that the baby name acknowledged her family’s heritage but people pointed out likely comparisons.
In a post on Mumsnet, the user revealed that she wanted to choose a name with significant meaning.
She said she was expecting a “baby boy who will have three nationalities.”
The mum-to-be explained that she wanted to pay homage to her son’s Finnish roots while still picking something easily pronounced in English and French, his other two nationalities.
She shared the she and her partner were considering the name Otso for their son.
“It means bear in Finnish,” the Mumsnet user explained in her post.
According to Finnish mythology, Otso is a bear that is the king of animals and the leader of the forest.
Otso is considered a sacred animal in Finnish spiritual tradition and is said to be the mythical ancestor of all humans.
Despite the deep meaning in Finland, people were quick to point out the likely associations for the name in English.
Mumsnet users revealed what came to their minds when they first encountered the name.
“It’s not a name I have ever heard before, my first thought was that it was a typo for Otto, it also made me think of Lots-o the bear from Toy Story,” wrote one reader.
“I also thought of Lots-o bear in Toy Story,” agreed another Mumsnet user.
“It sounds too much like Oxo to me, sorry,” pointed out one person.
“It sounds like a stock cube! Just call him Bear!” suggested a third commenter.
“It’s an unusual name, but easy to spell, and presumably, is written like it sounds,” wrote another reader.
“I would however get ready for a lot of mis-hearings of ‘Otto?’
YOU may think having a unique name helps you to stand out, but is it all it's cracked up to be?
Fabulous’ Deputy Editor Josie Griffiths reveals the turmoil she faced with her own name while growing up.
When I was a child, all I wanted was one of those personalised keyrings with my name on it.
But no joy, the closest I could find was Rosie, Joseph (not great for a little girl) and Joanne.
Josie is short for Josephine, which is a French name, and I managed to reach my 20s without ever meeting anyone who shared it.
When I try to introduce myself to people, I get all sorts of random things – like Tracey and Stacey – which can be pretty annoying.
Although I have come into contact with a couple of Josies over the last year – there seems to be a few of us around my age – it’s still a much rarer name than most of my friends have.
On the whole I don’t mind it, at least it’s not rude or crazily spelt.
And it means I can get away with ‘doing a Cheryl’ and just referring to myself as Josie.
I’m getting married this year and some friends are shocked that I’m changing my surname, as it’s not seen as very cool or feminist to do so these days, but I explain to them that I’m not that attached to Griffiths as I’d always just say ‘hi it’s Josie’ when ringing a mate up.
I think it’s nice to be unique and I’ll definitely try and replicate this when naming my own kids.
It’s the rude names you’ve got to watch out for, so after nine years as a lifestyle journalist I’ll definitely be avoiding those.
“It also makes me think of Lots-o, the evil bear from Toy Story.”
“I’m another whose first thoughts were Oxo cubes or Lots-o from Toy Story. I also think it’ll constantly be misheard as Otto,” said one person.
Other parents pointed out that the unique name may even lead to bullying.
“Otso sounds like fatso,” pointed out one reader.
“Might just make it easier for him that we pick a name that is a known name in all his three countries,” the expectant mum concluded.
