January 3rd, 2014
04:02 PM ET
Kate Winslet defends baby name, tells world to deal with itFeel free to judge all you want when it comes to the name Kate Winslet has chosen for her recently born son, Bear. The actress, 38, assures Glamour magazine's U.K. edition that she's more than comfortable with her decision to give Bear her last name instead of the surname of his father, Ned Rocknroll.
"People might judge all they like, but I'm a f*****g grown-up," she told the magazine. The "Labor Day" star has two other children, 10-year-old Joe and 13-year-old Mia, from prior marriages, and each kid bears Winslet's name. So with her third baby with her third husband, the Oscar winner saw no reason to suddenly switch things up - even if Ned's moniker is particularly unique last name. "It was always going to have my name," Winslet tells Glamour U.K., adding that the couple didn't even really discuss it. "Mia and Joe have it as part of their name, so it would be weird if this baby didn't. Of course we're not going to call it RocknRoll." Calling their son Bear, on the other hand, seemed to have made more sense. Before becoming, through vows at least, Mrs. Rocknroll in 2011, Winslet was married to director Sam Mendes and then Jim Threapleton, respectively.
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Bear Grylls is going to take all you haters to the woods and leave you there. Find hobbies, weaksauce pedants.
I take that back, KLD. I don't know why I felt the need to reply there. You're right, I need a hobby. LOL
Who cares what an actress names her kid? Bear is better than North West.
Let's see – 3 kids by 3 different fathers....yea there's a stereotype in there somewhere....
In her defense, she WAS married to each of those guys when they had they had their respective kids.
Fer cryin' out loud Kate- couldn't you throttle back a bit and make Bear his middle name and give him something more conventional for a first? The kid doesn't need to be teased at school from day one, does he?
The name Bear is not a problem at all. My granddaughter is named Berlin and I love it! Hurrah for creative names.
Perhaps she trying to appease the Dad, with the ridiculous surname as it is. There are some women out there who find it necessary to have a baby with every man they are involved.
David Bowie named his son "Zowie" (yes...Zowie Bowie). The moment he was legally old enough, he changed it to Duncan Jones. However, he had to live with that RIDICULOUS name for 18 years, just because his dad thought it would be "cute".
Yeah, Bear should have been his middle name. His first name should have been Theodore.
she doesn't seem to have much sense .....
3 husbands, 3 children all from a different husband and now calling her son Bear. Seems like she's incapable of making good choices in life.
. . . other than to entertain large numbers of people with her talent and hopefully not to raise her children to be judgmental prigs.
Maybe she has no sense but even though she has 3 kids with 3 different men but she is not a "Welfare Queen"....
Who name you a judge and jury to celebrities? It's their god given right to name their children whatever they please. Very sad that enough people placed judgement on Kate and she felt it necessary to defend herself. But Kate, you did it so well. My only comment to you is thank you for always entertaining the world with impeccable acting and I my two daughters always looked up to you as a wonderful role model. Stay you!
LOL–you brought out the angry folks! (i.e. How dare you be Judgmental!!!–bwahahaha)
Fox Mulder?
"Hoss" Cartwright?
Ima Hogg?
Rooster Cogburn?
'Hoss' was a nickname: his given name was Harold. And Rooster was also a nickname.
should have gone with "LongLive" (Rocknroll)
My son is 44. He's always been called, Bear. Most people don't know his real name.
So she gave the her children her father's last name.
Men – 1
Women – 0
it could have been MOON UNIT,or DWEZEL....or however frank zappa named his kids...
I think its a nod towards her hero Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls, and for what its worth,, i think its a great name. 🙂
She didn't "become Mrs. Rocknroll, through vows at least". She just married someone. She didn't change her name. I didn't either and I wouldn't - not because I worry about professional reasons, but because I don't want to! My kids have my last name, and their father, my dear fellow, is fine with that. As for naming the child, here, the parents may choose any last name they like, if they agree. Otherwise, the child’s last name will be a hyphenated combination of both surnames in alphabetical order. If only the birth mother signs the birth registration, she can choose the last name.
Angry Woman Alert!!!!
