yuck

OP, kids will find a way to be cruel even if your kid is named John or Jack [.... just think about it].

If a name suits your child and sounds good to you - you should do it.

Bruce rocks - literally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just astonished that people think of "gay" as in insult. Still? Really?

When it is used in a mean spirited way at the PP intended, yes it is an insult.

Additionally, as someone with a gay brother, I would not wish gay on my worst enemy, and would certainly not want my child to be gay. Not because I would think less of him, but seeing the teasing and hurt my brother has gone through in his life, despite the fact that our family has always rallied around has been very painful. People like the PP who use gay with an undertone of insult are part of the problem.

sorry for you and your brother.

I have an uncle named Bruce, super nice guy.

Anonymous wrote:How did Bruce get seen as a gay name, like Terence?

Since when is Terence a gay name? That's news to me

How did Bruce get seen as a gay name, like Terence?

If it's a family name, you might want to be careful about giving your kid that as a first name. Both my DD's grandmothers have the same name but we stayed away from that as a first name as we'd just feel weird, like we were talking to our in-laws.

Now, if he's going to go for the bear look (70s mustache, construction worker look, physically fit, etc.), he'll have more masculinity in his pinkie finger than this entire thread (and their husbands) put together.

I think Bruce is seen as a gay name to people who grew up in the 60s and early 70s. By the time your kid grows up we'll be in retirement homes. Most people under 40 have no idea of the gay connotation. Like nowadays you would never call your kid 'Dick'. But older people think nothing of it.

The only Bruces I have ever known were gay or dogs.

OP - pregnancy brain.. I can't believe I just wrote "my best friend in the world is a gay" - lol obviously the "a" was unintended!

OP here - WOW! I had noo idea that this would get so many responses. I'm a little worried about the gay thing. I have no problem at ALL with gays - my best friend in the world is a gay - but at the same time I would not want to name my son a name that is stereotypically anything, you know? Not just gay. Kids are awful enough without giving them ammunition to tease one another. I really didn't know that so many people thought it was a gay name! I'm kind of surprised!

Reminds me of Monty Python's sketch about the Australians ("hello Bruce!").

I like it - I only know two Bruces and both are very nice adults. It's definitely not a name I've heard on any little kids recently, so your son isn't likely to be one of several Bruces in preschool.

My first thought was Bruce the shark from Nemo. Then Bruce Willis.

I like the name. Not unfamiliar, but not common.

For whatever reason it is known as gay name. This is in no way an insult to gays and has no bearing on whether or not I personally like it, which I don't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just astonished that people think of "gay" as in insult. Still? Really?

When it is used in a mean spirited way at the PP intended, yes it is an insult.

Additionally, as someone with a gay brother, I would not wish gay on my worst enemy, and would certainly not want my child to be gay. Not because I would think less of him, but seeing the teasing and hurt my brother has gone through in his life, despite the fact that our family has always rallied around has been very painful. People like the PP who use gay with an undertone of insult are part of the problem.

And BTW, you are astonished? Really? Where have you been all these years?