I just don't think people comment on babies' names. I don't. I say "ooh look at all that hair" or "what lovely eyes" or "isn't he big/long/sturdy etc etc" or "she looks like you" or some other form of idle comment to acknowledge that there is, in fact, a baby there. But that's it. Sorry.

Ithink there are several reasons:

The Jade Goody reference has given the name a definite pigeonhole, for want of a better word. Not everyone identifies with her. Names are deeply personal and people need to identify with a name to really like like it. If they associate it with someone for whom they have no affinity (or a social group they do not relate to) it will alienate them. We all know names that we consider to be too posh, too downmarket, too boring, too trendy, too pretentious, etc. Whatever you chose it would enevitably fall into one of those categories for most people!

Jade is not a particularly unusual name and hasn't been, really, for 15 years or so. People have just got used to hearing it.

People only tend to say 'Ooh, what a beautiful name!' if it's something very unusual that they have never/rarely heard, and that immediately strikes them as lovely -assuming they don't hate it of course! Most new or unusual names take a bit of getting used to until they become sufficiently popular that we are no longer alienated by them.

I hate it when I'm told a baby's name because I am difficult to please and rarely impressed. I feel bad saying nothing, because it's kind of expected, and new parents are always thrilled with their own choice, but I'd be insincere if I waxed lyrical for the 99th time over Amelia or Luke.

I was a momentarily stumped for words when I recently met a baby girl called Kenyon though...... Apart from anything else everyone will assume it's Kenyan, like Libyan or Syrian. Bizarre. Still, horses for courses as they say.

That's the point though isn't it mumsiebumsie? No matter how beautiful your name might be - did your mother exist solely for compliments upon it? Somehow I doubt it.

skihorse - yes people comment on my name all the time! But that wouldn't influence my decision to name my child - if me and my DH like it, that's good enough.

Do people generally comment upon one's name? "oh hellurrr... what a lovely name you have"?

I've worked for social services for 10 years caring for kids who are 'in need' or 'at risk' from socially deprived areas, and its in that capacity I have come across it a few times, along with names like Chantelle, Chanel, Tyson etc

I think Jade is a lovely name, and it would have been one of my top choices except for the Jade Goody association. Having said that, I think that will fade very quickly and certainly won't be the perception by the time your DD is old enough to be aware of it. I think it is a very "natural" and pretty name, similar to all the flower names that are so popular at the moment.

jade is very sweet - kids of her generation won't know jade goody so she'll be fine.

my daughter is called harriet - am pretty sure we didn't get lots of compliments on that one either but we don't care because we love it!

If you love the name, why do you need to receive compliments from people?

TEJQ - very much depends where you live. I've never met anyone called Jade or heard it screamed when out and about. Jade Goody and Jade Jagger are the only slebs with that name that I 'know'.
I still like it Valentina15