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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

Anyone changed their mind because of negative rl reactions?

20 replies

KleineMaus · 27/08/2009 21:22

Actually, we haven't had negative reactions to our name choices as such, just awkward silences. Not sure how seriously to take it. Still going with them so far as we can't think of anything else we like particularly, but I'm wondering if it should put us off. Has anyone changed their plans for this reason?

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saadia · 27/08/2009 21:25

When we named ds2 we had a fair few negative reactions - people thought it was old-fashioned and an old person name - but we stuck with it and I'm very glad we did because I love his name.

PinkyRed · 27/08/2009 21:26

We have given our ds a vaguely Welsh name, but with the more common English spelling, rather than the Welsh one. Lots of awkward silences from the Welsh side of the family, congratulation cards spelt the Welsh way even though I told them how it was spelt, my mum asking me several times in the first few weeks whether I wanted him to be called by his first name or middle name etc etc.

There is no way on earth I'm changing the spelling just to make them feel better.

If you like the name, ignore them. They'll get used to it, and in no time, they'll be unable to imagine your LO called anything else.

EyelinerOfTheTiger · 27/08/2009 21:26

Didn't change our name choices but did have a lot of "What about this instead?" when we told people. Now that DD is here and grown into her name it would be strange for her to be anything else. And family and friends now love her name too. I'd go for it.

GreensleevesFlouncedLikeAKnob · 27/08/2009 21:27

I've had lots of negative reactions to my two (more on here than in RL - someone today said they "hated" ds1's name - but have had both)

I won't say I don't find it hurtful

but it doesn't make me wish I hadn't chosen them, I love their names and they suit them

GodzillasBumcheek · 27/08/2009 21:27

No. Was going to name DC3 Logan if she was a boy. Got all sorts of stick about loganberries and slogans and all sorts but if DD had been a boy she'd have been Logan and they'd have had to put up and shut up.

Come to think of it, FIL didn't like DD3's actual name either but i think he's got used to it!

lyraSilvertongue · 27/08/2009 21:27

Yes.
DS2 was going to be called Jesse, which I loved. We had awkward silences and my mum mounted a campaign to get us to change it. We did change it and I still regret it. And resent my mum for it too.

chalat · 27/08/2009 21:30

I wanted to call DS2 by an abbreviated version of his name, but my mother kept correcting it each time until I gave up (she lived close by and it was very wearing. Decided to pick my battles and that wasn't going to be one of them). Both DSs (now adults) are known by a nickname version of our surname, something that has been used by their friends/colleagues and stuck!

Ah well!

hester · 27/08/2009 21:31

Ooh yes, I wanted Dora or Dorcas or Thea or Milena - my family, friends and dp were APPALLED, so I backed off

MrsVik · 27/08/2009 21:33

Yup!

I loved the name Evelyn for ages, but my OH kept referring to it as 'Evil Lynn'.

Had bad reactions to Ella too - people saying things like 'oh... Ella.. how about blahblah instead?' which put me right off.

Luckily for us there are tons of names we really like, and a few of those have had almost 100% positive reactions

Littlepurpleprincess · 27/08/2009 21:39

I wanted to call DS Stacey but family constantly made fun so we changed it (before he was born). I love his name and can't imagine him any other way but it's a shame really. I still really like the name Stacey. It's not even that outragious is it? My family are set it their ways though. They don't like anything 'wierd' or 'different'. They poke fun at DS's long hair all the time. Boys should have a short back and sides and watch football!!!!

nigglewiggle · 27/08/2009 21:45

What are your choices?

hulabula · 27/08/2009 22:04

No - we didn't change our mind. Despite lots of Mumsnetters finding our name options too 'poncey', we stuck with our choice for ds, and still absolutely love his name - it suits him perfectly. Most real life comments have been positive too!

lockets · 27/08/2009 23:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ErikaMaye · 28/08/2009 00:03

DP's Mum doesn't like the name we've picked... She asked a while ago if we'd decided and when we told her, she said, "Hmm... How about Jack?" We're sticking with it. We love it.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 28/08/2009 00:44

We didn't give anyone the chance to object because we never said what we were going to call them until they actually arrived.
However, my MIL did say pointedly when DD3 arrived "You give your children such lovely middle names".

whethergirl · 28/08/2009 01:05

I struggled to find a name for ds and didn't actually name him until he was 8 weeks old, so you can imagine the pressure building up in the family. I really loved way out names, but ds' father liked traditional names (which I'm glad I didn't take any notice of considering he's fucked off into thin air). Also my family are mediteranean so I felt it had to be a name they could actually pronounce. Came up with a name I found on Google eventually, most people loved it including my mum, but my dad actually stopped talking to me for about 2 weeks because he didn't like it [hmmm]

My godson has got a real hippy name, my friend got a real mixed bag of reactions, mainly "you're not going to call him that are you!". But she is so glad she did now, and it really does suit him, and no-one thinks it's weird anymore because everyone is used to it...and that's just what his name is.

OrangeFish · 28/08/2009 01:10

I simply didn't ask anyone, I just started to refer to him by his name since he was still in my bump. If you don't ask, nobody comment. As simple as that.

My ex MIL hated the name, and even started introducing DS to her friends with one she liked better. I didn't like ex MIL at all so I thought it was only fair for us to endure our respective dislikes.

MiniLlace · 28/08/2009 14:54

orangefish - I am going for a similar approach to you ... both my DH and I love our bumps name ... we know given its unusual and some may think a little poncey that some will roll their eyes / not comment but it is not putting us off at all ... as someone said there is no such thing as a name that everyone loves. As for not asking for opinions i recently posted asking about where our name came from and got lots of opinions (although not asked for) - but all are entitled to their opinion ... doesnt mean you have to be swayed by them ...

MamaLazarou · 29/08/2009 14:25

Nobody likes my name choices. I really couldn't give a shit!

hocuspontas · 29/08/2009 14:29

Yes. I wanted Eliza for dd2 and got lemon faces from dp and my parents. After 2 weeks I gave in and still regret it 14 years later! I get envious on baby name threads when MNers come up with the name

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