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Original poster

To tell them their baby name options aren’t great?

262 replies

Ellase · 15/12/2025 21:07

I can be fairly confident DS and DIL don’t use Mumsnet so I’m prepared to take a risk and post this.

DS and his wife are expecting their first baby, all very exciting, a little girl. Tonight they came over and we were chatting names and they told me what their two front runners are, and well they aren’t inherently awful, but they are diminutives that aren’t well established as names in their own right (so we aren’t talking Milly or Rosie which are now fully fledged names). I asked if they were planning to use a longer name too and was told absolutely not. This worries as I feel their child won’t much appreciate having a name that is not well established, sounds a bit off (I don’t know how to explain better than that), and could easily have a longer name that would provide more optionality however they choose to live their life.

Should I cautiously mention it or just bite my tongue? We have a very positive relationship generally and they tend to be open to advice.

OP posts:
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 15/12/2025 23:11

Ellase · 15/12/2025 21:37

Saying nothing seems to be the conclusion then!

It’s so tricky when most seem to agree they are pretty awful names!

But what do you hope to achieve by telling them their name choices are shit? (which, personally, I'm not sure they are - thinking here of the Palestinian model and the obscure royal)

Break4Love · 15/12/2025 23:10

You could take a leaf out of my mil's book, don't say anything and upon meeting the baby, before saying anything else, look at your dil and ask her "you keeping the name then?". Seriously though, none of your business. It kills me how everyone acts like when they had babies everyone must have just adored the names they chose. They didn't!

FestiveFruitloop · 15/12/2025 23:09

I'm not sure why you're worried by this, OP.

JLou08 · 15/12/2025 23:08

ThorsRaven · 15/12/2025 22:11

Both could be a lifetime of piss-taking.

Gigi would end up being "gee gees" as in the horses, which could then lead to her being nicknamed "horsey" or "donkey".

Or even worse... Some older male leering at 13 year old her "gis a ride little horsey".

While Tiggi could be: Tiggi > Tigger > Piglet > Piggy.

Or worse: Tiggi > Tigger > Pussy cat > pussy > [insert any vulgar reference to female genitals]

OP, if you were going to say anything, you might be better off gently reminding the parents that children and teenagers can be nasty, cruel and spiteful, and the playground can be a brutal place. Get them to consider how any name they choose could be used by school bullies.

I've not heard anyone under the age of 50 say gee gees.
The Tiggi to pussy is a huge leap. If your leaping that hard you could make any name into something sexual.

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 15/12/2025 23:08

Well Gigi is a name I've heard of, albeit with slight prostitute overtones, but WTF is Tiggi, even as a diminutive?!

You'll have to stay quiet but they ARE pretty dreadful names.

DuchessDandelion · 15/12/2025 23:08

The only acceptable comment would be "Oh how lovely, that's such a popular name! :)"

SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 15/12/2025 23:07

If the names were chlamydia and gonorrhea because they 'sounded pretty', yes. Intervene. Strongly.

You just think they're nicknames? Stay well out of it.

Horses7 · 15/12/2025 23:05

Yikes - they’ll never forgive you wading in with your unasked for opinions. Zip it!

Hohumdedum · 15/12/2025 23:04

Keep quiet.

Incidentally I know a very cute Gigi whose name has caused zero issues. It really suits her.

The names are fine. They are not going to cause any problems.

clary · 15/12/2025 23:01

ThorsRaven · 15/12/2025 22:11

Both could be a lifetime of piss-taking.

Gigi would end up being "gee gees" as in the horses, which could then lead to her being nicknamed "horsey" or "donkey".

Or even worse... Some older male leering at 13 year old her "gis a ride little horsey".

While Tiggi could be: Tiggi > Tigger > Piglet > Piggy.

Or worse: Tiggi > Tigger > Pussy cat > pussy > [insert any vulgar reference to female genitals]

OP, if you were going to say anything, you might be better off gently reminding the parents that children and teenagers can be nasty, cruel and spiteful, and the playground can be a brutal place. Get them to consider how any name they choose could be used by school bullies.

Seriously? unlikely. I was a secondary teacher and some of the names I came across made me look twice, but to the kids, that was literally just their friend's name. They never batted an eyelid and certainly never made up upleasant nicknames. No one under about 75 calls horses gee-gees now anyway.

Loub1987 · 15/12/2025 23:01

ThorsRaven · 15/12/2025 22:11

Both could be a lifetime of piss-taking.

