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Baby names

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

Original poster

I hate my friend's choice of name. Do I tell her?

111 replies

mollpop · 30/06/2019 21:54

Ok. I have a friend who has recently given birth to a beautiful baby boy. She's thinking of calling him Miller and asked me what I think. Do I tell her (in a tactful way)? FWIW I think it's a dreadful name.

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Owlbert · 01/07/2019 21:52

I would not tell her!

mabelmylove · 01/07/2019 21:37

Obviously it isn’t up to you what she names her child. But if she has asked for your opinion why should you have to lie? It’s her choice whether to take that to heart or not.

Puppilongstrumpf · 01/07/2019 21:35

But why should your friend change her mind just because you have a different taste?! Who says that your taste is better?

Biscuitsneeded · 01/07/2019 20:07

Deflect. Say " oooh how many names have you got on your shortlist?" and then as soon as she says anything reasonable start gushing and say what a lovely name it his and how much it suits him.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 01/07/2019 20:03

To don’t like anyone else’s baby names that’s why I didn’t use them

Bourbonbiccy · 01/07/2019 19:59

If she has asked, yes be honest.

teenmum18 · 01/07/2019 19:42

When I had my last baby i was set on a name. Told my best friend the name when I was in labour and she told me she hated it 🤦🏻‍♀️ she put my right off it and we used something else. I regret not calling dd the original name because it would suit her so much better than what she's actually named! Don't tell your friend op. It really isn't your business.

SemperIdem · 01/07/2019 19:39

Be honest, as she’s asked.

A friend of mine told me the name I was thinking of using for my daughter was a name for a “pretty but stupid girl”. I went on to use the name and she swears blind that she didn’t ever say such a thing, has done since my daughters name was announced Grin

Puppilongstrumpf · 01/07/2019 15:20

Why should our opinions matter if your friend likes the name Miller?

Marcipex · 01/07/2019 13:14

I don’t like it much either, but I also dislike the massively popular George.
It’s hard to know what to say sometimes. Relatives named their baby Mona. We thought it was a joke and it wasn’t...awkward.

sawyersfishbiscuits · 01/07/2019 12:59

Normally I'd say nothing... it's just a worry that one day, he'll do a big trump and someone will say "Oh you're windy, Miller!"

I hate my friend's choice of name. Do I tell her?
EugenesAxe · 01/07/2019 12:20

I agree with SleepingStanding and others, if she's asked your opinion you'd be within your rights to say it's not one you like much, but that if she likes it your opinion shouldn't matter; beyond that you can't really say anything.

I also dislike the name though. Using surnames as first names is a US thing; I like traditional names that are more timeless.

Juniperjoy · 01/07/2019 12:19

She's asked you so tell her. It's a terrible, horrible name so you're doing her a favour.

BertrandRussell · 01/07/2019 12:11

I might suggest that it doesn’t have an obvious shortening except Milly, which may not be the easiest to live with.....

AverageMummy · 01/07/2019 12:06

@bellinisurge her friend asked her opinion but she should mind her own business & not reply???

Stephanie01 · 01/07/2019 11:49

No

lunicorn · 01/07/2019 11:37

No. Of course don't tell her.

Disfordarkchocolate · 01/07/2019 11:34

As long as it's not offensive the only response is 'lovely', and then focus on how adorable their baby is. No matter what you think of the name you'll soon get used to it.

RockinHippy · 01/07/2019 11:30

If she's asked you what you think be honest, but tactful as at the end of the day it's her choice what to call her DS.

"If you've definitely decided on that name & love it, go for it, though if I'm honest, it wouldn't be my first choice, but he's your son & it's your decision to make"

thewinkingprawn · 01/07/2019 10:11

It’s personal taste. You may not like it, many will think it is lovely. As a PP said, I don’t love it (but I isn’t horrendous) but I don’t like the very popular George, Jack etc either. I think you just want 100% to say it’s awful blah blah when it’s just a name as inoffensive as any other. You know how the world works, just tell her it’s nice and unusual and leave it at that.

TurquoiseAndPurple · 01/07/2019 09:28

@mollpop
My cousin named her daughter Miller Confused

MikeUniformMike · 01/07/2019 09:21

I would point out that although it's nice (white lie - it's a nice surname and would be a crap first name) there are an awful lot of girls called Milly. And if youre as old as me you'll think of Windy Miller.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 01/07/2019 08:32

It's a bit Hmm of her to ask you what you think. That puts you on the spot, rather.

pictish · 01/07/2019 08:31

My kids have all got unusual (although not outlandish) names - I’ve never cared for other peoples’ opinions on our choices.
With era of all the Marks, Scotts and Stevens long over and there being a much wider variety of names out there these days, I think kids view less common names with indifference now. You only have to read the recent ‘misheard names’ thread on here to know that. Kids mistaking ‘Jonah’ for Tuna and ‘Alfonso’ for Rapunzel, and what’s more, simply accepting those interpretations as nothing of note, says our kids are far more used to the variety than we are.
I don’t think Miller will have anything to worry about.

Hithere12 · 01/07/2019 08:23

I think it’s awful but it’s not that bad OP. I doubt the kid would get bullied over it.

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