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Original poster

AIBU to think my DH has gone mad over this baby name?

419 replies

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:19

So, I’m currently 37 weeks pregnant with DC2, and DH and I are still arguing over the name. For context, we have a DS(4) called Oliver (family name, everyone loved it, no issues there). But this time, DH has got it into his head that we should name DD something, frankly, ridiculous.

He wants to call her Nevaeh. Yes, “Heaven” backwards. He says it’s “unique but meaningful.” I think it’s chavvy and will age terribly (sorry if that offends anyone). I mean, can you imagine a 50 year old Nevaeh filling out her pension forms?

I’ve suggested plenty of other names Sophie, Amelia, even Freya but he keeps turning them down as “too common.” Meanwhile, he’s vetoed names I love (Florence, Ivy, Matilda) because he “knew a girl in school with that name and she was annoying.” 🙄

WWYD? Am I being unreasonable or is DH completely deluded?

P.S. Posting for traffic!

OP posts:
housethatbuiltme · 21/01/2025 11:33

SlightlyJaded · 21/01/2025 11:30

Awful

Tell him the first Nevaeh that came up on Instagram is a professional wrestler - might put him off? https://www.instagram.com/nevaehoi4k/?hl=en

I doubt that would put most men off, several mean I have known wanted to name their kids after wrestlers.

housethatbuiltme · 21/01/2025 11:31

SabreIsMyFave · 21/01/2025 11:16

Yeah, What happened to calling your child Emma, Charlotte, Hannah, Emily Sophie, Elizabeth, Bethan, Sarah, Rebecca, Lucy??? Just normal ordinary names that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s.

9 times out of 10 - on the baby name board, when somebody suggests a name for their child, it's a ridiculous, laughable, or extremely hard to spell (and pronounce) name.

I actually know quite a number of people who have got children with ridiculous names, or hard to spell/awkwardly spelt names, names like Ashleigh, Devonne, Deackonne, Bexleigh, and Harmonee etc, and they do nothing but bitch and carp about how nobody ever spells or pronounces their child's name properly. I'm like, 'well, duh. What did you expect?! 🙄

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What on earth is weird or hard to spell about Ashleigh?

Its literally the correct spelling, based on well used actual words and place names (Ash = type of tree, Leigh = a Meadow) and has a history of use going back centuries.

Or are you American where you stuck the historically masculine spelling on girls and have no actual concept of the history or a name taken from another culture?

SlightlyJaded · 21/01/2025 11:30

Awful

Tell him the first Nevaeh that came up on Instagram is a professional wrestler - might put him off? https://www.instagram.com/nevaehoi4k/?hl=en

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nevaehoi4k?hl=en

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 11:29

OP tell your husband that Neveah isn't unique anyway. Unique essentially means made up. Neveah would have been unique the first time someone thought it was a good idea to reverse the word heaven & plant it on their poor child.

I seem to remember it being a trend perhaps 10/15 years ago. I could be way out on that timescale though.

Nothatgingerpirate · 21/01/2025 11:29

The name wouldn't be a problem as such, personally.
On the other hand, your husband's problems onto my head!
😊

PointsSouth · 21/01/2025 11:29

No, no. Don’t try to compromise. Get him to want to compromise.

Insist on ‘Mildred’. Saxon name, means ‘gentle strength’. Beautiful. Very unusual these days too. Don’t see a lot of Mildreds at nursery. You’ve set your heart on it. You’re thinking ‘Mildred Nevaeh’. Everyone’s happy, yes? Excellent!

ElsieMc · 21/01/2025 11:27

My niece's dd is called Niamh but she has spelt it Neve.

It is up to you both how you decide to spell it if it is your name of choice.

StonewallsPyrrhicvictory · 21/01/2025 11:27

I just had a look at names that mean heaven of angel and there are plenty to choose from that are not chavvy. E.g. Angela, Celine, Talia, Celia, Lani, Araceli, Leylani, Eshal, Jannah, Nalani.

I think Angela goes really well with Oliver.

Gonners · 21/01/2025 11:27

LaMarschallin · 21/01/2025 10:32

I can't believe no-one has just suggested the classic MN "LTB".

Spelled Elty-Bee?

Doloresparton · 21/01/2025 11:26

Pipsquiggle · 21/01/2025 11:22

I do understand about not getting a popular name - there are 4 James' in my DC's class.

What we did when we named our children was we both decided the name shouldn't feature in the top 30 most popular names list. It has served both our DC well.

A teacher at my school named her ds James - her surname is Bond.

Banyon · 21/01/2025 11:25

It’s a negative sounding word … like “Nevah have I evah ”. Then if u explain it’s Heaven backwards it sounds black magic, satan worship or a stripper.

Child needs normal name.
Evie? Similar to Neavah
Aurora? It’s like heaven?

If somehow he gets his way, go either with more acceptable middle name on everything you do from name stickers & school forms.