I think its a perfectly cute name. All you haters need to get a life an stop getting so excited about stuff that really doesnt matter. Go yell at your local courthouse about injustice or something. lol
Well, as names go "Bear" isn't all that bad–every hear of king Arthur?–in Old English "Arthur" meant "Bear"–and all concerned knew that perfectly well–Hope the kid is still remembered 1500 years from now..
Stan
Doesn't anyone remember Bear Bryant? i think it is a perfectly fine name.
Congrats on the new arrival.
You may be an adult, but it's still a REALLY STUPID NAME!
I thought when I read the story, it was about the child's surname
Bear Winslet,I like it! This is not a good photo of Kate BTW. She is still a looker! Live on Kate!
Kate Winslet should learn from actress Barbara Hershey! In Barbara's hippy days she named herself Barbara Seagull
due to stupidly breaking a seagulls neck during a film. Then Barbara names her poor innocent son FREE??
Barbara finally grew up and realized she was an airhead and went back to using Barbara Hershey and her son probably got tried of the name calling at school and changed his name. I still like Barbara even though she was an airhead. I also like
Kate Winslet too!
Why are you repeating yourself? WE HEARD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Barbara Hershey should advise Kate not to give the baby that weird name!
Barbara in her hippy days named herself Barbara Seagull and her son Free! Eventually Barbara grew up and realized what an air head she was and changed her name back to Hershey. Her son probably got tried of being called Free and also changed his name.
Don't be stupid Kate Winslet you are all grown up but still an air head.
Her husbands real name is Abel Smith
Bear is better name than some of the other stupid names celebrities come up with.....North West.....really? poor little girl
I assumed she was a fan of the Crimson Tide.
She has not aged well. Auburn must have caused her to age 10 years.
Yes, I've lost countless hours of sleep over this...
This article seems to imply that parents can name their children with any sirname. To what extent, could a Mr and Mrs Charles Brown name their child Charles Green? Are the laws different in the United Kingdom versus those of the several states in America?
I suggest you do extensive research into how and why laws differ in the UK from those in the USA, with emphasis into those governing the naming of children, particularly as it applies to surnames, then get back to us with your findings. You have one week.
It's not "any" surname, it's the mother's surname.
At least TRY and form a cogent argument next time.
Interesting how she kept calling Bear "it" instead of "him".
Kate, we nicknamed our son Bear when he was 2. It stuck... He's now 26 and we still call him Bear... I like the name, obviously.... It's a great name for a boy.... and he even likes it!! So don't listen to all the freaks on here.....
I see nothing wrong with the name – it's strong, not like a direction, piece of fruit or color – and so what?? Bear is a cute name, some people adopt horrid nick name's that stick with them for life. What's in a name. Well – everyone here so up in arms...if she wasn't a celebrity, I guarantee you wouldn't give 2 cents about it!
Wish people would use the board to truly celebrate the birth of her new son "Bear" , wish her well. She's a talented beautiful actress – Bravo, wishing you well with your family 🙂
How about Clothed Winslet? Much more appropriate.
OK, Bear is cute...if it is Teddy Bear. Bear for an adult male is a bit childish. But the baby is who will have to live with it. I saw a list of outrageous (to me) names for celebrity babies and noted that one of them is now an adult and had his name changed to something else. My nephew and his girlfriend apparently hate their new baby girl so much that they named her "Rogue." That name in New Zealand (they live in the US) is on the same list as Hitler and is not allowed there as a baby name.
It's all fun and games until the kid goes to school. That is when his fellow students teach the parents a very important lesson on why their cute little unique name has consequences.
Always think carefully about what you are going to name a child, it tends to stick with them for life.
I know someone named "Richard Head."
Ursula, Urs, Bjorn, Arthur, Bernadette, Bernard, and many more names mean Bear. So why not just name him Bear?
that's the Chinese way of having English name? O guess she name her son Bear while visiting China
Ms. Winslet is the premiere actress of her generation and has the right to name her child whatever she choses. With a surname of "Rocknroll" I expect she's done the tot a great favor. Perhaps "Dad" can think of his son's wellbeing and commend the choice. In any case, the child shall be having enough scraps dealing with "Bear".
