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Baby names

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

Original poster

Would you tell a family member that the name they are picking is ridiculous ?

108 replies

Elsahappy3 · 23/07/2019 18:28

I feel like it's not my place but at the same time I feel sorry for my future niece. One of my sister had a gender reveal party and announced the baby's name. They were so excited but the name is proper ridiculous. Is it my place to say something ?

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anothernotherone · 23/07/2019 18:48

Mercedes actually is a Spanish girls' name though RageAgainstTheVendingMachine

What will she shorten Jaguar to, to make it sound less silly?

Small children do accept any name. Teens will us it to bully if they're going to bully her - but if she's a bullying target then even if her name was Olivia she'd get bullied, just about being thin/fat/ tall/short/ having a "weird" laugh/ smile/ nose/ left elbow... It would be an easy hook for bullying but if she's not a natural target nobody will say anything to her directly... Doesn't mean that people who don't know her won't snigger or eye roll... She'll be fine despite not because of her name, if that's her name...

Not much point saying unless she tends to listen to you and take your advice generally though...

I met a grandmother yesterday who called her grandson Tim because "his mother gave him a ridiculous name" - turned out the "ridiculous name" was Leonardo - wtf didn't she call him Leon or Leo if she found Leonardo ridiculous... I asked her and she said it's not normal...

People are weird, but Jaguar is a species not a forename...

HelloCheeky · 23/07/2019 18:48

Mercedes is a common name in Spain. It means 'mercy' in Spanish.

BlackCatSleeping · 23/07/2019 18:47

I don’t think it’s that bad.

Stillstrawberrywater · 23/07/2019 18:46

Yes it is a silly name, but no keep out of it.

Sexnotgender · 23/07/2019 18:45

That’s absolutely dreadful. Hope she’s joking!

Poor kid.

sneakypinky · 23/07/2019 18:44

Anyone remember the post about the nephew whose name was Macbeth? Grin

Chocolatedaim · 23/07/2019 18:44

I dislike it immensely, and hate the possible nn, jag/jags/jiggy

However unless you are asked to give your opinion directly then no don’t say anything. They may well have exhausted all other options and that’s the only name the parents agree on. Or they may have always wanted to use that name.
I’m a CM, I’ve heard worse!

LoafOfSellotape · 23/07/2019 18:44

Mercedes isn't uncommon in London,I've heard it a few times in schools.

Original poster
Elsahappy3 · 23/07/2019 18:43

JoxerGoesToStuttgart

Koala actually sounds like a cute name Grin

OP posts:
Rachelover40 · 23/07/2019 18:42

Flipping 'eck, Elsahappy, what are they hoping for, a fast running cat or a souped up engine?

The next one could be Mustang I suppose.

Dreadful name.

Original poster
Elsahappy3 · 23/07/2019 18:42

Jaguar-Lily , Lily is fine but the Jaguar bit is so much imo. But I won't say anything , she seems happy.

OP posts:
JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 23/07/2019 18:41

I taught a child called Secret!

Shock

Way to give the child a complex!

SummerSeasoning · 23/07/2019 18:40

My kids at school do not get teased or have blunt speaking the way we did.

It will likely be fine.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 23/07/2019 18:40

What about giraffe or elephant? Koala? Python?

Mammajay · 23/07/2019 18:38

I taught a child called Secret!

MikeUniformMike · 23/07/2019 18:37

Jaguar. It's a bit like Cougar. How about Puma or Hyena.

Mammajay · 23/07/2019 18:37

Shortened to Jag. Not my taste.

RageAgainstTheVendingMachine · 23/07/2019 18:36

Jaguar?
I taught a Mercedes once Wink
And a Tyger Grin

GrapefruitIsGross · 23/07/2019 18:35

Depends on my relationship with the parents to be.

I’m v close to my sister, and I know she’d feel similar that we’ll be brutally honest with each other and not take offence.

With my in-laws and friends I’d just keep it to “well that’s very unusual” and leave it there!

FizzBuzzBangWoof · 23/07/2019 18:35

It's definitely not my taste but I'm sure she is aware it is unconventional

Its no more ridiculous than Bear, Tiger etc

So YANBU to privately think its ridiculous but YABU to tell her so unless she presses you give your honest opinion on the name

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 23/07/2019 18:34

Tbh its fine.

As the much older sister of some one who then had a unusal name that pretty mucb every one went oh god she'll be bullied

Not one child bullied her because of her name.

TroysMammy · 23/07/2019 18:34

Pronounced Jag-ew-ar or Jagwah? Ridiculous imo. Just as bad as a Chilli and Ocean I've heard children being called recently.

VictoriaBites · 23/07/2019 18:34

My SiL gave both her DSs ridiculous names. First one is laugh out loud, you cannot be serious level ridiculous and the second is a cultural misappropriation ridiculous. First one, absolutely everybody told her andher DH not to do it (once we realised they were serious and it wasn't just a joke name for the bump). They took no notice, so with the second one everyone was just meh, crack on.
First nephew is now 12 and calls himself by an acceptable diminutive of his ridiculous name, entirely predictably. Worst part of it is that SiL is a primary school teacher and should know better.

Butterymuffin · 23/07/2019 18:34

That is bad tbh. But if they've set their hearts on st they won't listen anyway and you'll be the bad guy for nothing. Try to suggest a nice middle name so she can use that later.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 23/07/2019 18:33

It’s an awful name. But I assume your sister exists in the same world the rest of us do, knows it’s an “out there” name and has still decided To use it anyway so I wouldn’t bother trying to tell her.

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