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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:
Clarinet1 · 26/03/2025 16:01

If you’re going to go for film siblings who I think may actually be meant to twins, I vote Jeremy and Jemima (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang).

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 26/03/2025 16:01

Two pets Romeo and Juliet, or smokey and bandit, ok. But not children

Waffle19 · 26/03/2025 16:01

I maybe thought you were being unreasonable not to consider it just because they’re in a film, until I realised the names were Harry and Sally! YANBU

NoNotTodayThanks · 26/03/2025 16:01

I'm totally with you, naming siblings after a couple in a romantic film is very odd. If you like the names individually could you pick one and choose a different name for the other baby that won't be associated with the film?

CowTown · 26/03/2025 16:01

Poor little Sally will be asked whether she’s as good as re-enacting as Meg Ryan, and would she mind giving it a go…just for laughs?

Poor kid. Your DH is completely out of order. Ew.

XelaM · 26/03/2025 16:00

lechatnoir · 26/03/2025 14:53

Bet it's Harry & Sally - ridiculous idea for twins. They're siblings not lovers ffs

My first thought 😄

Ponderingwindow · 26/03/2025 16:00

Harry and Sally. Even my child knows that name pairing and she hates watching “old” movies. Seriously, even Jack and Rose would be less obvious.

Twiglets1 · 26/03/2025 16:00

Sid and Nancy?

MsBucket · 26/03/2025 15:59

CraneBeak · 26/03/2025 15:51

Ridiculous. Why would you saddle them with incest connotation?

Agreed. It’s actually quite disturbing.

RaspberryBeretxx · 26/03/2025 15:59

Ugh, YANBU at all! Maybe he's just been infected with hormones in the air or something 😂. Surely no-one loves that film THAT much!

I'd go for Henry and Sascha for a slight similarity that DH can know is a nod to the theme but that everyone else doesn't do this face at 😳.

Soubriquet · 26/03/2025 15:59

Ask him would be ok with Romeo and Juliet? Rosie and Jim? Jamie and Cersei?

I bet he wouldn’t, so why is Harry and Sally and good option.

Both parents should agree on names. Would he consider Harry and Sasha for instance

Jenkibuble · 26/03/2025 15:58

If he HAS to have them, then use them as middle names . Agree, Sally is old fashioned . Or, he choose Harry and you name the girl (Sally as a middle name)

DD was at school with a boy called Charlie and he had a (younger) sister called Lola. That was amusing !

MsBucket · 26/03/2025 15:58

kiwiblue · 26/03/2025 15:34

Do you mean Leia?

But Leia and Luke are siblings though, right? OP, please veto any couple of names. It’s gross to do such a thing and I can’t believe your husband thinks it’s cute and I don’t think he actually knows the meaning of “meaningful”. How could he possibly think it is meaningful? 🤢 It would be more meaningful if you choose a name with your 4 year old daughter, have a middle name after a loved one, something that has a special memory attached to it etc.

LadyBracknellsHandbagg · 26/03/2025 15:58

I met a young woman in the early 2000’s whose name was Kayleigh, her dad named her after his favourite song from the mid 80’s and she absolutely loathed it, she was asked the same question every time she met anyone new and I really felt for her.

You can’t let him do this, it’s a terrible idea! Harry is a lovely name but Sally is really old fashioned and your children will not thank you for it.

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 😁

Ponderingwindow · 26/03/2025 15:57

DH and I would both put Luke and Leia on our lists, but we aren’t 12
so we never would have used either. We weren’t going to saddle our child with a name like that. (In our friend group Luke would be obvious)

RedHelenB · 26/03/2025 15:55

MyrtleLion · 26/03/2025 14:52

Harry and Sally? Not a chance.

I wouldn't see film with that though as those names go together. Samson and Delilah on the other hand.

IAmNeverThePerson · 26/03/2025 15:54

You cannot name them Harry and Sally. Everyone will guess the film

Whatdafudge · 26/03/2025 15:53

A romantic couple.. id say thats a bit weird for siblings

TwigletsAndRadishes · 26/03/2025 15:53

Harry and Sally? That's disappointingly run of the mill. I was really hoping for Westley and Buttercup.

theDudesmummy · 26/03/2025 15:53

Harry and Sally are wildly inappropriate for twins in any country where the movie is part of the cultural memory. I'd be rather concerned that he doesn't see that. Does he not understand what the movie is about?

Ponderingwindow · 26/03/2025 15:52

Both parents get infinite vetos.

and since we have to guess and I think it’s going to be a bit more esoteric since he doesn’t think people will notice…

Julia and Robbie from The Wedding Singer

CraneBeak · 26/03/2025 15:51

Ridiculous. Why would you saddle them with incest connotation?

Fannyannie · 26/03/2025 15:49

I really love Jack and Rose though ?

BreadInCaptivity · 26/03/2025 15:49

Does he want his children to hate him?

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