Coming from a generation of boomers who tagged their offspring with monikers ranging from "Sunshine" to "Moon Unit", the whole matter seems like foolish topic for even those engages about the career of being "professionally outraged."
Premier actress of her generation? Based on what?
Even if she was the premier actress of our time, why does that give her the right to name her kid anything she wants? Isn't being the mother good enough, or is that what you were getting at?
Bear Winslet is a great name. You tell them off good Kate.
I agree, with all the real problems in the world you almost have to be mental to get upset over a name.
Really she does not care what people say?? sure...is that why she had to give her five cents about Miley Cyrus needing help...my dear Kate you have three children from three different men....
@Jenny, and who are you to judge someone you don't know personally for having 3 kids from 3 different marriages? Judgmental, judgmental.
Also, you are confused. It was Sinéad O'Connor who chose to tweet her opinion about Miley Cyrus.
Go back to your household chores, or Jerry Springer show or whatever it is that you do with your time.
Jenny, I was trying to find a way to comment. You gave my comments, for me. She stressed concern about Miley, who has a mother and father. Perhaps, she should concern herself, with her own children. Seems, she has no room, to try and teach Miley about life...
Miley Cyrus the tongue sticking singer? She got this habit I hear from her puppy. Any truth to it?
Wonder what she will name her baby?
Personally, I was advocating for her second choice....Cornichon.
Ms. Winslet can name her child any name she wishes, it is the child that will have to suffer from her, in my opinion, poor choice for a name. Then again, her child is now in a small group of celebs children's name like moon zappa, and most likely not come in contact with "normal people"
And you are one of the normal people, I presume?
Fast f
Onward to 1st day of school. Poor kid. Children are cruel. Get ready for the bullying
It is not such an unusual name. Björn is a common name in Scandinavia meaning bear. The old English word for bear, beorn, used to be a name. Buck, Drake, Colt and Cat are common names today.
She is such a DING BAT!! what till he gets older and kicks her ass for giving him such an ignorant name...
Aspen Rain.... I imagine you had to have that same talk with your folks if that isn't an imaginary moniker.
This woman has married each of the men she had a child with, people have multiple children with multiple donors and never marry so she covered that part. People can name their children whatever they choose, if the child doesn't like it then the child can change it when they reach the age of majority.
I read all the time where people complain about PC (politically correct) crap being forced on them, well it is rather hypocritical to do the same thing to someone else. Just because she didn't name her son Joseph David doesn't mean there is anything wrong with her. The problem here is that we spend too much time worshiping at the feet of entertainers so we think we have a right to pass judgment on them. I think it is safe to say that Ms. Winslet has communicated just how she feels about this and I say bravo!
Just because you can name your kid whatever you choose doesn't mean you should. There's greater potential for social stigma when you give your kid an atypical name like that.
She is a very talented actress. Although I would never name a child "Bear," she sees the world much differently than I do. I have always liked her for her honesty and her confidence to offer herself as an alternative to the size 0 medicore actress. Kate Winslet does not seem to be afraid of taking chances or appearing to be less-than-perfect.
In Sweden, Björn (meaning bear) is a very common name. You may remember it as one of the ABBA's B's.
Bear McCreary wrote the music to "The Walking Dead," among other things. So, I mean, the name isn't exactly unheard of...
If someone is using profanity when they say they are grown up, they should learn that it actually conveys they need to grow up some more. Yes, I know Kate is a grown up and I couldn't care what she names her son, but the profanity really didn't help her point.
My favorite dog is named "Bear" and I love him to pieces. Maybe they named their kid after their dog...it's been done before. Hopefully, he didn't get his mom's fat genes or Middle School is going to be an outright nightmare!
"You're not tack."
"You're the hack."
See, you're is a contraction of the words "you" and "are."
I won't even bring up your short, choppy, incomplete sentences...
Look at the photo. It's like she's saying "COME AT ME, BRO!"
We named our kids unusual names in the 70's and they grew up well adjusted and do just fine with names like Stormy, Blue, Chrysalis, Creed, and Sunny.
Everyone hates Creed, man.
ha...she's either building the new voltron or the thundercats but wait...it's her baby? um...no....it's THEIR baby. sounds like most men he's p* whipped and decided to keep the peace. lucky for him she's the man.
