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Baby names

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

my child's name

41 replies

Lilyannarose · 04/07/2019 12:28

He's eight now and loves his name. I do too.
However I still get lots of negative comments about it.
It's nothing too out there (I know a few boys with the same name of varying ages), but it is (so I have been told) a classic "chav" name (I wasn't aware of this when I named him as never entered on to these forums at that time).
My older 3 children all have very traditional old English names, but with my 4th I just fell in love with this particular name (and still love it now).
I had so many negative responses that I was on the verge of changing it when he was a baby to something more traditional (I'm glad I didn't as he would have been one of four in his class!).
Even now I have a slight wavery moment when telling someone his name. I think because I had so many negative responses when I told people his name as a baby. Some (mostly older generation) would openly scoff and say "What sort of a name is that?"
One even said it sounded like a take-away dish which had never occurred to me before.
The main thing is that my son loves it. It suits him perfectly.
He has SEN (non verbal) and the bonus is that he learnt his name very quickly as it's a short name.
Did I do the right thing in not changing it? I do still like it despite the negativity and couldn't imagine him being called anything else.

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HermioneMakepeace · 05/07/2019 21:46

I would not tolerate people being rude about my child's name. Who are these people anyway? Are they family or friends?

And Kai is a lovely name. As PP said, it's Hawaiian for 'the sea'. Maybe you could get a nice picture of a beach in Hawaii and put it up in your house? It's nice for children to have positive reinforcements of their name.

DickieDonkey · 05/07/2019 21:39

Do not listen! My 3 have nice, fairly neutral names and they have all been slagged off as boring, wet or horrible on here.

Boinky · 05/07/2019 20:31

As I was reading your OP I wondered if it was Kyle or Kai, just because these are names I see come in for a bashing here. I think Kai is fine and I'm sad that you have misgivings about the name after all this time because of some nonsense you've read on MN. You love it, your son loves it and that's really all that matters. You need to make up your mind to not give the idea anymore headspace.

For what it's worth the only Kai I know is a middle aged German man who's very serious and very intellectual.

BumandChips · 05/07/2019 20:24

I know two grown up Kai’s. Never thought anything of their names!

Mirali · 05/07/2019 15:38

The name is fine. No need to be embarrassed or to change it.

Lastbustowhitehawk · 05/07/2019 15:30

I knew it would be Kai from your description! I don't think it's chavvy at all (and I hate describing names like that). The only Kai I've come across in real life has bohemian musician parents so that's the kind of vibe I associate it with. Ignore the naysayers, it's a great name.

Owlbert · 05/07/2019 13:56

I think it's great you went with a name you love and glad he loves it too! I think you wouldn't have regretted changing it if you had. Life would be so boring if everyone used the same few names as each other.

badtime · 05/07/2019 11:08

It's a real name with many different origins.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_(name)

If people have a problem with it, remember it is their problem, not yours or your son's.

BedraggledBlitz · 05/07/2019 10:58

I love that he loves his name. That's all that matters. Ignore the opinionated rude people, they are sent to try us.

Snowy81 · 05/07/2019 10:56

I like it. I don’t know any Kai’s, however I know several Cai’s here in wales, where the name means rejoice, I think Kai is Basque if I remember rightly, so same sound just different spelling and meaning. Ignore everyone.

MrsBertBibby · 04/07/2019 20:31

Kai's a good name. Scandinavian.

AverageMummy · 04/07/2019 20:14

Well being honest it is - but I’m sure he’ll do absolutely fine anyway. My Dad got given a name with some pretty strong associations & my Grandma was quite upset later down the line but he’s still a successful businessman.
Plus it matters less today as there are literally thousands more baby names used plus all the immigration diversity on top - no one is likely to bat an eyelid at Kai

TurquoiseAndPurple · 04/07/2019 18:48

Kai is a beautiful name ❤️

ParrotsForLife · 04/07/2019 18:46

I know a little Kai and he’s a lovely boy, only has good connotations for me.

Militantmartha · 04/07/2019 18:43

Kai is a gorgeous name! Ignore those silly people they are just rude.

Strokethefurrywall · 04/07/2019 18:02

Come to my side of the world where Kai is perceived as a really cool, surf name and nobody here perceives names as chavvy!

I've got two boys with surnames for first names, couldn't care less if people don't like it!

Don't regret his name, it's fantastic!

Clownfish123 · 04/07/2019 17:18

It's a great name with a great meaning. Will be cool on a teen too. Don't give it another thought Smile

bridgetreilly · 04/07/2019 15:29

If you like it and he likes it, how is this even a question? Obviously you shouldn't have changed it.

ReganSomerset · 04/07/2019 15:04

It's a lovely name. Don't worry about others. DD has a MN-approved name but most people irl don't seem to like it much. They tactfully say 'that's unusual' or don't comment. Particularly the older generation of random-whose-opinion-I-did-not-seek. You can't please all of the people all of the time, OP, don't bother trying.

Nesssie · 04/07/2019 14:55

I like Kai!

Fatkins · 04/07/2019 14:08

There's nothing wrong with Kai! I thought you were going to say something dreadful, based on your op. It's totally fine - you did the right thing by not changing it Smile.

elliandher5 · 04/07/2019 13:41

I love it! Almost used it for DS3 but we went for Brodie in the end. Who gives a bloody damn what people think - particularly people who are jammed 2ft up their own arses.

Bellatrix14 · 04/07/2019 13:37

Offering someone your opinion on a name if asked is fine, in my opinion. Even if you don’t like it. Criticising a name someone has already given to their child is horrible!

If it’s any consolation to you, I teach, and the only Kai I’ve ever taught is lovely!

Puppilongstrumpf · 04/07/2019 13:28

How boring if we all liked the same names!

Monkeytapper · 04/07/2019 13:11

If you like it and your son is used to it the ignore... Daniella Westbrooks son is called Kai and I think Coleen Rooney son is called Kai so maybe that's where the 'chav' comments are coming from x