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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:
Balloonhearts · 21/01/2025 11:37

Nevaeh is an awful name. Really chavvy, I agree. I'd veto it too. Could you get him to come up with a shortlist of 5 girls names he likes and you do the same? See if there is any overlap.

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 21/01/2025 11:37

Doloresparton · 21/01/2025 11:26

A teacher at my school named her ds James - her surname is Bond.

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Nothing at all wrong with that.

Personally, I reserve my sympathy for his sisters Vaga and Premium.

Greenrailings · 21/01/2025 11:38

Niamh is a great name and I'll throw Maeve/Maeva out there as another similar-sounding alternative to Nevaeh.

I can't make any sense of turning a word into a name by spelling it backwards, so bizarre.

Chicheguevara · 21/01/2025 11:39

There are 3 Nevaehs where I work. We have more Nevaehs than Sophies.

brunettemic · 21/01/2025 11:39

Just veto it in the same way he has vetoed your suggestions.

Moveoverdarlin · 21/01/2025 11:39

Proper chavvy.

nam3c4ang3 · 21/01/2025 11:39

I mean - i thought it was going to be bad, but that is awful OP - dont back down 😂

ChicLilacSeal · 21/01/2025 11:40

Yes, he has gone certifiably mad. Does he not know that Neveah is one of the chavviest names in existence? Good God. I would veto this one hard.

Mamabear0202 · 21/01/2025 11:41

This is like in Netflix’s show “You” there’s a supermarket called Anarvin and it’s Nirvana backwards and it’s meant to be trendy like a whole foods where hipsters shop.

i personally don’t mind the name at all, but wouldn’t call it my child.

Needmorelego · 21/01/2025 11:42

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 11:37

Did you not see recently the couple who have called their child Lucifer? That’s not even the worst bit, they gave the poor child the middle name Gary….

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In my head I might think "poor kid" but I wouldn't say anything out loud.
When he's older his mates will probably shorten it to Luce or do that boy thing of adding an O on the end.
He'll be "Luce-o" for his teen years.

Streetsofkenny · 21/01/2025 11:43

gotmyknickersinatwist · 21/01/2025 11:29

OP tell your husband that Neveah isn't unique anyway. Unique essentially means made up. Neveah would have been unique the first time someone thought it was a good idea to reverse the word heaven & plant it on their poor child.

I seem to remember it being a trend perhaps 10/15 years ago. I could be way out on that timescale though.

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!

HotChocolateNotCocoa · 21/01/2025 11:43

beAsensible1 · 21/01/2025 11:20

i do not get the aversion to teaching people how to pronounce or spell your name? so what, you tell them once and move on.

should everyone be called bob so its easy for strangers? bizarre rationale

Because no one ever listens. My brother is called Ryan, which is obviously a common name now, but wasn’t that well known when we were growing up. Everyone he ever introduced himself to would look confused and say, “Brian?” When he’d correct them they’d still shrug their shoulders and say, “Brian?” (Why they thought Brian would be right the second or third time when it wasn’t the first is anybody’s guess.)

That was with a name that isn’t hard to pronounce even if you’ve never heard of it. I imagine it would be ten times worse with something where the spelling gives you no clue as to the pronunciation.

Soubriquet · 21/01/2025 11:43

I hate that name. They always say “Neveah. Yeah heaven backwards”

I have a friend whose daughter has that name. I’ve made sure I kept my mouth shut

FlyingPandas · 21/01/2025 11:44

Niamh is beautiful OP...other alternatives could be Nia (pronounced Nee-a) or Nina?

I'm another one laughing at his derision for your (lovely) choices based on the fact they're too popular. Your DS's name is a great name but hugely popular - I work in a school and I think we have an Oliver in pretty much every class.

ChicLilacSeal · 21/01/2025 11:45

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?

Absolutely rolling in the aisle at the last sentence!

LuckySantangelo35 · 21/01/2025 11:45

why does he need his childs name to be unique?

the child will be unique they don’t need their name to be. Also it’s not even a particularly unique name he’s set on.

IhadaStripeyDeckchair · 21/01/2025 11:45

It's not unique
I can think of 3 I know and a further 4 or 5 we've come into contact with over the years.

It's a terrible name and he needs to move away from it.
Anyway you have to agree on a name for her so as long as you say no she won't be saddled with this awful moniker

Crochetindevon · 21/01/2025 11:46

How about Angelina? Or Celeste? Similar meaning 😇

Siddalee · 21/01/2025 11:47

If it’s “names backward” with religious connotations that are his thing, he’s missed the all time best one!

Natasha
😈

LostTheMarble · 21/01/2025 11:47

Needmorelego · 21/01/2025 11:42

In my head I might think "poor kid" but I wouldn't say anything out loud.
When he's older his mates will probably shorten it to Luce or do that boy thing of adding an O on the end.
He'll be "Luce-o" for his teen years.

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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.

Soubriquet · 21/01/2025 11:48

My favourite girls names at the moment are Imogen, Erica, Eliza and Asha.

Not the point of the thread but maybe suggest those? He can’t have known everyone called that name/think it’s too common

Wanderless · 21/01/2025 11:48

Do you like

Andrea
Althea
Eliza
Estella

Just thinking that those end with the same 'Sound' as Nevaeh.

Agree that Nevaeh is very common. I often read that on here, about a name, & think 'I've never heard of that name!' But I have heard of several young Nevaeh's recently.

I also agree that if he can veto yours then you can veto his, & both start again.

Soubriquet · 21/01/2025 11:50

Siddalee · 21/01/2025 11:47

If it’s “names backward” with religious connotations that are his thing, he’s missed the all time best one!

Natasha
😈

Ooo I like Natasha

WaltzingWaters · 21/01/2025 11:51

Yeah it’s a big no on Nevaeh. It is chavvy and it isn’t unique, it got pretty popular for a while.