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Baby names

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

Original poster

Email from friend about my baby's name

259 replies

toolonglurking · 27/03/2018 18:53

I've just had DD, she is a whole 5 days old and we thought we'd picked a good name, but I've just received an email from a family friend saying that it's a terrible name.
Please tell me straight, is Ophelia Elizabeth Cole a horrible name?

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RCN1 · 27/03/2018 19:47

Lovely name, dodgy friend.

BlancheM · 27/03/2018 19:47

I have no idea what posters are getting at re saying the name aloud. Genuinely lost.
Congratulations OP on your lovely daughter and as for your 'friend', well who needs enemies...

AtSea1979 · 27/03/2018 19:47

I don’t like the name at all but I wouldn’t email my friend if she’d just called her baby that.

AnnieAnoniMouser · 27/03/2018 19:46

Congratulations 💐. Enjoy the snuggles.

What did Family Friend actually say?

Ophelia wouldn’t be my choice, but if everyone only used the names I like, we’d need numbers after our names - long ones!

Despite not being keen on Opelia, I do think Ophelia Elizabeth Cole sounds nice. However, for me, Ophelia Cole runs together too much and does beg for idiots to make something of it, in a way it wouldn’t if it was Ophelia Harrison for example.

In your position I would, regretfully, change her name while it’s easy to do and she’s not aware of it. You have a year until it’s more difficult to change it.

Need4sleep · 27/03/2018 19:45

You have chosen a very beautiful name.

By the time your DD is a teenager, her friends will probably have shortened it to Lia. I really don't understand any of the cruder suggestions on here?
And by the way, your friend? She isn't one.

Allthebestnamesareused · 27/03/2018 19:45

It takes a special kind of dickhead to email a friend because you don't like the name they chose for their baby!!

Enjoy Ophelia and ditch the mate!

NailsNeedDoing · 27/03/2018 19:44

I heard something dubious as soon as I said it out loud, (a feel of your hole - in a slightly cockney accent) so I'm sure there's a lot of people that won't find it difficult to hear the same. I'd have to try really hard not to laugh out loud when being introduced to Ophelia Cole.

If this is true, then thank your good, lovely friend profusely and listen to her.

If it isn't true, then nice work OP.

Shalva1970 · 27/03/2018 19:44

I read it as “I feel ya hole” sorry.

GreatWesternValkyrie · 27/03/2018 19:44

Who the hell goes out of their way to email someone to tell them their baby’s name is awful??? Shock

If you send out any emails with baby pics, make sure this ‘friend’ is included and put the full name of your baby on every single pic. IN CAPS.

MakeMineAStrongOne · 27/03/2018 19:44

I'm so gobsmacked that anyone would be so rude that I actually long to know how your "friend" phrased her criticism: did she offer any explanation or justification for being such a knob or was she just being awful? Whatever, I think you should reply saying you've never known such bad manners and you're going to go back to enjoying your gorgeous daughter.

m0therofdragons · 27/03/2018 19:43

People are really stretching to make it rude and those saying it's hard to say, do you have speech impediments? Honestly it's completely fine and e-mail was beyond rude. Some posters here are bonkers too Hmm

WeeSassenach · 27/03/2018 19:43

When I was pregnant with my second we had Ophelia Lily for a girl. We had a boy so didn't get to use it but we thought it was a beautiful classic name.

Our son seems to have a very marmite name. We've had plenty of negative comments about it but also we've had people say they love it. I don't care either way- we chose it because WE loved it. You'll never please everyone and that's a good thing as if we all had the same taste everyone would have the same bloody names!

Enjoy your baby and her beautiful name.

EssentialHummus · 27/03/2018 19:42

Ask your friend if she'd rather the baby was named Interfering Cunt, after her.

HeyhoIndigo · 27/03/2018 19:41

Do you like the shortened versions OP ?

Not sure but these may include Feely, Feelya, Offie, or possibly Lia.

People always shorten names. Other people will even if you and your extended family don't. Unless Ophelia herself doesn't allow it.

IlleIllaIllud · 27/03/2018 19:39

It would have to be a fucking slow day for the school bullies to come up with that one.

This did make me chortle. @oysterbabe

sonjadog · 27/03/2018 19:38

It´s a nice name, very pretty. I don't get the odd pronunciation, or at least not with really twisting how I´d say it, but maybe it depends on which accent you have?

xoxoxoxoluv · 27/03/2018 19:38

I'm not a fan of the name but it's your decision and nothing to do with anyone else.,

seedsofchocolate · 27/03/2018 19:38

Both names are beautiful. And Ophelia Cole sounds lovely.

I always laugh at the 'not to my taste' brigade.

Tell your friend to fuck off, then go and enjoy your gorgeous newborn.

Congratulations.

Aeroflotgirl · 27/03/2018 19:36

If know an Ophelia Cole, she is lovely. It is a very pretty name.

inamechangedforthispost · 27/03/2018 19:36

I don't like it at all but it's not my child. Your child your choice.

Goldmonday · 27/03/2018 19:35

Sounds like she's jealous you have stolen such a lovely name

Goldmonday · 27/03/2018 19:35

Ophelia is a BEAUTIFUL name

And Elizabeth is my middle name so I'm biased Grin

MammaTJ · 27/03/2018 19:35

That's rude and out of order of your 'friend'.

SpringNowPlease2018 · 27/03/2018 19:35

*ya

This is what posters mean when they say it could be a problem for the teen years?

tolerable · 27/03/2018 19:33

congratulations!!!! i think its a lovely name.people are rude. x