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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To veto DH’s baby name choice?

287 replies

DefiniteGrouse · 26/03/2025 14:47

Bit of a long one, sorry! Currently 32 weeks pregnant with twins (one boy, one girl) and DH has suddenly decided he must name them after his favourite romantic film couple. He thinks it’s cute and meaningful. I think it’s twee and naff.

For context, the film isn’t some timeless classic, more of a 90s/00s romcom. Not awful, but not exactly Shakespeare either. Think along the lines of Jack and Rose (it’s not that, but you get the vibe). The names are VERY tied to the film – like, you’d hear them together and immediately think of it.

I’ve said I’m not keen, but DH is really pushing it, saying I got more say on DD1’s name (not true, we both agreed!). He also reckons no one will make the connection, which is just nonsense because even my mum raised an eyebrow when we mentioned it!

AIBU to put my foot down? I want names that will grow with them, not make people say “oh, like that film?” every time they introduce themselves. DH is sulking and says I’m ruining something sentimental for him. WWYD?

Extra context:
• Not my PFB, we already have a 4yo DD
• Names are nice individually, just cringey together
• DH is lovely but can be a bit of a dreamer when it comes to this stuff

OP posts:
Kzb9 · 26/03/2025 17:19

harriethoyle · 26/03/2025 17:06

Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!!

ABSOLUTELY NOT!! He’s a maniac 🤣

Has he not seen it and the cafe scene?!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/03/2025 17:17

Absolutely not!

It’s such an overly obvious film too - not like it’s a lesser known film that not everyone will think of, it’s a massively over-hyped, over quoted and over referenced film. It’s as bad as calling them Mickey and Minnie.

Nothing wrong with the film per se - it’s a bit of it’s time, and the values don’t quite align with nowadays - but it’s far too well known to pick the names out of.

For dogs, possibly. But for human children, no.

And naming siblings after romantic partners is very weird.

Shitmonger · 26/03/2025 17:13

Absolutely not. Is he stupid? If he is, spell it out for him: “Naming our twins Harry and Sally would imply incest. That is vile and we are not doing that. No amount of sulking is going to change my mind about protecting them from that.”

XWKD · 26/03/2025 17:10

DefiniteGrouse · 26/03/2025 15:23

I wasn’t going to say the names, but since everyone’s guessing, they’re Harry and Sally.

Fuck. You mean the film that's most famous for Sally's fake orgasm?

Edit, just to acknowledge that others have already said this.

harriethoyle · 26/03/2025 17:06

DefiniteGrouse · 26/03/2025 15:23

I wasn’t going to say the names, but since everyone’s guessing, they’re Harry and Sally.

Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!!

ABSOLUTELY NOT!! He’s a maniac 🤣

leviosanotleviosa25 · 26/03/2025 17:05

I’ve not even seen the film and that was my first thought

simpledeer · 26/03/2025 17:02

Good God no! He’s insane if he wants his little girl associated with that crap orgasm scene.

What’s wrong with him?

glittereyelash · 26/03/2025 17:01

Nooo not harry and Sally. I thought it might be noah and allie which I could get on board with!

Treeleaf11 · 26/03/2025 17:00

BunnyLake · 26/03/2025 15:57

Stand your ground. Both of you must be happy with the choices, for whatever reason.

I always thought it was a bit of an odd choice Celine Dion naming her twins Nelson and Eddy (Nelson Eddy was an actor/singer years ago).

Be a bit like having twins called George and Michael.

It’s not Scarlet and Rhett is it 😁

I've got cousin siblings called Julie and Andrew which I've always thought was a bit strange

CandyCane457 · 26/03/2025 16:59

I think it’s absolutely fine to veto them, that’s just how it works, if you don’t like them, you don’t like them.

Im currently pregnant with my first and all my life I’ve dreamed of having a daughter with a particular name, as I just love the name so much, but my boyfriend hates it. So we aren’t having jt. And I accept that. And we will go back to the drawing board and choose one we BOTH like. It shouldn’t work any other way.

Yellowhammer09 · 26/03/2025 16:59

What about Luke and Leah?

Close enough to be obvious, but far enough to annoy the nerds 🤣

AirborneElephant · 26/03/2025 16:59

Fuck no, especially not that film. How cringeworthy would that be! Harry is fine as a name if he want one, but stand your ground on pairing it with something else!

Rivertrudge · 26/03/2025 16:57

MsBucket · 26/03/2025 16:55

@Rivertrudge I’m afraid it is. Somehow it’s meant to be “cute” and “meaningful” 🤮.

Double vom.

Rivertrudge · 26/03/2025 16:57

Rivertrudge · 26/03/2025 16:53

Tell me it’s not Harry and Sally… (or the poor children will face endless jokes about "I’ll have what he/she's having")!

Oh my God, I just read the updates and it is! It was the first embarrassing thing that sprang to my mind. It would be awful! Please tell him he would be letting them in for a lot of unpleasantness.

RedToothBrush · 26/03/2025 16:55

No is a completely reasonable argument.

You both have to live with their names. As do they.

SheridansPortSalut · 26/03/2025 16:55

snowflakelake · 26/03/2025 16:40

Dc are going to be utterly mortified once they realize they have been named after famous sexual partners.
They are siblings not a romantic couple.
I have twins letting them have their own identity is really important.

That's a good point!

MsBucket · 26/03/2025 16:55

@Rivertrudge I’m afraid it is. Somehow it’s meant to be “cute” and “meaningful” 🤮.

SheridansPortSalut · 26/03/2025 16:54

The names might be sentimental to him but it's not about him, it's about them. They won't thank him for lumbering them with these names.

Rivertrudge · 26/03/2025 16:53

Tell me it’s not Harry and Sally… (or the poor children will face endless jokes about "I’ll have what he/she's having")!

MyGhastIsFlabbered · 26/03/2025 16:51

How about William (Billy) and Margaret (Meg) as a compromise? I doubt many would immediately make the connection (or am I just being dense?)

Bloatstoat · 26/03/2025 16:51

YANBU.

If you completely hate the idea (and I agree with you), you will never grow to like it. I vetoed DH's suggestion of Shannon for our DD and have never regretted it.

Shelby2010 · 26/03/2025 16:47

BubbaHorovitz · 26/03/2025 16:11

If he loves that film so much, why not just call them Billy & Meg no one will then be making fun of them, because it's one remove.

Or mix it up & call them Billy & Sally. But not the other way round cos Harry & Meg would be even worse!

Maxorias · 26/03/2025 16:43

Naunet · 26/03/2025 15:11

Fuck no! You're the one creating and birthing these children, and presumably they're already getting his last name, so no, he doesnt get to dictate both the first names, especially when its just based on a bloody film.

Why on earth would you presume that ?

Anyway, my first thought was Rhett and Scarlett 😂 OP yanbu, let him sulk until he gets to his senses.

MsBucket · 26/03/2025 16:42

Ellie1015 · 26/03/2025 16:38

I haven't even seen that movie but it is so well known I would still associate those names with the film. Definitely not.

It isn't fair for either parent to dislike the names. He shouldn't be trying to pester you into it.

Agreed. I haven’t watched it either, but I still know of the movie and would immediately associate the names with the movie. I had to google to check the actual name, but it’s alway been one of those famous romantic duos.

WillimNot · 26/03/2025 16:42

I knew twins called Danny and Sandy
Don't do it OP.

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