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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:
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.

Dora33 · 21/01/2025 11:08

Niamh or neve much better.
Start calling him by his name spelt backwards and see how he likes that

Eyesopenwideawake · 21/01/2025 11:08

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 11:03

Niamh isn't pronounced 'neve'

Edited to add: 'neve' is like never without the r. The 'ia' in Niamh makes a longer 'ee' sound rather than an 'eh' sound. In Irish the pronunciation is more like ee-ah, as in Nee-ahv, but the ee-ah sound just gets blended to make 'Neeve'.

Edited
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That took longer than I thought it would.

ForeverinBJ · 21/01/2025 11:07

It's what all the chavs are calling their little girls these days!

toastofthetown · 21/01/2025 11:07

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 21/01/2025 11:06

Just show him the top 100 girls names list. Anything unique shouldn't be on there and his choice is. It's weird he wants to inflict an unusual name on your dd when your ds has such a traditional name.

If the OP is in England and Wales, maybe best she deletes the 99th most popular name first…

gannett · 21/01/2025 11:07

I also thought Nevaeh was an attempt to spell Neve or Niamh in a "unique" way when I first heard of it, was horrified when the penny dropped. Just why.

I wouldn't overthink Niamh being misspelled or mispronounced. I've known two Niamhs in my life (one with Irish heritage, the other without) and they didn't really have any issues. The people who can't pronounce a simple and fairly common name are the ones who have the real problem.

emmax1980 · 21/01/2025 11:07

I like the name Nieve

askmenow · 21/01/2025 11:07

Doloresparton · 21/01/2025 10:42

Nurses wouldn’t survive without a dark sense of humour.
You’d be horrified at some of the conversations we had when I was a nurse.
It’s the way we treat people that matters. My dm was a brilliant midwife for many years. And yes she absolutely rolled her eyes at some name choices. She’s a human being not a robot.

You need to get a grip.

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Yes I can absolutely testify to nurses having a dark sense of humour between ourselves. We needed it to survive and jolly each other along in difficult times.
The things I’ve seen and had to do would make peoples toes curl.

And I’ve spent my whole life spelling out an unusual first name. Don’t do it to your child.

Its draining and takes so much time and energy better expended elsewhere

ChonkyRabbit · 21/01/2025 11:07

FallenRaingel · 21/01/2025 10:59

Are you Irish too?

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No, I have an Italian name that has two common spellings so I always have to specify which one. And I have a very unusual surname so have to spell that out too. It's so annoying!

JurassicShay · 21/01/2025 11:07

Definitely chavvy.
Not to my taste but I know two Avayahs maybe this would work instead.

Keepingittogetherstepbystep · 21/01/2025 11:06

Just show him the top 100 girls names list. Anything unique shouldn't be on there and his choice is. It's weird he wants to inflict an unusual name on your dd when your ds has such a traditional name.

Runki · 21/01/2025 11:06

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 21/01/2025 11:01

Yes it’s awful, yes it’s more commonly found in lower socioeconomic groups (several in my school in a deprived area) and no it’s not unique at all. In 2010, it was the 25th most popular name for girls born in the US.

Hold firm on Nevaeh, but you might have to compromise, though I like all the names you've suggested!

(You could try telling him you think Chlamydia would be a lovely name, but you’d have to hope he didn’t agree…)

Edited

Yes ha ha. Or Verucca. When I was little I called one of my dolls 'Germolene' after the antiseptic cream. I thought it was a lovely name. 😂

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 21/01/2025 11:05

If he truly thinks that Nevaeh is original, ask him to tell you in full detail how he came up with the name.

If he says "Well, I was watching this American drama on Netflix..." then he's perfectly and clearly contradicted himself.

Tell him that you want to call your DD Hannah - so still using half of the letters of Neveah - but, as a compromise, you're still willing to let him spell it backwards.

godmum56 · 21/01/2025 11:05

I read ir as Naevus (a birthmark) NOT what I would want to call a child!

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 11:05

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 21/01/2025 11:01

Yes it’s awful, yes it’s more commonly found in lower socioeconomic groups (several in my school in a deprived area) and no it’s not unique at all. In 2010, it was the 25th most popular name for girls born in the US.

Hold firm on Nevaeh, but you might have to compromise, though I like all the names you've suggested!

(You could try telling him you think Chlamydia would be a lovely name, but you’d have to hope he didn’t agree…)

Edited

Yes those god awful lower socioeconomic groups. Terrible people, don’t lump yourself in with them. Better to be MN version of middle class, call her Ottilie, definitely no spelling issues there or being confused for Otter.

Happyhippos123 · 21/01/2025 11:03

I wouldn't use Niamh, unless your DD lives in Ireland she'll spend a lot of time spelling it out and correcting the pronunciation. And telling people that no, she's not Irish, her parents just liked the name.

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 11:03

Eyesopenwideawake · 21/01/2025 10:23

Niamh (pronounced Neve) might be an alternative?

Niamh isn't pronounced 'neve'

Edited to add: 'neve' is like never without the r. The 'ia' in Niamh makes a longer 'ee' sound rather than an 'eh' sound. In Irish the pronunciation is more like ee-ah, as in Nee-ahv, but the ee-ah sound just gets blended to make 'Neeve'.

Figgygal · 21/01/2025 11:03

Why not call it chavvy? It absolutely conjures a certain type of person and stereotype and they are in majority of examples correct.
There's no way in 30 years it'll be a classic it's always going to be awful.
What is he thinking?

Fedupmumofadultsons · 21/01/2025 11:03

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 10:28

It really isn't a unique name at all. There's 2 in my dds class, and a few more throughout the school.

Try and look at names further outside of the top 1 or 200 and come up with something you both love.

If all else fails just go register the birth without him and deal with the aftermath later.

Just don't that's bloody rude he is the father after all he could just go back and change it again.if you married be a game of tit for tat poor child. You just have to keep going at it until you both agree unless your pick last time now his unfortunately .if oliver your family and that's your pick .Just do your best to put him off

SushiWarrior · 21/01/2025 11:03

Noo it’s not unusual like he imagines it to be. It’s popular but also it’s just a bit cringey/known as a chav name.

Niamh is lovely and similar enough that he may like it? Also well known enough that there should be no problem with pronunciation anywhere but not over used.

Littlemisscapable · 21/01/2025 11:02

Eyesopenwideawake · 21/01/2025 10:23

Niamh (pronounced Neve) might be an alternative?

This.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 21/01/2025 11:01

Yes it’s awful, yes it’s more commonly found in lower socioeconomic groups (several in my school in a deprived area) and no it’s not unique at all. In 2010, it was the 25th most popular name for girls born in the US.

Hold firm on Nevaeh, but you might have to compromise, though I like all the names you've suggested!

(You could try telling him you think Chlamydia would be a lovely name, but you’d have to hope he didn’t agree…)

StopStartStop · 21/01/2025 11:01

OP, you couldn't get more 'common' than the name he suggested!

I met a woman called Nebula once. I thought she'd made it up, but no, her parents chose it. It's quite nice, really. Perhaps try that.

HotChocolateNotCocoa · 21/01/2025 11:01

ErrolTheDragon · 21/01/2025 10:29

I used to think this 'name' was an urban myth but a very religious family we know has a GD called this.

It's not unique and it's rather silly. What's the 'meaning' of backwards heaven - hell?

If that’s true, they should actually name the child Lleh so that it will mean heaven. You could always claim it’s Welsh, OP!

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 21/01/2025 11:01

What's meaningful about a name spelt backwards? Is the word dog meaningful!?

Is he religious? If so I'd suggest a name.like Faith or something

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