Would you use the name everyone hates?

Is it Dorcas? That was my nans middle name so I do like it but the family hated it (including nan)

I was going to say Araminta but someone beat me to it 😉 Elspeth?
Or if its Fanny I could imagine that might raise some eyebrows.

You'll never find a name which is universally popular. That said, if you're only getting negative reactions then I would be considering whether there is a good reason for that.

It may just be that they would dislike any name from a category e.g. something they perceive as posh, anything that isn't biblical, a name not already used in the family, a name from your partner's culture rather than yours etc. In which case, ignore.

Looking at names ranked 800 -1000 in E&W - some are names like Tess, Larissa, Fiona, Carolina, Seraphina, Cecilia, Cassandra and Bridget.

There are a lot of names out there which are perfectly fine names but are just not particularly popular right now.

I would suggest doing a name change and starting a new thread for some unbiased opinions on the name.

Go with what you and hubby love or you will regret it.
Once she's here and named people will get used to it and it will just become her name.
Best advice never share the name before the child is born as most people arent rude enough to say they dislike it once the baby is already named.

I'm thinking it's scheherazade

They sound rude but also I've picked up from threads on baby naming forums that if you tell people your choice of names before the baby is born then they'll interpret that as you asking for their opinions. Much better to wait until the baby is named then people will usually hold their tongue.

I do agree with others that it would be good to know. Is it just a case of it being posh? There's no bad nickname that can come from it?
I think there are some classic names that can seem quite posh like Priscilla and Edwina which lots of people dislike.

You say both your families dislike it but also say anyone you mention it to dislikes it too. I would be a little concerned. It might just be the people you're in contact with or it may be a name most people don't like. Ultimately your baby, your choice of name, however, if it's a widely disliked name the chances are higher that the child won't like it.

Not what we all think of the name.

On MN you can suggest calling your baby ‘James’ or ‘Sophia’, ‘Zebadiah’ or ‘Hortense’ and you will get ‘love it’ and ‘no, think of the poor child’ against all.

OP, pp are right when they say discussing the name with relatives before birth is fraught: they then see themselves as involved in the decision, and they find it easy to sound off. Once a baby is born they are more likely to see the baby as the name and be more focussed on the baby.

So... if you choose anew name that you love and keep it secret, they might still hate it, but not say so after the birth. Would that be better, or would you have wasted your first name. As in if they hate the name anyway you might as well use your favourite.

Or are you prepared to choose a name by family committee? You will never get consensus and it isn’t their role.

They do sound very rude.

If it isn’t really complicated and counter-intuitive to spell, if it doesn’t make a rude word if you change a vowel, and if you love it, then your baby, your name choice.

What is the worst fat can happen if you stick with the name?

It sounds like an inverted snobbery reaction. In which case, ignore them, they probably think you're getting ideas above your station

But it may also just be that the name is awful.
Impossible to say without knowing it.

We don't need to know the name OP :) if you and DH like it, go for it! Our son has an unusual name (less than 10 babies in the uk with it last year sort of level) and whilst our families did initially give us some odd looks and comments post birth they now just see ds as his name and can't imagine anything different!

I'd listen to them. If it was just one person I'd ignore - but if it's everyone you've told them it's probably a bad name. Yes it's your baby - but that baby will become a woman that has to live with the name

OP I wouldn't listen to the rude family members! Family can become so judgemental and overinvolved when you have a baby. It's your baby and you've clearly given the name some thought and are happy with it. Don't let others put you off. I almost did too with my DC name and am so glad now that I didn't and went with what we wanted.

No I wouldn't use it. Family will be less nasty than other kids at school. Use it as a middle name instead. Life's hard enough for kids without having a name people make fun of.

I don't know why people are so rude about names. We recently had a girl but I told my dad after we'd had her that if she'd been a boy we'd have called him Silas and he just went off the wall "wow, omg, we dodged a bullet there, thank God xxx that you're a girl". It really irritated me as it was a name that for me already had a connection to the baby I'd carried (if that makes sense). And it's so damn rude!

Is it really old and really English like Aethelflaed or something more early twentieth century/Mitford sister vibes like Gertrude/Millicent/Unity?

Whats the meaning you like?

Having such unpleasant and rude relatives will have a much greater negative impact on a child’s life than any name possibly could.

This. Ignore them OP, nothing to do with anyone but you and your DH. If you like the name then use it, and I seriously doubt you will ruin your DD's life by choosing it.

Persephone

Nora/ Norah

Nancy
Norma

Oh, is it Felicity? I've seen people on here call it 'posh' and 'horsey'. Though I don't think that's as uncommon as you're suggesting, not any more.

You saying that the name is 'probably posh' makes me wonder if the responses are rooted in inverted snobbery. But again, it's impossible really to say without knowing the name. Winifred is a very different kettle of fish from Ethel.

Victoria?

The only name of that style that I can think of which would merit a strong reaction would be Lettice (sp?)

We can’t help you much without knowing the actual name but genuine classical names never really go out of fashion and are fine in most circumstances

Oh god, is it Mildred?

Veronica
Gillian

Being blunt though,if you like it go ahead and use it.

I'm also guessing Ve22roni5ca.

OP guaranteed that whatever name you choose someone will gave something to say even if not to your face. I chose a very very traditional and common name like Bob for my DS, with the only way it's ever been written and only one way to say it and there were people asking me how to pronounce it!!!!

Ignore your families. They got a chance to choose names, now it's yours. It's you who will be saying it multiple times a day for the rest of your lives. It's a name. It's known because they apparently know it and it's on name lists, just not common, so you're not being unfair to your child. I mean you're not calling her Pink Lego!

And the chances that anybody at school will have a problem with it are slim: the kids won't have any connotations.

Unless it's Minnie because to be fair, all kids know Minnie Mouse and then that it means tiny, which can cause problems due to height.