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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

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

163 replies

Spoutlet · 02/07/2012 22:18

It is the only name that DH and I both agree on and I'm annoyed that she and F are being so negative about our choice. She launched into a rant about how the poor boy will be open to ridicule at school, it's a dogs name and they just don't like it. They'd prefer a name like Jack or Thomas. We probably shouldn't have mentioned it, but she asked and I knew they'd probably be a bit weird about it and would rather get their weirdness out of the way before DS arrives. The name is Otto, by the way. I did have a little reservation about using it, i.e. we have no German heritage, but I was starting to overcome this as we do really love the name. I'm now wavering! So, thoughts on Otto, please. Apologies for the mini rant!

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mayanna123 · 02/07/2012 22:54

Otis is great. As is Raphael and Quentin. Or how about Oscar?

ArthurandGeorge · 02/07/2012 22:54

I think it's lovely and being easy to read and spell are more important than the views of your mother IMO.

WhosPickleisThatOnion · 02/07/2012 22:53

I like it! It may lend itself to Germanic style teasing in school but children are little buggers and will find something to rip the piss out of in every name.

CharltonHairstyle · 02/07/2012 22:51

I like it Grin

SLVC · 02/07/2012 22:50

Otto is lovely and you will hold a grudge forever if you dismiss it because of your DM.. We got a few raised eyebrows from older family members over DS's name, but now everyone knows and loves him it matters not a jot..

And the whole being teased at school thing is untrue.. DD has a wonderful mix of children from different cultures in her class at school, with some very exotic names.. no one would bat an eyelid over the incredibly easy to read and pronounce Otto..

When I was at school, Charlie, or Alfie or Henry would have likely been teased.. Things change..

Viviennemary · 02/07/2012 22:49

Ignore exclamation mark. It was a mistake. Sorry.

Kewcumber · 02/07/2012 22:49

Tell her to bugger off. She chose the names for her children, now its your turn.

Viviennemary · 02/07/2012 22:49

I must say I'm not at all keen on the name. But it's up to you. Would you consider choosing a different name!

snice · 02/07/2012 22:49

How about Otis instead?
or Jasper

montmartre · 02/07/2012 22:47

Otto is great!

The country really does not need any more Jacks!

Remind her- she's had her turn at naming babies...

TouTou · 02/07/2012 22:45

Love Hugo, love Caspar and loved Fabian and Raphael upstream of this.

Still think Otto is going to get fed up with the 'are your German' vibe to his name.

And this is from me who has a DD with a very German name. But in our case my Grandma is from E Europe so it's easy enough to explain. And people do ask - every time - why she is called that. I'm happy there is a connection. My MIL didn't love it though! I still don't think it would be her fave.

droves · 02/07/2012 22:42

I like it , it's cute like Oscar used to be before it got too popular .

And best of all I don't think there is any horrid knickname you can get from otto!

tell your mum you've decided to call the baby shae'den or some other shite name , she will soon change her mind about otto ( which is lovely btw) . Wink .

nilbyname · 02/07/2012 22:41

Enzo
Cassius
Lorcan
Vincent
Dylan
Theodore
Jolyon
??

NarkedRaspberry · 02/07/2012 22:40

I think Hugo and Caspar are both nice.

Original poster
Spoutlet · 02/07/2012 22:39

Oo, mixed response on the name! I guess it is a Marmite type of name.

The lack of German connection is a concern, especially as it is so German; DH isn't bothered by this at all. DD's name is often identified as being German, despite also being a (not uncommon) English name with it's English spelling - she was named after a close family member. B list is either Hugo (my choice, DH dislikes) or Caspar (DH's choice, but I don't think it works well with our surname). There are no other names we both like - aarrgh - it was so easy with DD's name. Ideas for names similar to these, please, you know just in case we actually decide we don't want to use the name rather than taking DM's opinion on board Grin.

OP posts:
NarkedRaspberry · 02/07/2012 22:36

She was very unkind in the way she chose to say it. It's not her choice to make. Having said that, the only non central Europeans I have known with that name are dogs. Three of them. It's a nice name, but rarely used for people in the uk.

Poulay · 02/07/2012 22:30

woof

nilbyname · 02/07/2012 22:29

Oh and the world could live without another...
jack
thomas
william
james
harry
henry
oliver
finley
charlie
oscar

But again, that is just my opinion, and those names are lovely. Just very popular.

FunnysInLaJardin · 02/07/2012 22:28

and I have no idea whether my mum or dad like my DC's names, and I really don't care. We loved them! btw my two are Fabian and Raphael (Rafe)

nilbyname · 02/07/2012 22:28

Hmmmm....if you are looking on an opinion on the name...My rule is that a shortened name ( jamie, freddie,bertie) should have the full name on the Birth Cert (James, Frederick, Robert) and names that are obviously form another culture, should have a familial reason to back it up.

I am a bit of a stick in the mud about names.

My DS has a very Scottish name. I am Scottish. My DD has my maternal GMs middle name.

blueglue · 02/07/2012 22:28

I'm afraid I do agree with your mum's general opinion of the name, but she has been rather rude and outspoken about it.

mayanna123 · 02/07/2012 22:27

I'll be honest - I really dislike Otto. It has a comical sound to me and is also the name of Europe's largest mail order company:

However, I am very much in favour of underused classic names and find Jack and Thomas incredibly dull and overused. But there are lots of other underused classics that are nicer than Otto imo.

FunnysInLaJardin · 02/07/2012 22:26

stick with it, but this was the very reason we didn't tell anyone what we were calling the DS's until they were born. Few people are rude about an actual babies name.

WendyWobble · 02/07/2012 22:26

I like it. My mother and MIL both hate my youngest sons name (as do most of the people on here) but it really is quite unimportant now, he is two, they know and love him. As long as you are happy with it, go for it.

OddBoots · 02/07/2012 22:25

That's a shame but she'll get used to it.