Really upset - Mum and MIL are having a go at us.

Juliana is a beautiful name. And it doesn't matter what the grans think (although I know that it matters to you).

Someone close to me was given a name that was a mix of two female relatives. I've always been slightly envious of her for having such a thoughtful and special name.

You've done something lovely for genuine reasons. They'll both see that in time.

Yeah, I thought about using the female version of my dad's name. DH doesn't mind. However, can you just imagine how that would go down!

Oh do that! But is it as nice as Juliana? Juliana is gorgeous.

I blended the names of my mum and dad for my first sons middle name. Not as successful as yours, as we ended up with a made up name, that there is only of of prior to him in all history. A medieval druid! My parents loved it. My son not so much. ...

They should be honoured you've thought of them at all and Juliana is a gorgeous name. They should stop being ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure when they see your lovely baby they will forget the nonsense.

If it was me and both mothers decided to shoot me down having put that much effort into it, I would change her middle name completely and tell them that because they didn't like the first name you picked, you decided to give a her completely different one that has nothing to do with them whatsoever.
Juliana is really nice though btw. I think its just pathetic of them to be annoyed about it, you've clearly thought of them both and it's your child, you shouldn't have to give her two middle names just to please them both.

This has nothing to do with names. That's just the context. This is two women sticking their nose in and commenting negatively on a choice which is yours to make. They may feel they have the right to pressure you on other matters, too ( feeding, sleeping, how you bring up your little daughter etc etc). Why do they feel that way? Time to be assertive :)

Congratulations on your baby OP. If I were you, I'd choose something completely different. I say this, because I let my family dictate what DD1 was called and have always regretted it. They are being ridiculous and selfish. They obviously know of your struggles to get this far and should just be damned grateful to have their lovely granddaughter in their lives.

Tell them to put up and shut up!

Just goes to show OP that age doesn't automatically confer maturity. I think it's a delightful name and would have been chuffed myself.
My DD gave my DGD a more up to date or popular version of my favourite name and I accepted that as a loving gesture it was intended to be.
Give your lovely daughter a name you love and feel comfortable with. She will bear it long after the grandmothers are around to care. Personally, I think the story behind Juliana is a lovely one to share with her when she is older. More interesting than "we just liked it"
Good luck

That's a pretty name, congratulations and try to tune the grannies' whinging out.

You clearly named the child after your mother - which is your prerogative. However I think it is silly to expect your MIL to be bowled over by the name. Accepting, yes. Pleased, no. It's so far from her name, you might as well not have bothered with the 'harmonising' attempt. No-one will ever think, 'Juliana! Oh I see what you've done there.' They'll just think it's a variation on your mother's name.

If they are whining then you probably won't get a grateful response if you do now use their names! If there's a middle name you'd like more, use that.

If your DMs want their names used that badly, you can buy them each a hamster - one called Julia, one called Ariana. Sorted!

Your MIL and DM need to grow up and get over themselves. Are they 6?

Juliana is lovely and a great compromise. Congrats on the baby too .

op thats so sad and yet such a perfect solution to the issue. They sound very petty and un grateful. they should be glad you have been able to bless them with a grandchild at all, plenty of mothers are out there who will never get that joy.

My mil used to send me awful texts when we were running names past them. I stopped involving her ...
you choose whatever you want.
And your suggestion is lovely

I think it was a lovely tribute and a lovely name. If you like it and are happy with the meaning / context keep it and explain to your precious daughter when you are older.
If there are other name you like change it to that.

Even if you are keeping Julianna, tell both of them you've changed it to something random and have already registered her as that as they didn't want it for your daughter.

They are pathetic, you are lovely.

Sod them. You tried to do something nice for them both whilst giving your daughter a name of her own.They can both jog on giving you any grief for it.

I know a Susanna, named after both grandmothers, Susan & Anna. Both Grans were delighted.
Hope these ladies in the OP get a grip and see it for the nice gesture it is.

It's a lovely thought and a lovely name.

Tell them you have changed your mind, you are using Melania instead..
Once your gorgeous bundle arrives they will stop caring about things they are just overthinking and just be happy to be grandparents.

When we told mil our chosen name for dd, (after she had been born) she said, " You can't call her that! and went onto tell us why. We ignored her. But she loves our dd and her name.

If they're going to be this horrible about it you'd have had comments even if you'd given them the two middle names, as whoever came last would have moaned.

^ THIS ^

And Juliana is a beautiful name - t's a Royal name, too. I love it!

Freddy, your Dad sounds lovely!
You really should honour him instead, that would be lovely, and I'm sure he would feel very proud.

I'd be tempted to tell them you've chosen something which really represents the grandmothers, along the lines of bitch-face.

But that probably won't go down well.

congratulations on your baby girl, she can have whatever name you choose. Your child, your choice, and that applies to whatever choices you make, not just the name.

This might be about them not wanting to be together in the name if that makes sense. Perhaps there is a bit of rivalry and they want to keep their individual identities as grandmothers. However, they should let it go now. Juliana is imho a nicer name than Julia or Ariana so there is that bonus! If they carry on I would just say that you tried to do a nice thing, you are sorry if it hasn't turned out that way, but she has her name now and if they want they can just regard it as unrelated to their names. Using both would have been quite a mouthful and wouldn't have really flowed anyway.

i gave my first born my mum's name as her middle name
i gave my second born my MIL's name as her middle name
my big sister got the hump - apparently i should have used her name as she is next WTAF?!?!

you can't please everyone!

Juliana is a lovely name but isn't either of their names. so what. there is no rule to say you should use a grandparent's name - do you have a family tradition of doing so?

I did the same as you OP for my DD too. Mixed together the names of her grandmothers for her middle name. It's a lovely sounding word (I think) as is Juliana. My mother and my MIL were really touched. (The we had DS and doing the same with the grandfather's names was more tricky!)

Tell them that they are quite right. You are going with Gubnet Hedwig, and thank them profusely for helping you towards your decision.

Agree...they are being childish and pathetic. Tell them both to go boil their self-important, trouble making heads. I would.