How to get over the ‘name ick’?

[Takingkicks]

What I mean by that is negative connections, often absolutely ridiculous, putting me off at every turn!

Alice ‘A lice’

Lyla ‘Oh, she’ll be a little liar’

Pearl ‘Omg the whale from sponge Bob, she will be huge’

Kieran ‘Where is he running too with ran in there?’

Poppy ‘Will she pop a lot of spots in her time?’

Michael ‘Will he get a lot of calls?’

Ollie ‘Oi! Oi!’

Patrick ‘Will he play tricks?’

Tracey ‘Will she be racey?’

These aren’t even specific names I’d even go for really, just examples of the silly stuff going on in my head! What’s wrong with me?! I think the pregnancy hormones are making me a bit crazy

This is the reason I didn't tell anyone apart from grandparents the name of my LO.
Too many are so quick to put you off a name for ridiculous reasons.

Best I heard was 'my neighbours dogs called that'
I don't know your fucking neighbour and their dog

I have nothing to contribute other than, these are hilarious.

@ApplesandBananas21

This is the reason I didn't tell anyone apart from grandparents the name of my LO. Too many are so quick to put you off a name for ridiculous reasons.

In fairness it's all me causing these issues in my own head!

For example Cassandra, keeping thinking of Casseroles and Only Fools and Horses. Then think will she be destined for a life of casserole making for her South East London DH

I think it's wise to keep potential names to yourself and your OH. Everyone has an opinion, but they're probably less likely to be negative when it's attached to an actual tiny person once they've arrived.

Although my sister just announced she wants Rex as a boy's name and a friend has shortlisted Otis. I'm really trying my very best not to comment 😂

There's not many people that would dare to comment on the name of a newborn which is why we didn't tell anyone our new choice.We didn't want any unwanted opinions!

name not new

Umm those associations are utterly ridiculous. I don’t know how you came to them but you’re bonkers!

Yes, I'm afraid you've caught the crazy from the hormones. Sorry, it won't get better until the baby is out. Maybe wait until they're a couple of weeks old til you decide on a name 😂

Or, get it all out of your system by playing loads of word association games, then maybe you'll stop doing it with names.

Although it might make it worse.

DS2 was so nearly Rufus... until my brain went 'Rufus the doofus?' and I couldn't shake it 😆

Associating beautiful names with assholes I know who share the name has made choosing baby names so difficult for me. 🤣🤣 so many lovely names ruined by my brain

@ApplesandBananas21 a lady in my nct group had great delight in telling us at every opportunity that her dog was called the same as my ds.

My husband excelled in thinking of an embarrassing reason to tease our soon to be born child for every single name I suggested.

There are no good names. Despite my husband trying to predict how his children would be teased, he failed to predict exactly what nicknames other kids would come up with.

Sorry, but yes you’re crazy.

I feel like you had these connotations in your head because you're thinking of them. I know a little Lyla and never once have I thought of Lyla the liar. I hear Lyla and I picture this sweet little girl with curly blonde pigtails.

My point being once you see the baby and you put that name to them I've always found it easy to put out any of those teasing nicknames because all I think of is my LO

Pick one where the connotations are harmless. E.g. Kieran - even if it reminds you of someone running because it contains the word 'ran', It isn't a bad association.

I do not know OP but I am exactly the same. I like a teeny tiny pool of approx 5 boys' names and everything else is intolerable :o Or it's absolutely fine for another child, but not for mine

Unfortunately DH and I do not share the same pool!

People have said I'm ridiculous on here before :o You should have seen some of my threads when we were looking for a name for DS2!

I definitely wouldn't call the baby "Ick" OP.

Yeah I think the hormones are getting to you. I read the title and thought you were going to say you went to school with a Brent who always picked his nose so couldn’t use that name or Jessica at school was a bitch so you can’t use that name.
Pretty much every name in the world you can turn into something silly/mean/negative.

Would it help to look at the origin and meaning of the name instead? That would give a different impression and develop different associations.

Best I heard was 'my neighbours dogs called that' I don't know your fucking neighbour and their dog

But surely that's not a negative thing? They're just commenting on someone else who has used the name, albeit for their pet. Why would that upset you?

My friend named her kids the names of both of my parents cats, we laughed about it

I love pregnancy hormones, they are hilarious. I liked the name Mabel for dd1 but my wonderful pregnancy brain went “wouldn’t it be lovely if it was spelled Maybelle?” Thankfully I came to my senses before she was born and her name doesn’t sound anything like Mabel!

I agree with the pp, maybe wait until he’s out or the crazy hormones have subsided before picking a name and these associations will ease.

I think you’re overthinking it, and I have never heard of the negative connotations you associate with the names listed. If you look hard enough, you can have a nn for all names.

Also, nn ‘fashions’ change over time. For example, George is a very common name nowadays, but in the past, it was associated with being fat due to the “Georgie Porgie, Pudding” rhyme - an association people don’t link nowadays. Also, Dick is generally not recognised as a nn for Richard either by kids .

Also, if kids want to find a nn, they will. William p

I have been called Alice for 50 years. I’ve never been called A Lice. Lice is plural anyway.