Hey dumb a$$ ... if it's THEIR baby, why does it have to have HIS name? Why not a combination of both?
Angry Woman (Stacy) Alert!!!
This world is getting WAY to judgmental. Who the hell cares what she and others name their child. Its nobody's business, period.
Why not? And, more importantly, why do people give a damn what some actress who can't manage a stable relationship calls the third child in as many marriages? Assuming there were a problem with the name "Bear" (and I'm not sure I can figure out why there should be), it is probably not this woman's biggest issue.
Not sure why anyone cares what Ms. Winslet named her son or how many times she has been married or if she chooses to retain her own surname. Maybe you should all m.y.o.b.
I live in the real world with real people....and I know two Bears.
Get over it, people.
Seems like these people are trying to make their children social outcasts from birth, this is a pathetic attemp for more attention from mentally I'll parents
what are "mentally I'll parents?"
There's no doubt in my mind that nearly two decades from now, a lot of children of celebrities will be having their names legally changed
Changed to what?
How many of Frank Zappa's kids had their names legally changed?
Don't you hate when facts get in your hater way?
Shame on her. I think a name like Moon Unit would be far more appropriate.
No Kate, The WORLD won't have to deal with it.
Your child will have to deal with it hours every day when Mum isn't around and his friends are making fun of him.
So SELFISH and immature.
What are you on? Firstly, Bear is a seriously cool name, and secondly, why can't her child have her surname? Yes, traditionally the child takes the father's surname, but the world evolves not because of the traditionalists. She's retaliating against those who have judged her for being different. As for the child, having Winslet as a surname as opposed to RocknRoll is a win.
If she and Ned had a lauqh, that's all that matters.....riqht Miss Winslet?
I heard that she is going to have 2 more and name them Lion and Tiger.
Another white trash.....Bear.... What kind of drugs is this granny on???
Oh my!
You're right....because we've never had any celebrity named Tiger before.
Mom, I hate you. Never have another kid...ever
If she was a real 'grown up', she would have gotten married ONCE, and put in the 'work' to make it last...... that's what 'adults' do.... You're a washed up, 38 year old actress who knew giving your kid a stupid name would generate a little 'buzz' in the media. I feel sorry for your kids.... and yes, that name is beyond stupid.......
You're obviously a f-cking idiot. LOL
Wow.....you are so incredibly stupid and ignorant that I'm amazed you can operate a computer.
gwats1957, you need to change that "g" to a "t". That would be more appropriate for you.
Then I would have the same screen name as your worthless mother!
Alicia Silverstone's son is also named Bear. What's the big deal? Its not like she named her kid something horrible like Rapeist or Lucifer or something. Just because he's not named Bob or something completely dull? This isn't 1950 anymore and this isnt N. Korea , with an acceptable list of government mandated names. To each there own. Of course i may be biased, my Pomeranian is named Bear too.
Well... it's better than the names Frank Zappa gave his kids.
I remember this nutjob in my church when I was a kid who named his 3 daughters: Ford, Chevy and Dodge. I kid you not.
I too remember a family of 3 girls..in order of birth , April, May , June. We are running out of normal names we have to make up some new ones. Have at it. Poor little people.
Those must be lazy kids since neither of those 3 run for long
Hey Winslet. Your son is now a huqe furry herbivore, known for raidinq dumpsters. qood choice. quess you were so busy planninq your snobbish over the top life that you couldn't carve out an hour to find a decent name for your child.
Bears are more carnivore than herbivore. Omnivore might be a better descriptive.
Oh my! My daughter knew a girl at church whose family named her "Nestle", and their last name was "Fudge". I kid you not! Now that is crazy!
I know a family named Packer who named their son Fudge.
Keelie= WIN!!! (coffee on screen here)
Who cares? Aren't there more important things to spend you energy on? Let anyone call their kids what they like. It's a free country. If the kid doesn't like it, he/she can pick a nickname or use a second name. It doesn't matter one iota.
lol @ "I'm a f*****g grown-up." Yes Kate, that was a very grown-up reply. Classy too. How typically Hollywood.
