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Baby names

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

Original poster

No one likes my child's name!!

88 replies

ButtonMoon88 · 23/04/2015 22:53

Hello I gave birth to my first child in January, a little girl. My partner and I decided on the name Jeane (Jean) after my grandma, and also because we just liked it and it suits us and her. Our immediate family love it, but there have been a few sarky comments from people and it's so hurtful. Not only does she share the name with a wonderfully strong woman, she completely carries the name off herself so why do people feel the need to comment?

Has anyone experienced nasty comments about names and how do you deal with it? Please don't bother to comment if you are going to say something unpleasant that isn't the point of my thread! Thank you

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steppemum · 23/04/2015 23:13

It is because it is not a name of the moment.
I am often bemused by people who say 'these names are lovely' - and then list names which are very very of their time and will sound dated in 5 years, and then say - 'these names are awful' - and list all the classics (eg Elizabeth or Victoria)

It is good to hear a baby with a lovely name which is currently underused. She will be the only one and therefore remembered

Galrick · 23/04/2015 23:13

Someone told me that I was damaging my child and I should give them a normal name

Hmm There are some proper weirdos out there!

WindMeUpAndLetMeGo · 23/04/2015 23:09

I like it, it's very X-Men. Ignore them, their (or my) opinions really don't matter

YAsoNBU · 23/04/2015 23:07

I love it, in fact variants of Jeanne and Joan were on our girls list. I love the nicknames Jeannie and Joanie/Joni too.

Original poster
ButtonMoon88 · 23/04/2015 23:07

It's pronounced the English way but spelt with an e on the end, which is how my grandma spelt it, and Marilyn Monroe Smile

Sorry atomic dog I didn't mean to offend, just didn't want endless amounts of comments on here saying it was a horrid name, mners can be as ruthless as some of my so called friends!!!

Maybe it is hormornes but I would never ever comment on a child's name, I have found the nastiness unbelievable!

Someone told me that I was damaging my child and I should give them a normal name like Isabelle (which is actually a beautiful name but would rhyme with our surname!!)

OP posts:
Rivercam · 23/04/2015 23:06

ignore them. Your baby, your name. Think about the lady who inspired her. as Santas said Granny names are all the rage. I often wish I was a little braver with the names I chose.

nickelbarapasaurus · 23/04/2015 23:01

it's an unusual spelling, have to say - i've only seen Jeanne or Jean (Jeanne i know 2 people with the name, one pronounced Jan and one prononced Jeen)

but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the name - it's nice, it's easy to pronounce, it's classic without being too many people with that name.

sod what they think.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 23/04/2015 23:01

Jean is a lovely name. Strong yet still pretty.

The answer is simple. Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

The only people who matter love the name and, once at school, her peers won't bat an eyelid. "Granny" names (for want of a better phrase) are in fashion at the moment - your little Jean will be at school with children named Edith, Albert, Ivy, Edmund etc. etc.

Don't worry. Stupid people can be cruel but you've chosen a good strong name with a special meaning for you.

3579little · 23/04/2015 23:00

It's a brilliant name and very very cool.

griselda101 · 23/04/2015 22:59

how is it pronounced - like Jean the English version or like "Jeane" the French version? I think it's pretty.

I would take no notice of other people! The kind of people who comment negatively are not the kind of people that are worth bothering with tbh.

I have an unusual first name that was completely off the wall when I was a kid (and mocked mercilessly) but it's a pretty name and now becoming trendy and getting more fashionable by the year. Fashions change so if it's not in fashion now by the time the kid is growing up it may well be fashionable.

AtomicDog · 23/04/2015 22:58

Ignore them!

But please don't tell people how to respond to your post Grin

I'm sure it's your hormones, but you need to develop a thicker skin, as people will spend the rest of your life commenting on some aspect of your parenting!

ImperialBlether · 23/04/2015 22:57

I wouldn't take any notice at all. Before too long, nobody will be able to think of her as anything else. Lucky you, having a little baby girl - my daughter was my first born and it's a really lovely time having such a young baby girl - I'm jealous!

Tryingthisonefornow · 23/04/2015 22:57

They're assholes! It's a lovely name made all the lovelier for your family connection to it!

Can't understand why anyone would tell someone they didn't like their childs name, particularly after they are born! Just weird. You wouldn't meet a new work colleague and say eww jean, what a horrible name poor you! Wtf would you think it's ok to say about a beautiful baby!