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Baby names

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

Original poster

My friend is being told the name she picked is too 'white'.

82 replies

Paige1991 · 18/01/2016 16:12

My best friend is originally from Africa. She's pregnant and wants to call her little girl Lilly.....she has had the snide remark however, that it is too much of a 'white' name. So she wouldn't 'suit' it!

So my question is do 'you' believe that names have a place regarding the colour of skin or culture of a person? I think you should be free to call your baby whatever. I once knew a Matteo (sorry if the spellings wrong) and he was in no sense Italian!

I've never heard of something so silly and horrible!

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TheCatsMeow · 18/01/2016 16:21

What's the problem if it's a white name anyway? When I hear "Lilly" I don't associate it with any race personally...

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 18/01/2016 16:20

told off by* her grandmother

Flossiesmummy · 18/01/2016 16:19

She should name her kid what she damn well wants! Lilly is a great name.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 18/01/2016 16:19

On the one hand, yes that's nonsense. (I am reminded of my best friend at school, who was frequently told off my her grandmother for "eating white people food" - pasta).
Otoh, my son is half African and it's not by accident that he has a name with reference points etc in both his English and his Southern African heritage. Although I did also love the name - not sure I would have decided against a different name I loved, simply because it was entirely "un-African".

Original poster
Paige1991 · 18/01/2016 16:17

It's her family unfortunately... Not her friends. I think they want her to pick and African name. But she doesn't want to. Oh and just to clarify shes asked my to post this after I gathered good feedback and a post I put up myself. Thanks guys!

OP posts:
TheCatsMeow · 18/01/2016 16:17

That's ridiculous! There are some names that are more common in some cultures than others but call your baby what you want.

Arfarfanarf · 18/01/2016 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.