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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:
CaribbeanCupcake · 21/01/2025 10:21

Awful name! Don't back down!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/01/2025 10:21

Yes your DH had gone mad

Noi · 21/01/2025 10:22

Terrible. Veto.

OatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 21/01/2025 10:23

Frightful name, although teen DC goes to school with one. Nice enough kid, awful name.

*edited to remove stray emoji!

Eyesopenwideawake · 21/01/2025 10:23

Niamh (pronounced Neve) might be an alternative?

Dithercats · 21/01/2025 10:23

Yuk much nicer names to choose from!

Normandy144 · 21/01/2025 10:23

YANBU. I'm with you OP, it's pretty awful. I also find it quite clunky to say. If he's after a reasonably uncommon name for a girl there are many available which will still be unusual just keep looking. To be fair if he's vetoed your suggestions then you can veto his. It can't be his way or the highway. Back to the drawing board.

Daleksatemyshed · 21/01/2025 10:23

A unique name just means no one will know how to say it or spell it, tell him he's being unfair to your DC

Snowmanscarf · 21/01/2025 10:23

It’s not unique. Lots of girls are named it.

109th must points babe in 2923z

AudiobookListener · 21/01/2025 10:24

Chavvy. And a lifetime of being told "you're not as angelic as your name"! I also think it sounds a bit medical.

ByPeachPeer · 21/01/2025 10:24

It's not unique, I think it actually made the top 100 this year (albeit it was quite low on the list) maybe try and put him off by telling him that.

UncharteredWaters · 21/01/2025 10:25

Just veto it right back. No arguments, no discussion, just a straight out NO.
same attitude as he’s given you.

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.

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

InTheRainOnATrain · 21/01/2025 10:26

If he’s allowed to veto your choices then you’re allowed to veto his. So along with Florence, Ivy and Matilda it should be completely off the table and should never be discussed again. He’s being a hypocritical twat really if he think he’s the only one that has the power of veto, especially when you’re the one carrying the baby FFS. Also it’s just down right bizarre he ok-ed Oliver for your DS but is now turning down names for being too popular. Don’t get me wrong, Oliver is a lovely classic name but let’s be honest there are way more little Olivers around than Freyas!

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.

Fontainebleau007 · 21/01/2025 10:26

Awful!

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:27

Eyesopenwideawake · 21/01/2025 10:23

Niamh (pronounced Neve) might be an alternative?

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?

OP posts:
thepariscrimefiles · 21/01/2025 10:27

Absolutely say no. You need to both love the name. I agree with a PP that Niamh might be an acceptable alternative, but only if you both like it.

SemperIdem · 21/01/2025 10:27

Yanbu - it is a horrible name.

Pigsinblankets13 · 21/01/2025 10:28

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?

Dds friend spells it Neve

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.

LadyLucyWells · 21/01/2025 10:29

I think it's quite nice, quite soft and feminine (I don't think it's chavvy) but I would worry she would be called Nev.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 21/01/2025 10:29

It's not unique, you can't turn around without tripping over a kid called Nevaeh! 😂

I agree it's not a nice name, and you should be able to veto a name you hate.

I like PP suggestion of Niamh if he likes the 'neeve' sound.

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?