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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:
RedHelenB · 21/01/2025 10:47

Can't she just be Heaven the right way round?

Streetsofkenny · 21/01/2025 10:47

Firstly, it's not unique. Far from it. In my own circle of friends and extended family, I know of 3.
Secondly, it's bloody awful! Why on earth would anyone want a made up name that was another word spelled backwards? You wouldn't call a baby Legna (angel spelled backwards) would you, for example? So why does Heaven have to be singled out for the backwards treatment?
Sorry, I hate it.

Spanglemum02 · 21/01/2025 10:46

Have you tried the Baby Names board? Agree with the PP who said there's some ageism on this thread. And some snobbery. Plus when I was a kid I couldn't imagine a 50 something Tracy but now I know several. Similarly when I was 18 in 1986 and first heard the name Joshua in a music hall song. I couldn't imagine anyone calling a child that. Some names are popular for a short spell and some names are more classic.

You just need to find something you both agree on.

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 10:45

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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There's a dark sense of humour between yourselves to cope at work, and then there's coming home and taking the piss out of the names of poorly babies in your care with your mates.

Two very different things.

user1480154707 · 21/01/2025 10:45

Personally I think that the person who gives birth to the baby gets to choose its name Grin
I'd stick to your guns and go with a name you love x

StepAwayFromGoogling · 21/01/2025 10:44

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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You can spell it Neve. I know two spelt like that.

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 10:44

This reply has been deleted

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I went to school with a Sian whose name was pronounced See-an as her parents had seen the name written down and loved it but didn’t know the pronouciation. Every time we had a supply teacher, she’d have to correct them.

Welsh names are very nice but my goodness they get butchered over the border. Most of them are fully phonetic, but ‘Rh’ names in particular bear the brunt.

Alina3 · 21/01/2025 10:43

Nevaeh isn't that uncommon a name actually. It is even in spellcheck!

Funnily enough I've met a few people who spelled it Neveah, 'it's heaven backwards'. Facepalm.

Needmorelego · 21/01/2025 10:43

Could people stop using the word "chavvy".
It's horrible.

GloriousBlue · 21/01/2025 10:43

*chavvy

GloriousBlue · 21/01/2025 10:42

Sorry, it is really chivvy

If he likes the meaning behind it, what about Celeste or Talia?

Doloresparton · 21/01/2025 10:42

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 10:38

Your friend comes home from working with very poorly newborns and parents going through hell and takes the piss out of the names of the kids she looks after?

I have less issue with the name and more issue with the sort of person who does that while in a position of trust and care.

Show quote history

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.

TopshopCropTop · 21/01/2025 10:42

Absolutely horrendous chav fodder. It’s giving 45p energy drink and a gold bar. Avoid.

Needmorelego · 21/01/2025 10:41

I actually quite like the name.
Surely no one actually says "This is Bob....his name means.....". They just say "This is Bob".
The name may have come about by being "Heaven" backwards but now it's a pretty common name (as in popular - not chavvy a word I cannot stand). I never understand the hoo ha people make about the origins of the name. All names have beginnings.
@kweefa obviously you and your husband do have to agree with your child's name but Nevaeh isn't anything unusual these days.

DaisyChain505 · 21/01/2025 10:41

its not unique. It’s used heavily in America and it’s incredibly tacky, common and chavvy. You may aswell include coco and channel in your list too.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 21/01/2025 10:41

This reply has been withdrawn

Post withdrawn at author's request

Sceptical123 · 21/01/2025 10:40

flapjackfairy · 21/01/2025 10:26

yes its quite popular now. I know someone who gave their child this name 15 yrs ago. So v much not unique.

As opposed to Oliver, where I taught 5 in one class once and it’s been in the top 5 of baby names for 2 decades! The snobbery on this thread is unreal

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 10:39

I find few names truly awful (my name being one), but this one really does make me wince. It’s utterly odd to like a name because it’s something ‘nice’ spelt backwards (the anti Lana I guess?). Do you even believe in a concept of heaven? And quite frankly it’s a reflection of how he sees a son vs a daughter, your eldest gets a very normal name and your daughter an overtly cutesy nonsense one because she’s a girl? Very ‘Harry and Balthazar’ isn’t it.

Original poster
kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:39

Mooosewoman · 21/01/2025 10:25

You have to compromise on a name you can both live with. He doesn’t get to choose, if you don’t like the name.

Just my personal view, don’t give a child a name they spend a lifetime either correcting the pronunciation or spelling.

Thank you, I completely agree that compromise is key. It’s both our child, so the name should be something we’re both happy with. And yes, I’m really wary of giving her a name that’s going to be a nightmare for her to spell or pronounce for the rest of her life.

OP posts:
TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 10:38

IggyAce · 21/01/2025 10:30

It’s an awful name and I cringe every time I hear it. My friend is a neo special care sister and they all inwardly roll their eyes when they hear it. Like your husband the parents think they are choosing a unique unusual name, but it’s more common than you think.
Honestly stand firm and tell him absolutely not.

Your friend comes home from working with very poorly newborns and parents going through hell and takes the piss out of the names of the kids she looks after?

I have less issue with the name and more issue with the sort of person who does that while in a position of trust and care.

GlitchStitch · 21/01/2025 10:37

There are better girls names with a heavenly meaning if that's what he likes.

Celeste
Celine
Lani
Diana

Movinghouseatlast · 21/01/2025 10:36

50 really isn't old you know. I'm not sure what pension forms you think 50 year olds are filling in in your imagination but it's pretty ageist. State pension age is 67.

Anyhow, it's an awful name. Niamh is nice though ( pronounced Neve)

FirstsignsofSpring · 21/01/2025 10:35

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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Sadly I'd say yes, it will be endlessly mispronounced. Sister's daughter is called Sian and she was announced at her graduation ceremony as Sigh-Ann. If people can't get Sian correct, they'll really struggle with Niamh sadly, it's a beautiful name.

DelilahA · 21/01/2025 10:35

Heaven backwards? Cringe. Like a dreadful cheesy pickup line.

Lucky he didn’t pick Lana.

Maybe he might like a palindrome - Hannah is lovely…

Starlight1984 · 21/01/2025 10:34

He's turned Sophie and Amelia down for being "too common" and his choice is Nevaeh.....? 😬

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