If you knew / met someone who had just had a baby would you tell them you didn't like it's name ?

Very, very rude. Lovely time and nevt time you should tell them you are not asking them to like it so can they keep their comments to themselves.

My dcs have fairly common Irish names and I am forever being asked if we have made them up. When asked this now, I regale people with the etymology of the names which goes back thousands of years. They shut up then.

Yes I got the 'couldn't we change it?' comments as well.

Just say 'Next time you go through x hours of agony to bring a baby into the world, YOU get to name it. OK?'

We had quite a lot of this with ds2 (Guy) and he does sometimes get children who comment unfavourably (he is 6)I know its not that common but its not that unusual either,actually my first choice was Ned and I still think he would have made a fantasic Ned but dh vetoed that!

we know quite a few Marthas and they are all gorgeous,I would have thought of it as a classic.

I wonder how long it will be until we start seeing Beryls and Viviennes and Ritas again

Very rude indeed, I would never comment. Martha is a lovely name, we would have had it but it didn't go with our surname.

My dd has an old fashioned name and I think they are lovely (Grace).

I agree that it's rude and also hurtful when people make negative comments about your kids name. It was particularly bad for me when dd was just born, the last thing you need are disapproving looks and comments when your beautiful new baby has just arrived, but now I just ignore it.

What surprised me was the people who were quite mean were close friends and family but people from baby group or mothers groups have all loved it. The worst came from my parents - my father initially refused to call dd by her name. Her name is Charlotte Pepper and we call her by her middle name, Pepper, which dh and I love - and it suits her perfectly. I know it's unusual and not everyone's taste but then they don't need to chose it for their kid. AND yes it is a real name which a lot of folk seem to need me to tell them!! Sorry - ranting a bit, topic brings back unpleasant memories.

Don't push her back in. She has a glittering future on MN.

When I was in hospital with my 2nd child, the Bounty women made it quite clear she thought my son's name was too unusual (it's about #270 actually so it's not that odd) I nearly said, lady I aint taking no advice from somebody whose breath stinks of instant coffee.

I jsut revealed my inner bitch. I'm pushing her back in now.

PS, this is my last post I promise, but in response to the comment that the name is a 90 year old woman's, well, yes, names come in and out in 90 year cycles. That's always been the case.

I thought my dd's name was a general crowd-pleaser without WOWing anybody really, but I still got a few weird comments. One girl who didn't like it loved the names Ismene and Phaedra. Well good luck to her finding a man who'll agree to those names!

when I was still in hospital with DD the physio came round, asked what her name was. I told her, and she repeated it but with an M in front which turned it into a completely different name.

When I corrected her (DD's name is French and unusual over here) she frowned and said "Well i suppose there's time to change it" !

Martha is a fab name. I work with someone who makes faces at any names I choose. I think she thinks all children should be called james, john, Emily and Elizabeth.

Did you name her after Martha Wainwright?

I am plannign on calling any daughter I have Stevie Martha and any boy Joseph Roscoe

Laughing at the Kingof the Jews comment! Jesus was the King of the Jews??

Anyway, I think it's nice to have little tie-ins. My friend Hannah has a son Samuel. It's nicer than having a cheesey link to Disney or something. (Aurora, Genevieve)

No. If it's just not to my taste, then it's just not to my taste. Jessica or Rebecca. Not something I'd pick myself, but that in itself doesn't make it a bad choice for somebody else!

If I come across a new born Isabel/Amelia and Mum tells me proudly, "I wanted something a bit different", like they're the first people to come up with those names, then if the ink is still wet on the BC, I do feel the urge to let them know the truth. But hey, their problem. Marha is an absolutely gorgeous name. Pretty and classic but underused. Good choice imo.

Hi MM
How are you? I haven't seen you lately. I think you are still in my address book. Hope things are going alright, any progress on the moving front?

Mot even if they called it Tarquina-Chutney.

There is never a time to tell someone you don't like their choice of baby name. Unless you are the sort of person who likes making children and hormonal women cry.

FWIW I think Martha is quite an old fashioned name - but I like old fashioned names, and Martha is a gorgeous name, honestly cannot see what not to like about it! It means Lady, Mistress of the House btw - bet your dd will be showing you who's boss before long

hijack. Flight where have you been? Have you still got my email address?

btw Martha is beautiful and elegant. My first friend at school had that name.

Had a lot of pig comments after ds2 was named (Wilbur).
People kept saying 'well he'll be called 'Will' anyway, won't he?' as if in condolence that he was so unfortunate.

I felt so trampled, but now I've learned to say 'We call him Bill!' and smile cheerfully.

People usually shut up at that point.

I love the name Martha! And I think it's a bit rude to slate someone's choice of baby name once the child is born!

Incredibly rude or incredibly thick. These things can't just pop out, we are all capable of controlling our tongues, we choose to let things out.

Martha is a gorgeous name.

You could have said well I've never said anything up to now but I've always thought your name was quite ugly, but I suppose it suits you really.

But you wouldn't, because you are civilised and have manners.

it's beyond rude, it's close to social imbecility.

we had someone write DS' full name in a congrats card, followed with "Poor little bugger, what a name!"
It got ripped up and put in the bin. Luckily the silly cahhhh what did write it (DP's aunt) lives abroad for some of the year, and i've never met her.
staggering rudeness, really....in person or in a card.

No I wouldn't becasue I know how rude and irritating it is. If it is anyone from the older generation - just ignore them - thier opinion shouldn't concern you - you wouldn't want a name that an old person likes surely as they were bought up in a competely different time. Anyone younger, tell them you hate their name but have never told them as it is rude and pointless.

do kids actually comment on each others names?

does this really happen?

I mean, I went to school with a thorin and a hickory-we never though to say anything, tbh.

of course not!

How INCREDIBLY rude. The sanest mother I ever knew refused to tell people the names they were considering until after the birth when she presented a fait accompli, because she said, "before, they are disliking the name, and they feel they can argue. After, criticising would be like criticising the child, so they'll smile and be polite." She's right, and people with such appalling manners they don't know it should back off. Like it's any of their business! And besides, Martha is a gorgeous name. You didn't call her Sparklyesmeralda, for crying out loud.