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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Newposter180 · 21/01/2025 13:18

Truly awful name, not even unique or meaningful. And given how many here think it’s chavvy, she could well face prejudice with a name like this throughout life.
More importantly, if he gets to veto your (normal, reasonable) suggestions, then why can’t you just veto this?

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 13:11

MrsSlocombesCat · 21/01/2025 13:03

If people didn't call their kids ridiculous names there would be nothing to make fun of, so...

So that makes it OK for medical professionals to discuss their patients with their mates for the sole purpose of taking the piss out of them? 🤔

saltandvinegarchipsticks · 21/01/2025 13:11

As you can see from this thread, plenty of people simply won’t be able to spell it even though they can spell Heaven and everyone knows it’s Heaven backwards (because we get told every time).

I think it’s a horrible name, but you simply veto it and that’s the end of discussion.

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 13:10

My American husband’s cousin named her daughter Anaveah. Which doesn’t even make sense if you do the whole backwards thing. I am not keen at all.

LemonadePockets · 21/01/2025 13:09

This is my sister’s name - people repeatedly call her ‘Nivea’

Harrysmummy246 · 21/01/2025 13:06

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!

It's definitely not unique and it does have a chavvy association tbh

Nor does it go particularly well with Oliver

MrsSlocombesCat · 21/01/2025 13:03

TankFlyBossWalkJamNittyGrittyIAmFromAMidSizeCity · 21/01/2025 10:45

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.

If people didn't call their kids ridiculous names there would be nothing to make fun of, so...

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 21/01/2025 13:02

We have one in my daughter school... it's pronounced Nav Ay YARRRRRRR by all the kids!

Witchcraftandhokum · 21/01/2025 13:02

It's not unique, I know 4. They're all around 14 now.

Glittertwins · 21/01/2025 12:59

Definitely not unique or new. There's an 18 yr old at our school with that name.

EmmaOvary · 21/01/2025 12:57

Just tell him on gnikcuf yaw.

WellsAndThistles · 21/01/2025 12:57

It's "u-neek" aka super chavvy and grounds for divorce.

UninterestingFirstPost · 21/01/2025 12:55

Nerea
Naia
Niovi/Niobe
Raya
Noemi
Existing names that probably aren’t very common either

AllTheChaos · 21/01/2025 12:55

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:51

Thank you, I couldn’t have put it better myself! You’re absolutely right. I don’t see why Nevaeh should be the exception just because it’s his idea. And the hypocrisy about popularity has really wound me up too.

I think he’s being completely unreasonable, and honestly, I’ve had enough of the double standards. I’m the one growing this baby, dealing with all the aches and exhaustion, and I still have to fight him over a name FFS!

Point out that heaven reversed means you are essentially naming her ‘hell’…

ClairDeLaLune · 21/01/2025 12:55

It’s totally chavvy. And it’s not unique. Slap him round the head with a wet fish till he sees sense!

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 21/01/2025 12:52

You don't like it and you both have to like it, so obviously it won't be chosen.

But YABVU to object to his reasons for not liking your suggestions. We ruled out the top 10 names (there's loads of families with Oliver and Amelia fgs!) and names that we have a bad association with.

E.g Luke - perfectly nice name, but I just remember a boy in my class with a permanently snotty nose and gormless expression.

Use something like Kinder so it's not a competition as to who suggested a name. Or we printed out the top 100 and crossed out everything we didn't like then saw what was left.

TheTecknician · 21/01/2025 12:49

ChicLilacSeal · 21/01/2025 12:08

They're all nice names individually (except Wren), but the pairings are a bit unfortunate if they're siblings. Please tell me there aren't siblings called Robyn and Wren? If so, maybe they'll get another one named Blackbird! 😂

And maybe Hope and Faith will get a sibling named Glory! Then you can take Faith, Hope and Glory out for lunch! 🤣🤣🤣

I really like Felicity. And it can't easily be shortened. Verity's a bit blue-rinse.

I think Verity and Felicity could be considered 'virtue' names along with, for example, Joy, Blessing and Patience which I understand are popular in parts of Africa.

Felicity is likely to be shortened to 'Flick'.

MrTiddlesTheCat · 21/01/2025 12:47

How is it pronounced? I can't work it out.

Esmereldapawpatrol · 21/01/2025 12:46

Awful name. Why are we naming kids the reverse of a word??? If you like 'Heaven' just call them that! It's as annoying as deciding you are going to have a 'unique' spelling. It doesn't make your child unique it makes you look like an idiot that can't spell.

Why don't people actually think of their kids when giving them a name and think about having to spell it out for people, not being able to be pronounced etc etc.

ChicLilacSeal · 21/01/2025 12:45

Fink · 21/01/2025 12:31

The three theological virtues are Faith, Hope, and Charity, not Glory. It's unusual but not unheard of to get sisters named that. More common a while back with evangelical Christians who didn't like saints names but wanted something religious.

I was thinking of Land of Hope and Glory!

FindusMakesPancakes · 21/01/2025 12:45

I think I would have to suggest Yooneek.

Rubesandme · 21/01/2025 12:45

Just a suggestion but me and OH both came up with a list of 10 names we both liked and compared to see which we had the same. Fortunately we had 3 the same on each list so our child took 2 of those names. Worth a try?

joysexreno · 21/01/2025 12:44

Please, no

Wolfpa · 21/01/2025 12:44

It’s no more chavvy than any name that ends with Mae and is rising with popularity.

the names you suggest would be perfect for someone over 50.

but none of this matters all that matters is you both find a name you are happy with.

Dogaredabomb · 21/01/2025 12:43

Why not just Heaven rather than Neveah? 😎