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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:
AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 21/01/2025 14:46

I've always loved the name Maigan. I had a friend years ago ho named her DD this and I always loved it. But, tbh, I seem to love girl's names with "M". My DD and my DGD both have "M" names.

oakleaffy · 21/01/2025 14:37

@kweefa Is it pronounced 'Never?''

A ghastly name, really naff.

Do not give in on this! Neveah give in!

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 14:30

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 14:12

If you're Irish and you're christened Mary, you'll likely end up being called Moira or Maura.

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It was Mair or Mari, at least in the very Welsh part of Wales I’m from. Still a popular name from what gather (unlike Mary itself).

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 14:12

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 14:07

I grew up in the church and knew many people with the name Mary (or the Welsh variants), I’ve never known one girl/woman to be teased about being an ‘eternal virgin’ in all honesty. Especially considering though Mary had a supposed virgin pregnancy, she was married and wasn’t considered an ‘eternal virgin’. And ultimately not known as the harbinger of all evil and doom of humanity. Lucifer and Mary are of no comparison what so ever.

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If you're Irish and you're christened Mary, you'll likely end up being called Moira or Maura.

Ponoka7 · 21/01/2025 14:11

I called my DD a universal name for the Heavens. It is predominantly Latin, used in the states more now. She was and has been an absolute Angel. It also fits in with our multinational background. As said there's quite a few Nevaehs about.

KookyRedWriter · 21/01/2025 14:11

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Streetsofkenny · 21/01/2025 14:07

Just to add - as has been perfectly demonstrated by this thread, it will end up being misspelled all the time. I'd say about 20% of posts on this thread are spelling it as "Neveah" which of course is "Haeven Backwards"!!

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 14:07

Balloonhearts · 21/01/2025 14:02

No worse than being called Mary. The eternal virgin.

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I grew up in the church and knew many people with the name Mary (or the Welsh variants), I’ve never known one girl/woman to be teased about being an ‘eternal virgin’ in all honesty. Especially considering though Mary had a supposed virgin pregnancy, she was married and wasn’t considered an ‘eternal virgin’. And ultimately not known as the harbinger of all evil and doom of humanity. Lucifer and Mary are of no comparison what so ever.

HowToSaveAWife · 21/01/2025 14:05

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 could spell it Neve, like Neve Campbell.

Cocothecoconut · 21/01/2025 14:03

It’s not unique
at least 3 in school I’m at
and chavvy/ naff

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 14:02

Streetsofkenny · 21/01/2025 11:43

Just to add, you've just reminded me that my friend was planning on naming her daughter Nevaeh - said daughter will be 20 in a couple of months, so that's at least how long this monstrosity of a name has been around! She told everyone the planned name for a while before she gave birth. (When she actually told me, I imagined the name as Nave - as she said "it's 'eaven backwards" and I thought she was referring to "Evan backwards"!)
In the end, she named her daughter Cara, so all's well that ends well!

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I adore the name Cara. It's so simple and beautiful.

Balloonhearts · 21/01/2025 14:02

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 11:47

Lucifer is less about a nickname and far more about the negative label put on a young child. As has already been shown on this thread, a whole person’s personality/social group will be ill judged based on a name. Imagine being called literally devil child from birth. And depending where he’s raised, some children from devout families may be told to keep away from him completely, that’s more than just a bit of eyebrow raising then forgetting about it.

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No worse than being called Mary. The eternal virgin.

KookyRedWriter · 21/01/2025 14:00

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Giggorata · 21/01/2025 13:54

Dreadful name, not just because it is so awkward, but because it is one of those “you-neek” names, which are now anything but unique.

There are so many more truly meaningful names: angelic, goddess, celestial, virtues, qualities, or those which are personally meaningful.

Stand your ground.
I remember a heated discussion with my ex, who wanted to call our unborn child Irulan if it was a girl. After the Princess in Dune.
Irulan.
Thankfully it was a boy, but I would have invoked the patio protocol first.

nouveaunomduplume · 21/01/2025 13:50

according to UK government data, it's so unique that it's the 99th most common girls name, with 494 girls being called this in 2023 alone. Almost another hundred with hyphenated versions, and another 25 whose parents couldn't quite reverse the letters correctly.
source: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls

AIBU to think my DH has gone mad over this baby name?
Someonelookedatmypostinghistorysoichanged · 21/01/2025 13:44

It’s not that unique .. I know a child called this and the parents are raising them gender neutral so that name literally means neveah (neither)

Katbum · 21/01/2025 13:41

I don’t think Nevaeh is a terrible name, and obviously nor do plenty of people or it wouldn’t be as popular as it is. I wouldn’t give my child that name, but nor would I name
my child any of the names you have suggested, which to me sound bland and twee. But again they are not objectively bad, names are just a matter of taste. However, naming a child is a personal thing and you have to find a compromise. What about another family name?

PyongyangKipperbang · 21/01/2025 13:39

Its actually pronounced "Neveahwhichisheavenbackwards" in its full form. 🙄

And as for unique.....there are three in DD's year alone and several more in the school, Jane would be more unique than that!

PointsSouth · 21/01/2025 13:38

RetroTotty · 21/01/2025 13:27

Yes! bring back Mildred - Ethel and Enid too!

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There aren’t enough Hepzibahs about.

(I might really mean that. Let me think about it.)

Sweetiedarling2024 · 21/01/2025 13:34

Totally agree that it’s a chavvy name. I have two teacher friends, teaching in opposite ends of the country and they’ve both said it’s the worst name they’ve heard in a long time. I only know of one person who has names their child that, and they are indeed, a chav.

Rycbar · 21/01/2025 13:33

Tell your husband there are actually loads of Nevaeh’s - ive taught them - it’s not unique at all!

Lovethesparklylights · 21/01/2025 13:29

Oliver has been top 3 boys name for probably 2 decades. They're literally everywhere. Why can't your daughter also have a nice normal name?

Neveah is on the same lines as Chardonnay or Mercedes for me. Horrid.

Backwards heaven eg hell.... just why.

Your suggestions were classic and lovely.

RetroTotty · 21/01/2025 13:27

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!

Edited

Yes! bring back Mildred - Ethel and Enid too!

Greyish2025 · 21/01/2025 13:25

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!

I think it’s lovely but a name is obviously something you both need to agree on

HollyFern1110 · 21/01/2025 13:18

I actually don’t mind the way Nevaeh sounds, but it’s nowhere near being unique & the fact it’s heaven backwards is incredibly cheesy IMO.

There are so many lovely names out there OP, I wouldn’t feel bad about using your veto on this one!