About the hamster's name

[QueenofLouisiana]

DS got a new hamster today. She's very sweet and is settling in to her new cage happily.

However, DS thought she was a boy and wanted to call her a fairly unusual name: say Jeramiah (it's not, but you get the idea). Now, Jeramiah is the name of his close friend's brother who died a few years ago. DS didn't know him, but knows that he lived and has heard me talk to best friend and mum about him. (I knew him well, DS became friends after the death of Jeramiah.)

I told DS that I thought his friend might feel uncomfortable with the hamster having this name. DS didn't connect it with the brother, just liked the name. He saw my point and thought of a variation (say Jeremy) he was equally happy with.

It's all a bit of a redundant point as hamster is female and therefore has a complete different name.

However, DH says I was being daft and DS should have used the name. DS is 11, so old enough to have had this conversation I think- DH disagrees. So now I'm wondering, was I a bit unreasonable?

[Amethyst81]

Yes a bit, especially as he was using the variant and didn't actually know the brother. No harm done though and hope your DS enjoys his new hammy

[ZippyNeedsFeeding]

Isn't there some kind of Pet Law which demands that all hamsters be called Hammy, regardless of sex? P'raps that's just my family.

I think you might have overthought it slightly, but for the best reasons and no harm was done.

[TaterTots]

I think you were very sensitive, as was your son. Good on you both

[bumsexatthebingo]

Gosh you did the right thing with it being an unusual name. If the pet was mentioned in front of his friend/their parents I think they would have found it really weird!

[SovietKitsch]

Zippy's right - the thing only ever be referred to Hammy after about three days anyway!

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

You did the right thing. 100%.

[DerekSprechenZeDick]

You did the right thing.

My son named his Nathan. No idea where he had heard the name as no one at school had that name or even family

[StartledByHisFurryShorts]

You weren't being over sensitive. It sounds like a totally normal conversation to have with an eleven year old. Had your son been younger, I'm sure you would have steered him away from the name slightly differently.