Hoppinggreen · 21/01/2025 11:25

housethatbuiltme · 21/01/2025 11:24

The reverse of Heaven is Hell.

Well exactly - why Heaven backwards?
Just use Heaven (or don't)

AsFunAsEnglishWeather · 21/01/2025 11:24

I love a mad baby name from the dregs of the popularity list, but Neveah is where I draw the line - yuck. DH was fixated on the name Alabama (big True Romance fan) but to me, little Alabama sounds like she is destined for a life working on a pole! Just refuse and ask him to think of something else. Anything else.

Hoppinggreen · 21/01/2025 11:24

SabreIsMyFave · 21/01/2025 11:20

Yeah, I really like Victoria as a name, but dislike Vicky. (And anyone called Victoria is going to be called Vicky very quickly!) I can't explain why. I just don't like the sound of it. And I knew 2 Vickys in the 1980s who I LOATHED. Maybe that is part of the reason.

DH wanted to call our second child Victoria, and I vetoed it - as I didn't want her to be called Vicky!

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I know 3 Victorias and no Vickys at all

housethatbuiltme · 21/01/2025 11:24

The reverse of Heaven is Hell.

Nanny0gg · 21/01/2025 11:23

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:27

That’s actually a lovely suggestion, thank you! I do like Niamh, but I’m worried about people constantly mispronouncing or misspelling it. We live in an area where Irish names aren’t very common, and I can just imagine her having to correct people all the time. Do you think it would be an issue, or am I overthinking it?

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I would think there's at least one Niamh in every school these days so it won't take long for everyone to recognise it.

I've always liked it

FindusMakesPancakes · 21/01/2025 11:23

If you end up with Niamh, she won't spend her life correcting. There will be moments, such as starting school where you will be 'in charge' and teach people the correct spelling and pronunciation. But her peers will rapidly pick it up. It isn't an uncommon name these days either.

Once she is an adult, starting jobs etc, same again. Teaching people when she first starts somewhere, but beyond the first day or two, it will be a complete non-issue.

I say that as someone who has an unusual name. It really hasn't caused me problems. And far rather that than being saddled with Nevaeh, which she would also have to spell out and teach people to pronounce whilst they inwardly eye roll.

Spanglemum02 · 21/01/2025 11:22

toastofthetown · 21/01/2025 10:49

In fairness, the Baby Name board is categorically not the place to get away from name snobbery.

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You're not wrong there Toast! I go there when my blood pressure is a bit too low.

SabreIsMyFave · 21/01/2025 11:22

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 21/01/2025 11:19

Nev (as in never) ay (as in day) er/a.
Emphasis on the second syllable.

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Thank you! Smile

Actually, pronounced like that NEV-AY-ER (emphasis on second syllable,) it sounds OK. 😆

Still, no-one would ever pronounce it properly! 😬

SerafinasGoose · 21/01/2025 11:22

Fencehedge · 21/01/2025 11:19

Yup! Time for a rollback! Victorian names like Emily, Alice, Charlotte were popular in the late 70s and the 80s, and are still in the top 100, but not so much Victoria, Elizabeth etc

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Elizabeth's a winner. The diminutives are practically endless! This was on my list for if we had a girl.

I find boys' names much easier. I've loved one in particular for most of my life and DH thankfully also liked it and we ended up choosing that one - had he not, there were quite a few others I'd have been happy with.

Choosing for girls was a nightmare.

BourbonsAreOverated · 21/01/2025 11:22

Cakeandusername · 21/01/2025 11:08

It’s also unusual to call one dc a traditional name and one a different style. I know they are individuals but Oliver would normally have a sister called Amelia etc.

I know quite a few families who have done this
one very common name, and one practically made up

it always makes us laugh at what was going on in their families household on naming day

MaggieFS · 21/01/2025 11:22

You can spell Niamh as Neve which avoids mispronunciation.

Pipsquiggle · 21/01/2025 11:22

I do understand about not getting a popular name - there are 4 James' in my DC's class.

What we did when we named our children was we both decided the name shouldn't feature in the top 30 most popular names list. It has served both our DC well.

Runki · 21/01/2025 11:21

Just had a thought about possibly a girl's name from the bible as an alternative? This list suggests 'Neriah' as an alternative to 'Nevaeh'. It means 'lamp of God'. There are some other names in here that I think are pretty, like Lena or Adina.

https://www.mamanatural.com/baby-names/girls/lists/biblical-girl-names/

The Most Beautiful Biblical Girl Names For Babies

Seeking biblical girl names to explore? From popular picks to rare gems, we have every beautiful biblical name covered. Search our expansive list here.

https://www.mamanatural.com/baby-names/girls/lists/biblical-girl-names

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 21/01/2025 11:21

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 11:18

The insinuation was there the moment you mentioned ‘lower socioeconomic group’. We all know that means ‘beneath oneself’.

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Well, it doesn’t mean that to me, but it obviously does to you! How snobbish of you.