Amy writes:
This past Thanksgiving my brother-in-law was talking about my other brother in law and said “Well, Brett sure does.” Brett, who is only ten, quickly responded with “Who’s Bretcher?” The fact that Brett thought Bretcher sounded like a legitimate name got me thinking that it really does have a lot of the characteristics current, trendy boys names. It is an English surname, starts with the ever-popular Br sound, has an easy nickname in “Bret”, and as a bonus, it rhymes with Fletcher. What do you think?
I think you’re right: it has a lot going for it, name-candidate-wise. It FEELS like a name.
Going against it is the way it calls to mind the words wretch and retch.
What does everyone else think? Let’s have a poll over to the right. [Poll closed; see results below.]
Poll results for the question “What do you think of the name Bretcher?” (457 votes total):
I love it! I’d want to use it! – 0 votes (0%)
I like it! I’d want to consider it! – 8 votes (2%)
I like it for someone else’s baby – 27 votes (6%)
No particular opinion either way – 19 votes (4%)
Slight dislike – 133 votes (29%)
Strong dislike – 270 votes (59%)
It feels like a name to me too, so I vote yes on approving it as a name candidate. But as the kind of name that would make me wince to hear it, because I dislike it so much and it’s so outside of my own tastes.
While in theory the name has many valid qualities that give it potential, I personally can’t get past the similarity to “retcher” or “retching.” So I connect the name in my head with vomit. But my mind works in weird ways.
Oh – and I love Fletcher btw.
The connection that’s a deal-breaker for me is “belcher.” I’m curious to see how the poll will add up. My guess is that the association with both retch and belch will be too strong to overcome the trendiness that the individual pieces of the name have.
Despite its similarity to “Fletcher” and “Brett,” it honestly makes me think of “retcher” too strongly for it to work for me.
I immediately thought of “belch” or “belcher” and sort of a mix between that word and “retch” and it just didn’t seem too positive. Though, I do see how it sort of has the right other sounds to be a name, it isn’t one I’d consider using.
Because it sounds like retch, wretch, and belch, but it still flows like a current name, it’s a great parody name. “My upscale neighbors with their four-car garage, their children Trendi and Bretcher, and their dog Frances.”
So I voted No as a name candidate. Funny possibility, though.
I see I am not the only one who immediately saw “Belcher.” I cannot unsee it.
I don’t think I could see it as a real name I would suggest, but it sod not surprise me if someone used it as a name, because people tend to get caught up…
Love it as a parody name, but let’s name the dog something else. My dogs are Lotti(e), Lol(a), and Fr@nces!
My immediate thought was “wretcher” and I think a look of horror was on my face. That’s probably not the first reaction a mom is looking for…
There is a last name Brashear (sounds like Bresher) that is a little less reminiscent of something gross.
Or if you want to keep the Brett part…maybe Breton?
I heard “you betcha,” which, although positive, would still rule it out for me.
I vote no, too. A little too much onomatopoeia with “retcher” – it sounds like the dog when she’s about to throw up.
Too close to belcher or the disgusted sound “blegch!” Sorry, it’s a no for me. I love Fletcher, though!
I thought of belcher… I don’t like it.
Can’t say I’ve ever heard of this one before.