So, (D)M has just told me she hates our proposed name for DC2.

I must admit a pet hate of mine is mixing of cultural names if there is no heritage reason to do so. My Dad has a very Welsh first name which, despite being proudly Welsh, he never uses as it sounds borderline comical with his distinctly English surname so I suppose I'm sensitive to this. BUT that is my opinion and you are completely within your rights to ignore those who express similar views, including your DM. She's had her turn!

I like the name Otto.
When I am a DM or MIL I swear, I really do, that regardless of the names my DC's propose for my DGC I will tell them that I love the name. I admit this might be hard but it is the RIGHT THING TO DO.

Just be careful that with names with "t's" within, so many people can't/won't pronounce the 't' sound, so Otto will often be called "oh-oh".

Which may sound like something Beyonce likes to sing about.

Just a thought...

I really dislike Otto. Too comical - probably the Otto Waalkes connection.

well as someone who let themselves be swayed by what other family members thought of our chosen name and regrets it, I think stick to your guns. It's a great name.

This was our name but had girls. Mil who is German hated it its the name for a "farm boy" apparently! She much preferred Richard or James. So obviously I like but must say find it odd when people choose a name from a culture they have no link with (Amelie and Luca when you not French or Italian. Oh and telling people the name before birth is madness.

I dislike Otto - but I'm probably of your Mum's generation.

Otto Preminger was a great movie director though.

I also dislike all the variations of Fin, Finn, Finlay etc etc

For what it is worth, I have a swedish name as I was named after the midwife who delivered me. I have never had anything but positive comments and all I have ever had to say by way of explanation was that my parents liked it!

I also have never heard of a dog called Otto!

I have French names. No one in my family is French or (to my knowledge) has any connection with France. People have always asked me why I have the names I have and I have always said my parents liked them and chose them. It's never bothered me not having a connection with France. Hope that helps. I like the name, it's very sweet. Good luck!

See, I think Ludwig and Wolfgang are MUCH nicer, classier and more elegant than Otto!

Tell her your other choices are Ludwig and Wolfgang. Makes Otto seem quite tame by comparison

Depends where you live really, if it's North London, probably fine, anywhere more parochial no. DH wanted to call DS3 Otto but I vetoed it as we live in a small Scottish town and it would have failed the playground test. I am very glad I chose something else. He wanted to call DS1 Dirk, which is another story. Don't know why he likes Germanic names, German was his worst subject at school.

Our dps hated ds1's name when we told them, we used it anyway and when ds2 and ds3 came along no one knew their names until they were introduced.

Otto is unusual but lovely and what you and your dp like is all that matters.

Not read whole thread but love the name.

5madthings - I'm assuming you named him Theodore and not Theodoros, so not really a "Greek name" but its English version.

Well seeing that you asked about it I hve to say I know more dogs than children called Otto.
Personally I don't like it and wouldn't dream of calling any son of mine that.
BUT it is your choice.
I do agree with below!

"I also think that children are very accepting of names."
Not when I was growing up they weren't

oh and ds1 has a greek name! again no greek connections, it also means 'gift from god' and we arent religious either. my mil thought it was too posh a name! but is happy with it now.

my ds4 has a german name and no one ever mentions the german connection, same with ds2. ds3 has a welsh name and dd has a cornish name, we have no connections with wales or germany, tho we do have some cornish ancestory. but tbh we just chose names we liked and we mentioned lots of names in the run up to their births but never had their actual names till afterwards and then said them when they were a done deal! yes we still got told if they werent liked, but not much they could do about it, other than catsbum face etc and they have learnt to like them :)

I don't like it and I think it lends itself to all sorts of nicknames-however it is your choice. The mistake is to tell people in advance.

I quite like it but it is my dogs name I am afraid

I really dislike Otto, sorry. But then I've spent some time in Germany where it is indeed a VERY uncool, unfashionable name, not helped by the well known comedian Otto (and his Ottifant) and the large mail order company Otto.

I find Jack too dull and overused, on the other hand.

I do like Caspar or how about Cassian, Quentin, Sebastian or Caspian?

Otto is a brilliant name. I'd use it!

I would go for it, they will come to like it. Your choice not theirs.