Anyway......as idiotic of a name as "Bear" is, I've heard worse. Musicians seem esp prone to this idiocy, with Zappa being the most obvious. Yes use the name of your child as the butt of a joke, brilliant idea. And didn't Grace Slick (does anyone even remember her) name her kid "God?" Funny. hahahaha. Good grief – what morons.
What these egocentric "artistes" don't realize is that naming one's child is not an exercise in narcissistic flights of fancy. It's a pity that they are unable to consider what these absurd names can do to hurt their children.
How can it hurt them? Mom has enough money for all of them to live like kings and never have to work.
I suppose nobody remembers the coach, Bear Bryant?
Apparently you don't remember that that was a nickname, not his actual name (which was Paul).
Mr. Bryant was named Paul William Bryant by his parents; Bear was merely a nickname. BIG difference.
I don't remember him, but I remember Max Bear, and they can always call him Max. I hope the don't call him Winnie.
^Paul William Bryant. "Bear" was his nickname.
Are you thinking of Max BAER, Jr., the actor who played Jethro?
Bear Bryant and Bear Grylls are always referred to by their nicknames, not given names. So yeah, it's not an alien or extremely unusual name.
But, everyone remembers Bare Lady Godiva.
I knew a guy named Bear once, but it was his nickname during the early 70's, not his given name, not in English anyway. His given name was "Urso" in Portuguese, since that's what he was. Still, it's not appropriate as a real first name. Celebs are doing their kids a disservice.
Urso and Ursula are foreign language variants of the word "bear".
But, really, who cares? Get a life people!
There are a lot of "stars" in life, teachers, first responders, service men and women, appearing in a film is really not much to make you important or in some way an example. Most are people not real or in any way intelligent "only playing that part on screen". Proven every day in the press, drugs, car crashes, lives in ruin, I guess we all like watching that car crash, sad.
She may be grown up chronologically, but judging by her maturity level, I'd say she's around junior high level. Mature adults do not name their children stupid names like "Bear". This poor boy will be hounded for years and teased because of his mother's ridiculous choice for a name. Parents today just don't think ahead and think of what it will be like for their kids to be stuck with monikers like "Bear" or "Fifi Trixibelle" or "Moxie Crimefighter" or "Bear Blu" or "Midnight James Sparrow' or other stupid Hollywood baby names.
Instead of chastising the parent for not conforming to perceived rules when it comes to naming their child, perhaps we could teach our own children not to make fun of others names, looks, disabilities, etc.
Bear Bryant and Bear Grylls seem to have done just fine being called by the name "bear".
Yogi Jones had tremendous success with the Hanna-Barbera company after changing his last name to Bear.
Well everyone, please 'bear' with her stupidity
Imagine if the girls becomes obese.... It will be sooo cool to introduce herself as Bear...Are they calling her Teddy until she grows up?? What a demented b***ch...
It's her SON – a boy, not a girl – you demented b***h...
Nobody cares
What about naming the kid "Bear With It"?
BTW – the article apparently was edited to death. The final paragraph begins with a topic sentence which states that "Calling their son Bear....seems to have made more sense.", but then the rest of the paragraph deals with prior marriages. Also, it is difficult to imagine if the photographer could have selected a less flattering camera angle.
Why is naming a kid Bear any worse than naming it Wolf? Or Leo, for Lion?
Couldn't agree more. My nephew's name is Chance and when paired with his last name it seemed a recipe for disaster but he was always so well liked from the first year that it never occurred to anyone to tease him. He BECAME his name and it carried it's own cache because of that. I'm sure it will be the same with Bear.
Or Tiffany, Silver, Diamond, Ruby....
Maturity is not defined by age. Its the the Media going after silly things like the babies name.
She's a f....ing what? oh yes sorry she's a grown up- forgot that part- she's all grown up- nice one Kate- glad you reminded us-
@ Guest: Alicia Silverstone named her boy Bear Blu, so it's hardly original. My nephew has a dog named Bear. Bear is an okay name for a dog, but not for a human being.
Bear is a whole lot better than some ghettofied name like Marquantavious and Daquantay
But the names are original. You have to give credit for originality. Bear? Sheeeeeit.
