Did you take your family’s opinions on board when you chose a name?

No I didn't.

Stop discussing names with them. Just 'announce' it when they are born.

Nip this shit in the bud or you will have them telling you how to raise this baby too.

My sister put me off the name Gabriel however I was already toying with the name I did give my son which is also derived from Hebrew. It was my father in laws name, he passed before I met my son’s father and it wasn’t chosen honour him at all but because I absolutely loved it and still do, I’d have probably chosen Gabriel despite my sister if for whatever reason I’d decided against my son’s eventual name. His actual name is only known in the UK by ardent 70’s football fans

I did a lot of general baby name discussions with my 3 SILs though, because we had common interests through many overlapping pregnancies.
we all have the same surname

We got loads of suggestions from both sets of parents, but we both smiled and said yes that nice, while completely ignoring them! Strangly both sets of parents suggested the same names, very 80's ones!

no, never

if I had then DS5 would be called Yoda Shark, courtesy of older brothers🤣

I wouldn’t take their opinions on board though (unless you are planning on naming your baby Fred and they have pointed out your surname is West or similar)

We didn't discuss it with anyone.

Name was announced when baby was born.

Why are you telling them?!

Once you've told them a name, they're allowed an opinion on it. Exactly the reason why most people don't tell anyone the name until after baby is here!

I wouldn’t tell them any more if they are being difficult and controlling about it. My sister and I share names we like, but that’s because we both have an interest in names in general and respect the fact the neither of us have any say in what the other names their offspring.

Friends gave us the very helpful advice of not even letting family know about it! They announced their baby's name after she was born. They loved the name and didn't want ANY comments

They don't sound overly opinionated or controlling, that's just what people do when you tell them what names you are considering. Either just say what you've chosen, or if you haven't decided yet don't say anything.

We didn't tell anyone what we were calling out DD until she was born. Two reasons - 1st, we wanted it to be a nice surprise, 2nd, I didn't want to hear other people's opinion on it! Mil didn't like the name and told us so, something along the lines of ' hmm I suppose I'll get used to it' I just thought it was funny. DH told her to she better get used to it, as thats her name & we all love it'

I don't get why family members think its ok get a say in what you will call your child...

I would keep whatever names you have in mind to yourselves. Don't announce till your baby is born.

Absolutely not. Currently pregnant with our first and there’s been no chance that we’d be discussing names with anyone other than each other. I don’t want their opinions, frankly, and if it is a name DH and I love, that’s what matters (my family have form for being rather negative and judgey too!).
It’s very easy to be negative about a baby name beforehand, but rather harder to be negative about a baby’s name to their little face.

You and your partner need to stop discussing names with family. You will never find something everyone loves. And why should you? They have had their opportunity at naming their own children. This is your chance. Go with your own choice or you will always regret it. I used family names in the middle spot to make grandparents feel special but involved them in no discussion about it.

Yeah. MIL didn't like the name I chose for DD because she hated a family member from her childhood that even DH had never met, because she was known as the shortened version of the name (think horrible aunt Peg and our DD would be Margaret so not something you'd automatically shorten to as Maggie would be more likely)

I mean I did hear MIL out. And ignored it because it's my kid, I'm the one growing, carrying, birthing and raising it.

No. I absolutely didn't discuss names with anyone other than DH.

Everyone has opinions on names and their own favourites. If you ask an opinion you'll get one but it's unlikely to match your opinion.

Wait until baby is born. Announce to everyone that baby has arrived and what his/her name is.

Everyone's response should be "How lovely. Congratulations."

If anyone expresses an opinion on the chosen name at that point they are rude.

No! Not at all. My DM hated my 2nd DDs name as she thought iymt was frumpy. My partner's Dad hadnt even heard of it before, despite it being an old lady name. DM is used to it now.
With my first DD I did ask my dad to contribute, thinking it would be nice as he hadnt had any input with mine, but he suggested Esther which was, quite coincidentally one of my worst names of all time.
So.. No. They get no say.

Not really. I did consider family traditions, but I didn't give much thoughts beyond that - though I did laugh that on my spouse's side, there is a name traditionally given to firstborn sons which I liked enough for a first name, and they (including my spouse) were like no, use it as a middle name. I was more excited about the name and it wasn't even my tradition to pass on.

My in-laws thankfully had no opinions other than that (at least that I knew about) other than MIL didn't like if we discussed names if I wasn't pregnant (my spouse and I met in a writing group, so we were used to doing that, but the one and only time we did it with his mother around, she was most displeased about it).

My mother was very opinionated - literally every phone call and email after she was told, she'd bring up 2 names (and one was the middle name she had given me, which I'd always been told she'd just picked off the TV, so that was weird) and then she'd tear apart whatever I chose and go on about how my children would be bullied (projecting a little, since my sister and I were for ours, though I don't think she ever recognised that).

Don't discuss your ideas. If they offer suggestions just say thanks and leave it at that.

No.

Choose a name you like and tell them only after the child is born.

It is your child not theirs. They had their chance to name a child/children when they had you.

In my case I did have discussions when much younger with my siblings before any of us had children about the types of names we would go for, and oddly all he siblings I had those discussions with chose those types of names for their children.

Don’t tell them!! Everyone has an opinion.

No, and we didn't discuss with anyone in advance!

I’m not asking my family for opinions on names but I’m getting them anyway - a new suggestion every time mum and I see each other! I think it’s just part of them being excited. I’m just nodding along politely and saying “hmmm maybe” for each suggestion (unless it’s really ludicrous!). Mum did accuse me of being “too traditional” in rejecting some of her more out there suggestions, but I’m just trying to ignore it all.

I would say avoid mentioning any specific names you like if you don’t want to risk them ruining them for you. Maybe come up with one or two names you’ve rejected to suggest if they’re really badgering you to tell them what you’re thinking of - then it doesn’t matter if they hate them! But more of a problem if they love them, though, I suppose.

No!

I learned quickly with my first not to mention names. When I had mentioned names to my mum she was like oh no, then she'd shout to my dad, she like Evelyn, oh no can't have that. What about X,y,z names she liked. She wasn't called Evelyn and I'm not sure if she put me off it a bit.

So no one ever got told a name again. We had her name but didn't tell anyone until she was born. What they going to do say oh I don't like that (well some folk might). Most aren't likely to say if they don't approve to tour face! Mum was raging I wouldn't tell her the name though 🙈

Yabu for getting into discussions with them about it if you know how they are opinionated or how they behave.

Naming your baby is a very personal thing. DH and myself kept the sex of the baby to ourselves and just said we weren’t sure if the subject of names was mentioned. It is a personal thing so if you don’t want input about this from family members then don’t enter into discussions about it with them and then complain on MN.

PS as you get older and have lived more and more names are out for one reason or another and the more people you include in the discussions more and more names will be out for one reason or another.