Gigi would end up being "gee gees" as in the horses, which could then lead to her being nicknamed "horsey" or "donkey".

Or even worse... Some older male leering at 13 year old her "gis a ride little horsey".

While Tiggi could be: Tiggi > Tigger > Piglet > Piggy.

Or worse: Tiggi > Tigger > Pussy cat > pussy > [insert any vulgar reference to female genitals]

OP, if you were going to say anything, you might be better off gently reminding the parents that children and teenagers can be nasty, cruel and spiteful, and the playground can be a brutal place. Get them to consider how any name they choose could be used by school bullies.

Cannot follow this one at all.

Loub1987 · 15/12/2025 23:00

I don’t think they are bad at all. Also, agree with all the pp’s, say nothing.

MaggieFS · 15/12/2025 23:00

There are a few Gigi’s at DC’s school. I have no idea if they’re shortened. It’s absolutely fine as a name and I’ve never heard anyone like it to the horse geegees. Tiggi is more unique, but it’s not horrific. Could be a lot worse.

babyproblems · 15/12/2025 22:54

ThorsRaven · 15/12/2025 22:11

Both could be a lifetime of piss-taking.

Gigi would end up being "gee gees" as in the horses, which could then lead to her being nicknamed "horsey" or "donkey".

Or even worse... Some older male leering at 13 year old her "gis a ride little horsey".

While Tiggi could be: Tiggi > Tigger > Piglet > Piggy.

Or worse: Tiggi > Tigger > Pussy cat > pussy > [insert any vulgar reference to female genitals]

OP, if you were going to say anything, you might be better off gently reminding the parents that children and teenagers can be nasty, cruel and spiteful, and the playground can be a brutal place. Get them to consider how any name they choose could be used by school bullies.

This made me really laugh!!
Interesting leap from tigger to pig.

I don’t think children are capable of such creative bullying tbh.
By this logic all women are at risk of the pussy bullying talk. I’m not sure a name is what makes that sort of bullying more or less likely tbh!!!!

Tink3rbell30 · 15/12/2025 22:54

They are awful. Poor child, I would point out how silly they are and that the adult the child will become won't appreciate it.

67eleven · 15/12/2025 22:52

I quite like them! But then I also like Mimi, Coco and Vivi too!

babyproblems · 15/12/2025 22:51

Say NOTHING.

BillieWiper · 15/12/2025 22:50

I guess I can see what you mean if it was something like 'Tillie' which does make me cringe. But of course don't say anything!

PeachySmile2 · 15/12/2025 22:49

It is absolutely nothing to do with you and none of your business in the slightest. Who do you think you are? The third parent? Awful. And FYI, Gigi is a beautiful name that’s becoming more and more popular.

MrsFrumble · 15/12/2025 22:48

The Gigi in the Collette story was short for Gilberte. There are plenty of other things it could be short for though; Regina, Georgina, Giselle or Giovanna for example.

I’ve known two Tiggys. One was a Tiger Lily and one was Antigone so obviously quite different vibes!

OutOfVecnasReach · 15/12/2025 22:47

I mean, I wouldn’t use the names, but they’re not terrible honestly.
not my taste but neither would be out of place or stand out amongst the current baby/child names (I have children ranging from 0-10)

yulefrog · 15/12/2025 22:40

They might not use Mumsnet but you'd better hope they don't Google those names and find this thread.

PorridgeEater · 15/12/2025 22:38

I was put off a name I liked by a friend (nothing as awful as Tiggi or Gigi) - later I wished I'd used it. You have to let them choose.

patooties · 15/12/2025 22:36

ThorsRaven · 15/12/2025 22:11

Both could be a lifetime of piss-taking.

Gigi would end up being "gee gees" as in the horses, which could then lead to her being nicknamed "horsey" or "donkey".

Or even worse... Some older male leering at 13 year old her "gis a ride little horsey".

While Tiggi could be: Tiggi > Tigger > Piglet > Piggy.

Or worse: Tiggi > Tigger > Pussy cat > pussy > [insert any vulgar reference to female genitals]

OP, if you were going to say anything, you might be better off gently reminding the parents that children and teenagers can be nasty, cruel and spiteful, and the playground can be a brutal place. Get them to consider how any name they choose could be used by school bullies.

Quite some mental leaps here - you must be exhausted!

patooties · 15/12/2025 22:34

Isn’t Tiggy short for Henrietta? The one I know is

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