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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Baby names - to tell or not to tell...

20 replies

woody2313 · 30/09/2012 07:51

We have pretty much decided on our boy's name but as EVERYONE is convinced we are having a girl, DP and I have decided we need to decide on a girl's name. We tend to like names ending in 'a' and shared our initial favourites, Sophia and Freya, with family and friends who approved of both. Since then, DP has suggested Keira. As a teacher, I have only ever taught one Keira who was a lovely student in all the top sets... so I'm a little mortified to read online that some people think it's a chav name! Part of me thinks we should stick to our guns and let people just accept whatever name we choose but another part of me would be mortified if secretly my mum (who works in social services and comes across a lot of 'interesting' names) and/or my sister (who has taught in inner-city primary schoools) hated our choice. So should I tell them what we're thinking? Their opinions do matter to me but DP would go mad if I let that affect our final choice and to be fair, considering I thought he was desperate for a son , I'm just glad that he's embracing the idea of having a girl and suggesting names!

... Watch me have a boy now

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CrapBag · 30/09/2012 07:58

Personally, I think you should keep quiet. People will tell you if they don't like it. Once the baby is named then they may be less inclined to share their views.

We told people what DS and DD were going to be called. We loved the names and they aren't chav names but they are common. No one actually picked up on that but our children, our choice of names.

Nothing wrong with Keira. I know a Keira but its spelt Ciara which I think is odd.

Chocoholiday · 30/09/2012 08:19

I personally don't like Keira. And that's the reaction you risk getting if you tell. Some people won't like your choices, whatever they turn out to be. So best to keep quiet if you truly want to choose independently. If you care what other people think, ask their opinion. We kept ours secret and it really took away the stress of worrying what everyone and his grandma would think.

MrsJohnDeere · 30/09/2012 08:26

Never, ever tell people in RL your baby names! If you tell them after the event they will all say 'lovely' even if they don't think it (unless they're very rude like my mother). Save yourself a lot of angst.

I'm indifferent to Keira. It's not a name I would choose. It one of the loveliest children I know is a Keira, so it makes me think of her.

RobinSparkles · 30/09/2012 08:34

I think that Ciara is the proper Irish spelling and Keira is the anglicised version but I could be wrong.

I agree that it's probably better to keep quiet until the baby is born. People are less likely to be rude then.

My best friend at school was called Keira. It was really unusual then, everyone she told her name to would say, "what? What's your name again? Oh wow, that's a really cool name!" Now ever since Ms Knightly it's not quite so "different".

Pancakeflipper · 30/09/2012 08:38

Don't tell anyone.

You cannot please everyone. So please yourselves.

RobinSparkles · 30/09/2012 08:39

Another thing about the name Keira is that it means "dark haired". I don't suppose it matters if you're not into meanings that much but you might want to avoid if the child is likely to be blonde (which you wouldn't know until they were older). It wouldn't bother me personally but some people might be a bit .

BurnThisDiscoDown · 30/09/2012 08:39

We didn't tell anyone as we didn't want anyone saying they didn't like it and taking the shine off. Be warned though, I used to say we hadn't decided for sure to stop people asking and got really fed up by all the "helpful" suggestions!

GummiberryJuice · 30/09/2012 08:41

crapbag In Ireland its spelt Ciara, so Keira looks strange to me

But as everyone else says don't share names, one of my reasons for mot sharing, a very good friend (not anymore) of mine was pg at same time as me, thankfully I was first she knew both my girls choice and boys, we both had girls, she then went on to have a boy soon after and used my boys choice, I didn't mind but commented oh that's what I had picked if dd1 had been a boy, and she point blank denied she knew this. Lesson learnt.

Although some people do feel the need to comment afterwards too, just ignore, its your baby to name

hev2010 · 30/09/2012 08:41

I'm a teacher and have taught three Keiras - all were lovely!

GummiberryJuice · 30/09/2012 08:42

Please note I did not fall out with her over baby names, it just turned out this was a small taster of the lies to follow

woody2313 · 30/09/2012 08:43

Thanks everyone - I'll 'keep mum' then (pun intended )

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mrsnec · 30/09/2012 08:59

Just a thought on the meaning and hair colour thing. Russell means little red one. Not many of the Russells I can think of fit that discription! And I know my DM didn't choose my name on the basis it means 'victory of the people' if you like it and it suits use it! It's very easy to let opinions question your own. I'm not pg but have always had a girls name in mind if am ever lucky enough to have a DD after v close relative. I questioned that briefly the other day after someone said children deserve names of their own!

KenDoddsDadsDog · 30/09/2012 09:02

Ciara is definitely not odd!
Don't tell. You will receive opinions from everyone. I already have one but I'm not going to post it

winkle2 · 30/09/2012 10:43

I really like the name Keira :)

YouMayLogOut · 30/09/2012 16:35

Sophia and Keira are both lovely names. I'm less keen on Freya, it's a bit faddy IMHO.

Zara1984 · 30/09/2012 16:37

I've told everyone our 3 choices for names (we know we're having a boy). I don't really care if people are rude or if it ruins the surprise I'm not having the baby for their benefit!

Pinkflipflop · 30/09/2012 18:01

Don't tell anyone AT ALL the names you are considering!

Ciara is a lovely name; I'm a teacher and all Ciara's have been lovely and very bright!!

CrapBag · 30/09/2012 21:00

Ah I didn't know it was the Irish spelling.

The people I know are not Irish so not sure why they used it, I may have thought of that if they were. I was thinking of the singer Ciara where it is pronouced see-are-a.

PickledFanjoCat · 30/09/2012 21:02

Id rather tell rl than unleash it on the mn baby names threads

That's a lot braver!!

PurplePidjin · 30/09/2012 21:18

The only people who know our preferred name are me, dp and my Gran, who is in her 90s.

We just say "We've got a shortlist but you can't tell till you meet them" and most people shut up :o

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