My mum hates the name I've picked

The three Aprils I know are all referred to as Ap/Aps. But it's not so much as a nickname, but a shortened version of the name. The same as Rachel=Rach, Rebecca= Bec, Donna=Don, Louise=Lou, Sarah=Sar and so on. So I wouldn't worry about it being a 'nickname'.

Although the one was called April Fool at school, which really grated on her, especially when someone would say it as if she hadn't heard it a thousand times before!

On the plus side, I haven't heard of anyone being called April for a long time, all the ones I know are 35+. If that's what you like then go with it, it is a very pretty name.

Ignore not ignite...

April is lovely, gorgeous springtime month to arrive and nice name, also a little different/not met any others which is good. An alternative might be Avril? I'd ignite negative comments and go with the name you like best, people will come around to it.

If it's really important to you that your mum likes the name let her choose it. Alternatively keep in my mind that she got to name you and you get to name your own child.

'you can guarantee if she's pulled a face, so will plenty of other people. Yada yada, it's whatever you like etc, but do you really want to give your baby a name that plenty of people will pull a face at?!'

This seems a bit hysterical to me. April is blandly pleasant, hardly a name that's going to illicit 'WTF that's such a terrible name!' type reactions.

Bollocks that she'd be called Ape?! You really think kids at school won't do that?! You clearly don't work with children...

Any excuse to shorten a name or be mean with it (April Fool too will be something else some idiot at some point will say)

As someone else said, if you mention before a baby, it's open game for people to pull a face etc...announce a baby's name once born, most people will simply smile, nod and say how lovely.

Those posters saying ignore, pick what you like etc....it's also important to the OP that her mum and DH like the name -w which they don't particularly. Millions of names out there! Pick another one and call the cat or dog April!

Iris April
Vivienne April
Evelyn April
Coraline April
Charlotte April
Phoebe April
Felicity April
Linnet April

Just be careful using April as a middle name that the initials don't spell a word you'd rather not have associated with your daughter!

Oh dear I can totally see how you would find that upsetting.

Personally I would try to work with your husband to find something you both love as that will give you more confidence.

I put names I loved aside if my husband didn't like or was neutral about them as I think it feels nicer to choose something together. Forget your mum and don't tell her anymore until baby is born and named!

Good luck!

I love April, it was high on our shortlist for DC1 (who turned out to be a boy). Other girls names we liked were Sophie, Cara, Susanna and Amy.

I would say ignore your DM. You mentioned that your DH isn't overly keen though, for that reason alone you might want to use a different name. It should be something you both love.

I really would suggest not discussing your choice with anyone else until after the birth is registered and the certificate printed. Your DM and everyone else will get used to whatever you choose!

Don't pick a different one!... This is your chance to name your child, your mum had hers when she had her children, you might regret it if you don't go with the names you love.

My Mum, who is generally lovely, was terrible for this when I was expecting PFB. I chatted lot less about names when expecting the next 3!

I liked the name Paige and she kept on about it being common, I liked Antonia and she kept saying Tony was a 40yr old darts player. She wasn't being mean exactly, she genuinely though she was helping!

How rude of her, she has named her children now it’s your turn.
Stick to your guns and let your mum know you will be avoiding her face pulling by avoiding her. She needs to grow up.

I have an April! Most people slightly pause when I say that's her name and then respond very positively! I do get the, was she born in April a lot. It's a winner of a name for Me!!

Well I think it’s a lovely name, I think she’s extremely rude and the poster that said it would be shortened to ‘ape’ Is talking bollocks!

I wouldn’t pick a name my DH wasn’t keen on though, just because it wouldn’t feel fair to him. I would absolutely refuse to discuss with your DM again though and tell her why.

My husband and I picked out a name for our little girl very early on. I can’t keep anything a secret though and have had very mixed reactions - not too fussed coz we love it! I’m 40+1 and if it doesn’t look like it suits her we’re not against rethinking her name .

Love April though!

Ophelia
Martha
Scarlett
Chloe
Lucinda
Xanthe
Emiliana
Rebecca
Isabella
Maya
Paloma
Saskia

Stick with the name you love. When I told one family member our chosen name, they just said "but you won't call her that will you, you'll shorten it won't you?" While pulling a face and stating it's a mouthful. It's really not! Every time we see them they ask if we are calling her the shortened version too, we are not.

Your baby, your choice.

@nixen just stick with your name - you'll always wish you had otherwise. You and your DH love it, and your mum's already had a chance to name children (her own!)

April is a lovely name.

My OH and kept our dd's sex and name secret from everyone til she was born. Everyone has so many opinions and if you love it it's the main thing. I can't imagine you handing a newborn dd to its grandmother and saying 'this is April' and her pulling a face.

It's a shame your OH doesn't love it though.

I’m having this right now. My DH and I both love the name Felicity. Made the mistake of telling my mum this and she has said ‘if it’s girl I’d like you to reconsider your name... kids can be cruel blah blah blah’ and some other shit about how when people asked her what names we were thinking and she said Felicity they were like ‘oh’ rather than ‘that’s lovely’ ... like I should give a shit what some random person from her work thinks?
It really upset me and I now don’t want to discuss anything to do with names with her. She keeps suggesting other girls names and it’s really getting to me. I was so upset by what she said and it’s making me feel dreadful thinking when baby comes she will hate the name - oh and she says my dad and brother don’t like it either (the boys name we told her is a family name which everyone is happy with... but we actually know we are having a girl - she doesn’t yet!)

Actually, OP, I shouldn’t have said that, so I take it back. If you’d told me you’d just had a little girl called April I’d have said how lovely it was. People just feel that before a name is actually given, they can comment. Which is your your mum did and the trap I fell into. I’m sorry: you weren’t asking for opinions on the name so I shouldn’t have given one.

April is a lovely name and if you don't abbreviate it, others will follow your lead.
My mum didn't like all the names I chose for my dc - she got over it and now can't imagine them being called anything different.
Don't let someone put you off the name you really want. You will resent it later.

I love April but I know kids will say “April Fool” to tease.

My mum doesn't like my chosen name - it's not 'younique' enough for her tastes. I don't give a damn, she'll love her no matter the name when she's here!

April is a lovely, pretty name.
Your Mother is being unkind, this is your choice, she's had her turn.
I wouldn't mention names again in her company. Don't allow her, to influence you, she might not like the next name you choose.
What is your other daughter called ?