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AIBU?

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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:
Tigergirl80 · 21/01/2025 12:40

JandamiHash · 21/01/2025 10:26

You will get flamed for using the word chavvy but yes it’s chavvy

I also think it’s crap for a person tho have to spend their life spelling out their name or correcting pronunciation etc.

It’s not unique - its number 80 of names in the U.K in 2024. that’s up 20 places since 2023

It’s not meaningful either. Its heaven spelt backwards. No more meaningful than Sophie (a classic and timeless name) meaning wisdom

My name is spelt the original way. But thanks to different spellings now I always get asked how it’s spelt. The first half and second half are also stand alone names.

There was a child in my children’s school who had a hyphenated spelling. So that’s how school spelt my name as well. It wasn’t popular when I was a child but is popular now.

wholettheturnipsburn · 21/01/2025 12:40

nouveaunomduplume · 21/01/2025 12:23

tell him you'll agree to it if he first changes his name by deed poll to to Toidi

🤣🤣🤣

FindusMakesPancakes · 21/01/2025 12:38

MaggieFS · 21/01/2025 11:22

You can spell Niamh as Neve which avoids mispronunciation.

Doesn't avoid misspelling though. Would never occur to me to spell it as Neve. My autocorrect wants me to put an r on the end.

CharityButtonhole · 21/01/2025 12:37

Not sure if suggested yet but how about Luna? Or Stellar for something more unusual. Both sound nice with Oliver.

Tallisker · 21/01/2025 12:35

Just go for Chardonnay and have done with it Grin

CatsndtheBear · 21/01/2025 12:35

Although it's not nice, people absolutely judge that name (I worked in a school setting.)

Chillilounger · 21/01/2025 12:35

Both write a list. Hard deadline. Swap. Any names on both are in the pot for consideration any others you get 3 vetos each.

Didimum · 21/01/2025 12:35

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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You could spell it phonetically like the actress Neve Campbell.

Rainydaysanddewdrops · 21/01/2025 12:35

Awful name.

Teenybub · 21/01/2025 12:34

I’m a teacher and I have 3 in one class. Names are just opinion so I can’t judge his opinion but it’s not an unusual name.

mossylog · 21/01/2025 12:34

Would he call his son Dog?

Just tell him that, conceptually, heaven inverted is hell. Just like an upside down cross is used by the Satanists.

LuckySantangelo35 · 21/01/2025 12:33

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 21/01/2025 12:27

Why not create your own name whoah will be genuinely unique, something with a nice sound? Or use a family surname as a first name? Or a little known flower or star which is not used as a name.
Eg
Mandevilla
Peony

@SoNiceToComeHomeTo

lol

or there is always Anna?

Sux2buthen · 21/01/2025 12:32

JHound · 21/01/2025 10:30

That’s peak chav. I know people with that name and everybody I know who named their child that is ghetto af.

I support you. Tell your DH he is being ridiculous.

Wow

MerryTealHedgehog · 21/01/2025 12:32

it's the name of a cheap jewellery company!

Fink · 21/01/2025 12:31

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.

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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.

herbaceous · 21/01/2025 12:30

Oh yes! @RareLemur - I'd never noticed that. Heaven spelled backwards would be Nevaeh. So it's even worse than it seems...

I've worked in lots of schools, and am also a judgmental old witch. The name Neveah carries many associations, none of them heavenly.

Rachie1973 · 21/01/2025 12:30

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.

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lol all paired like that. I admit Wren was my suggestion. I love it lol.

and if Glory comes along the parents will be in deep deep shit. I have no intention of taking on anymore children!

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 21/01/2025 12:27

Why not create your own name whoah will be genuinely unique, something with a nice sound? Or use a family surname as a first name? Or a little known flower or star which is not used as a name.
Eg
Mandevilla
Peony

RareLemur · 21/01/2025 12:26

His reasoning is flawed, I have met several Nevaeh's over the 10 years. I also met a Neveah when DD started Creche and I thought it strange that someone would name their child after hand cream (Nivea) until I saw it written down. I was told it was "heaven spelt backwards" then but didn't want to point out that actually, no it wasn't.

Namechangedforgoodreasons · 21/01/2025 12:26

Needmorelego · 21/01/2025 11:33

I wouldn't use anything rude to describe the name.
It's just a name.
Not to everyone's taste - but no name is.
Personally I really dislike the names Henry, Percy, Stanley or Agatha (all names I know of actual children under the age of 12 or so) but do I say "urrgh those names are so poncy"?
No I don't. I don't say anything. They aren't my children so why should I care.
People are so unbelievably rude about names on Mumsnet.
Obviously parents should be discouraged to name their babies Adolf or Satan but other than that - does it matter if you don't like the name of someone else's child?

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No, it doesn’t matter. But OP asked for people's opinions!

Dogaredabomb · 21/01/2025 12:26

If he loves it that much he can call himself Neveah. I love Lucinda and Juliet.

VonHally · 21/01/2025 12:25

There was an Indian nurse in my late mother's nursing home who was called Nivea. She was such a lovely gently woman. Anyway some of the more brazen ladies called her Face Cream. She took it well.

blueshoes · 21/01/2025 12:25

BoomBoomZoomies · 21/01/2025 12:19

I work in Maternity, and believe me Neveah is far from unique.

IMO it's a horrible name and really overused now. Plenty of other lovely nakes around.

The people who name their baby Neveah, are they chavvy?

<waits to be flamed>

Fink · 21/01/2025 12:24

I agree with some pps, regardless of whether it's chavvy or not, writing a religious word backwards is a way of negating it. So it just comes across as wannabe demonic. It has even caused controversy locally here in the church whether it would be considered anti-Christian enough to refuse baptism.

DuckyLuck · 21/01/2025 12:23

My partner is a social worker - he comes across this name all the time, it's not unique