Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

DH really wants to use his late mum's name...

133 replies

rosielea · 05/05/2014 10:10

Hello, I'm pregnant with DC3 at the moment, don't know if it's a boy or girl, we have 2 DDs already. My Dh's mum passed away 6 years ago, she was a lovely woman who he was very close with, I only knew her for a short time but I liked her very much.
He didn't suggest her name for our 2 DDs I think because he was still very sad about her death but this time he would really like to use her name. Her name was Maisie, well Mary but known only as Maisie. I think it's fine as a name, not ever what I would choose myself but I don't hate it.
I feel a bit sad that if I agree then all the fun of name choosing is over! And that I wouldn't get to use any of my preferred names but I can't decide if I'm just being petty and should agree as it means alot to him? What would you do?x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
squizita · 08/05/2014 10:08

I had the same with my DH. Luckily the name is a pretty one - we decided on my (living) DM's name as a the other name (also a pretty one).

TBH I am quite relieved I don't have to trawl through baby name books etc'. Grin

We're deciding which will be 1st and which middle when we see our baby. Have heard some people have their baby and 'meet' them and their pre-planned name doesn't sound right for the little person they have!

Original poster
rosielea · 08/05/2014 09:36

A boy will be Daniel! Let's hope it's a boy ;)

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 08/05/2014 08:28

marius

Friedbrain · 08/05/2014 08:20

what if it's a boy?!?!

Original poster
rosielea · 08/05/2014 08:18

RubySparks my Marina is named after a Spanish friend of mine, I think it's a reasonably common name in Spain and Russia.
My hamster was called Honey (but I was 8 when I names her).

OP posts:
Original poster
rosielea · 08/05/2014 08:15

Thanks for your input! I hadn't thought of the similarity with Marina, in my head they're very different but I can see they're from a common route.
Had a good chat with DH and he is very happy to use Maisie as a middle name, phew!

OP posts:
3bunnies · 08/05/2014 07:41

Dd1's first name is a variation on dh's mother's middle name. MIL's first name was one of those old fashioned names which hasn't quite made it back into the preschool generation. Dd1 loves having that connection with the only grandparent she didn't meet. It is still just as special being her middle name because we named her in honour of MIL and told everyone that, but was a name we both liked. Dd1 has really grown into and owns the name now. Dd2 wants her name too!

I agree that Maisie and Marina are quite similar, and your name has Mary in it. Maisie is a nice name though.

RubySparks · 08/05/2014 07:27

Our hamster is called Patch though Smile

RubySparks · 08/05/2014 07:25

nooka I know someone called Yorick... Always thought it was the coolest name ever!

Just to ad my DS was named after FIL and DD has middle name after my DM, both were very much alive when children named and very happy with the names, as was I. Also I have middle name Marina, hardly ever hear that! My Dneice has it too.

AntoinetteCosway · 08/05/2014 07:06

DH's mum died while I was pregnant with DD. Her name was a very old fashioned one and quite ugly in my opinion-a female version of an old man's name, so think Nigella for Nigel, though not. We gave it to DD as a middle name and now I love it as even though I wouldn't have chosen it otherwise it reminds us of DMIL and I think DD will be glad to have that link to the Nana she never met. Maisie is a nice name-I don't think you'll regret using it either as a first or middle name.

nooka · 08/05/2014 06:30

She definitely looks like a badger I think. We had Bedtime for Frances, it's lovely :)

Martorana · 08/05/2014 06:27

There's lovely series of books by Russell Hoban about an animal called Frances- my children adored them. I don't think she's a hamster, though. A small badger, maybe? I don't think it's ever specified.

nooka · 08/05/2014 04:43

My niece is Frances and my dd is Lily. Neither are hamsters Grin Proper pets have slightly wacky names that you wouldn't/couldn't use for a child (like our family dog Yorick) I'm not so keen on the ironic trend of 70s names for pets (although I do like Bernard :))

I really think with a Marina that Mary/Maisie doesn't really work. I like Frances Mary or Frances Elizabeth Mary.

mathanxiety · 08/05/2014 04:15

You can't use Maisie or Mary as a first name if you already have a Marina. Marina is a version of Mary, so is Maisie. It would be like calling one DD Annie and one Annette.

Alice Mary
Frances Mary
Both v nice imo.

All babies look a little like hamsters, especially if one parent was an amsterrrrrre.

All hamsters should be called Lily. That is a true fact.

Original poster
rosielea · 07/05/2014 19:34

That is my name Swisskissing :)

OP posts:
Swisskissingisbetterthenfrench · 07/05/2014 18:38

Love Mary as middle name

Swisskissingisbetterthenfrench · 07/05/2014 18:38

Rosemary

Summerbreezing · 06/05/2014 11:23

It's a name you like and it has huge significance family wise. To me it's a no brainer. If your late MIL had been called Gladys or Mildred it would be different, of course.
But Maisie is a gorgeous name and it is always nice to see names being carried on in a family.

Original poster
rosielea · 06/05/2014 07:19

This thread is hilarious, thanks for all your helpful and also creative responses!

OP posts:
DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 05/05/2014 23:50

With respect what has choosing a baby's name got to do with a poster's admittedly charming hamster?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 05/05/2014 23:35

It is very normal for a family name to be given as a middle name, it doesn't matter that the whole world doesn't know it, the person with the name and the close family members do and it is to them that it is important.

I much prefer Mary to Maisie, I also like Frances and Alice.

brdgrl · 05/05/2014 23:30

I wouldn't use it as her first name if you don't love it.
(and it's not selfish to want to give your child a name you love. Pfffft. And your husband doesn't love the name, he loves the idea of honoring his mum. A middle name is a traditional way to include a family name, and not an 'afterthought'.)

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 23:23

Fact is that Frances is indeed a lovely hamster, she is black with white feet.

expatinscotland · 05/05/2014 23:21

I did indeed state it was an opinion.

Another is that Hammy is unimaginative as a name and that pocket pets should be given names that are unsuitable for babies born in modern times, like Frances and Janet, our deceased but much-loved tan and white Syrian. Or Albrecht or Bernard for male hamsters.

trixymalixy · 05/05/2014 23:13

My DD is named after my DH's Grandma, who is still alive.

DD is most definitely her own person and no issues with associations.

I thi it's nice to have a family name, but if I hadn't liked the name it would not have happened!

Swipe left for the next trending thread