I've got a Bear in my tummy...

[raqkel]

I think Bear Alexander is an excellent choice. Do it!

[isirapjl]

I cannot imagine a child/man with the legal name of Bear but love the idea of Barret or Theodore nn Bear...

and I know this is a boys forum but we have a daughter named Claire and her nn was Claire Bear as a baby and now we call her just Bear as a family nn. Good luck!

[gblondie]

I love that as a nickname - but not a first name. What about Barrett? I have a nephew with that name and everyone calls him Bear. But once he's older, he will have a full masculine name to use - Barrett.

Barrett Alexander is adorable!!!

good option as I agree that Bear is not a first name

[elisabeth rae]

I really don't like Bear as a fn. It's too much for a person and there are a few connotations... I think it would work better as a middle. Or use pp's suggestion of Barrett, or maybe Barrineau.

[frustratedauthor]

I think Bear Alexander is fine. But if the usability concerns you, I like the earlier poster's suggestion of Barrett Alexander nn Bear.

[elrama]

I like Bear a lot - it's an intriguing name to me. I say go for it if you are ok with it being a little out there (but not in a bad way, in my opinion).

[norseberry]

I don't think Bear is too out there since there are little Tiger's and Hawk's out there. I met a Bear whose little brother was named Graham. Love that it has meaning to you! Go for it!

[lindseywhite03]

You know the other day the blog on the home page was about rules for naming children. The rule that I most liked, and I think you'd agree with me, is the rule that there is no such thing as a weird name. I guess I'm just into "out there" names. Every time I have a crazy new love people want me to change it to a "real" name and use my new love as a nn. But if I did this I know I'd always regret having some serious name in my baby's birth certificate bc I would never call him or think of him as that serious name. For instance I like Johnse- to name him Jonathan just to call him johnse for his whole life is terribly irritating. First if all teachers would always call him Jonathan until he corrected them a thousand times. Second of all as far as I'm concerned the names are miles apart in the charm and quirkiness that I look for and Jonathan is so not the image I perceive for my babies. I say GO FOR BEAR! Once people get used to it they'll borobably be jealous they didn't get the nerve to do it first! I named my dog bear and seriously regret not saving it for a son! I love it- but I used it for my puppy bc 1. He is my first baby 2. My husband isn't cool enough to handle bear, lol JK he is just very conservative when it comes to names (you can imagine the heated debates we have over future names lol) I really love Bear! Don't forget the legendary football coach for Alabama was named Bear Bryant- so it worked out well for someone

[jaderain]

Arthur
Barrett
Bernard

Here are some names with bear as a meaning.

I like that bear means a lot to you, but am unsure it's a suitable name for a child.

Congrats and good luck!

[redtulips]

Bear is definetly a guilty pleasure for me. That being said I would use it more as a mn. Maybe Caspian Alexander Bear or Caspian Bear Alexander?