Hi everyone, can anybody help me with a predicament?...
My husband is Greek, though has lived in England for the past 15 years, where we now live together. We are trying for a baby and I'm feeling such anticipation over choosing a name - like anybody, naming my first child has been something I've thought about since I was little. However, there's a catch.
Traditionally, little Greeks are named after the grandparents on their father's side, a custom which seems to be nation-wide and not limited to how observant/family orientated you are. So, my husband's (non English speaking) parents expect our future son or daughter to be named after them. The trouble is that their names - Vasilios and Dorothea- seem very old-fashioned to me (I hope this doesn't offend anyone). I can't imagine calling my child either of these names, nor do I feel that these names would fit well into an English school and can't help but worry that my child would be teased by other children. The most I would be comfortable with is to use them as middle names.
My husband is sympathetic though currently as confused as I am over the situation. He feels a sense of obligation to his parents (made worse by the fact that he has chosen to settle in a country which is familiar to him but alien to them and also by the fact that I am not Greek, something they've never stated as being a problem but equally, something they had not anticipated). He says he could live with either of their names, but also likes other (Greek sounding) names that we've discussed that I also like and are similar to English names (Alexandra, Sophia etc).
Has anybody else been in a similar situation? I'd appreciate any advice - from Greek mums/partners or otherwise!
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64 replies
MollieS · 05/04/2010 18:09
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