I agree. Those made-up names sound so stupid. Though I did like Lafawnduh (in Napoleon Dynamite). There's a difference between choosing uncommon names (I have a son named Dashiell), and choosing weird names. I think Bear is a better name than Apple or North. I knew a family that named their daughter Jill Winter Knight! And they actually called her Jilly! How cruel is that?
I like moose better
I need a hug from her to check if she's grown up.
I'm a dinosaur - RAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWRRRRRRR!!!!!
ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Gotta love how accurate the info is on these "news sites": "Before becoming, through vows at least, Mrs. Rocknroll in 2011, Winslet was married to director Sam Mendes and then Jim Threapleton, respectively." WRONG. She was married first to Jim Threapleton and had Mia, and THEN to Sam Mendes and had Joe.
Bear Winslet?
She should have let the kid be named Bear Rocknroll.
What kind of parents would name their kid Bear Rocknroll? Awesome ones, that's who!
Ask the Zappa children about their names.
I like the statement about her being a f.....ing grown-up. That has yet to be proven.
CLETE....
Why? I love her brutal honesty. And I think it's cool she named her kid Bear. Just because no one else has named their kid that name in particular, it's her business, because after all, yes, she's a grown-up. What, do all grownups name their kids Jane and Brianna and Jeffrey? Whatever...I think what's weird is that the world seems to think that they have the right to comment and judge the baby names that celebrities choose, like it's open to public debate as being acceptable or not.
You people need a hobby. HOw about concerning yourself with the misery in South Sudan. Could you find it on a map? Ever hear of it?
Our resident white supremacist troll.
Yet you seem to have somehow found your way to this story and thus to comment on it. Hmmm.
I came here to post a comment. But you all are a bunch of freaking trolls. Forget it. I'm going back to tji.
Why shouldn't she give the kid her surname...she did all the work...and so many Women keep Their surname for professional reasons.
I agree. Why on earth in the 21st century do we continue to critique a woman who either keeps her last name and/or gives it to her children. Why do we assume fathers should have a monopoly on names?
It's a personal choice. With thousands sharing most last names anyway I always thought the obsession more of an absurdity.
Women should give her baby her last name. With the high percentage of divorce women get to keep her kids any way.,. The kid grows up .... Gets confused suffer from scars & mental illness because he was raised by mom. He estranged that mother & breaks her heart but who cares a dam about this? It one out of every ten family!
What I want to know is why such a talented actress continues wh0ring herself out to successively richer and richer husbands....
What do you have to gain from that knowledge, or lose from the fact that she's "wh0ring herself out?" What do you have at stake here?
It's an idiotic name. She may be an "F'in grown-up", but her kid will hate it for it later.
Boy this chick gets around..........
Actually, I'm de baby daddy, not dat other dude.
And you lot are all so perfect of course! It's her life not yours so keep your big traps shut!
Married 3 times but still legally goes by Winslet? This should tell these guys something. Also the Winslet surname for all of these kids? Should tell these guys something more. We see who wears the pants, don't we, and how committed she is to these relationships.
What a ridiculous comment. How often do you have to clean the bubble that you live in? Do you know how many (non-famous) women marry and keep their maiden names? Hundreds of thousands. Whether it's for professional reasons or simply choice, it has nothing to do with one's commitment to a relationship. I have a friend who chose to keep her maiden name simply because she was the only child and, being a female, was the last in her "line" (for lack of a better word) and she wanted to preserve the name. How selfish and thoughtless, right? Definitely a cause for concern in any relationship that should send any sane man packing!. Winslet was married to Sam Mendes for 7 whole years, so I can see your concern with her loyalty there too.
Please exit your bubble once in a while to get a clear view of the world and the people in it. You'll be much better for it.
Darn right. Use your name for the kiddo.
Still stuck in a hospital room.
Food here is for the birds. Yuk!
I want a Big Mac combo.
Lame, lame, lame-o.
Just like father's day at SoKKKman's trailer park in KC.
Wow, 3 kids with 3 different guys...Father's Day must be getting a little confusing in the Winslet household...
She was married to each of them. That's better than the typical southerner.