Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

My DH keeps shooting down all my name suggestions, are they really that bad?

343 replies

Awhimsy · 12/03/2025 00:28

We may be expecting a child soon, so we have been stewing upon possible names. My recommendations have been Campbell if it's a girl (Not exactly as tribute to our insignificantly small Scottish heritage, more-so because I just really like the sound of it!) and Renn if it's a boy. Are these bad? I've thrown around the idea of Casimir, or Cassidy, but none of them seem to stick with him, is this a me issue?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
CharityShopMensGlasses · 12/03/2025 07:03

Awhimsy · 12/03/2025 00:50

I'd consider Elizabeth Renn, but Elspeth does not have enough vowels. Renn being a tribute name does mean I can't exactly change it to the bird name, but I do admit in typeface Elizabeth Wren is a bit prettier.

Show quote history

Wren is pretty and you would both know about the link to Renn.

How would you feel about them as an adult having to say yes it's R E N N it's linked to my dad's Job because he worked in Motorsport etc etc

Tooearlytothink · 12/03/2025 07:02

We're in Scotland and any Campbell's I've known as a first name are men

aintnospringchicken · 12/03/2025 07:00

I've only heard of Campbell being used for a boy.

SpareNameForOutMePosts · 12/03/2025 06:57

Renn is OKish

Campbell would end up getting shortened to Cam so what about Camille for a girl or Cameron for a boy?

Both of ours have mainstream names where we use the shortened version but they have options when they are older.

I wanted a particular name for eldest DD which is quite common and usually starts with a K but I wanted to used the C spelling. DH wasn't keen but we agreed that we would go with the name but he could choose the spelling.

He stuck with the C but chose a different spelling overall which linked to a longer name. She tends to introduce herself to people with the long version bit we've always used the shorter one at home.

DD2 has a classic name - albeit with French rather than English spelling. Again we chose it for the shortened version but gave her the full name so that she had options.

She chooses to only use the shortened version and gets wound up when people use the full version (when she was little she called it her naughty name 😆)

So could you do that? Choose a more classic name but use a slightly less common spelling or shorten it to something more to your taste?

Silentdream · 12/03/2025 06:54

Hard to think of names much worse than you’ve suggested. Poor child. Have a rethink.

FurzeNotGorse · 12/03/2025 06:54

Yours are dreadful. Just let your DH name the baby?

saraclara · 12/03/2025 06:50

Another one who thinks it's nuts to name a child after your husband's promotion..

You're giving your child a name that they have to like and live with. It's about them, not their parents job or favourite place. That's making their name about you.

Pippinsdiary · 12/03/2025 06:48

Going against the grain but I quite like Campbell, but that doesn’t matter if your husband doesn’t. Get him to throw some names into the mix

PurpleFlower1983 · 12/03/2025 06:47

I don’t like your choices personally and if my husband suggested them there would be no convincing me so I get his stance on it.

Wren would be better than Renn if you must.

greengreyblue · 12/03/2025 06:44

Only read the first post. I dislike all the names too. They are surnames for a start.

Civilservant · 12/03/2025 06:43

Makes no sense to respond to Elizabeth and your H’s preference for a ‘classic’ name with Campbell!

Lulu1919 · 12/03/2025 06:41

Mmmm
I know a female Wren ..quite like it !
Campbell....not keen ...maybe a middle name if you really love it

CoffeeBeansGalore · 12/03/2025 06:38

Wren for a girl, fine. Renn for a boy, no.

If you want a Scottish nod:
Iona
Isla
Morven
Catriona
Mhairi
Elsie
Eilidh (Ay Lee)
Maisie
Ailsa
Skye
Fiona

Blair
Finley (Finlay is traditional male spelling)

Andrew
Callum
Connor
Cameron
James
Rory
Hamish
Alistair
Alexander
Gordon
Mackenzie

anareen · 12/03/2025 06:38

For the sale of your child please don't 😬

Doorlight · 12/03/2025 06:38

There was a historical thing that the Campbell clan were a very hated clan at some point... or so I remember bejng told as a child.

How about other nice Scottish names? Iona? Mhairi?

And if you like the Ca sound how about Cassandra nn Cassie?

ACynicalDad · 12/03/2025 06:38

These are names a child will carry forever, be kind not trendy. I’m team husband without even seeing his suggestions.

AzureLurker · 12/03/2025 06:36

AzureLurker · 12/03/2025 06:33

I have taught quite a few boy Campbells. It's not a girls name I'm my opinion and I usually like less traditionally girly names.

Have had pupils with names like Mackenzie. Which I quite like but she hated it. At least they could shorten it to Belle or Kenzie, but don't suppose that's what you would pick.

SallyWD · 12/03/2025 06:36

Awhimsy · 12/03/2025 00:39

He really liked more "classical" names like Elizabeth or Claire, they were a wee bit too tame for my taste though, Campbell is a distant family member's last name, and I suggested that as a more "classic" alternative.

Show quote history

Sorry but I much prefer his names

Toomanylosthours · 12/03/2025 06:34

Would Campbell for a boy be an option? Not to my taste but I lnewca called Campbell.

Rene for a girl? Similar to your Renn

LoudPlumDog · 12/03/2025 06:33

Not for me. What else do you like?

AzureLurker · 12/03/2025 06:33

I have taught quite a few boy Campbells. It's not a girls name I'm my opinion and I usually like less traditionally girly names.

username462025 · 12/03/2025 06:32

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Canonicalhours · 12/03/2025 06:31

Dignified always wins over risking coming across as attention-seeking for no good reason, in my opinion.

The most British sentence ever. If someone does something you consider different it could never be because they like it or it works for them, nope, they must be "attention-seeking." Blegh.

Canonicalhours · 12/03/2025 06:30

Campbell for a girl is very American-preppy.

I like Casimir and Cassidy.
MN can be extremely conservative and scornful about names that are even a little different. I don't love Campbell or Renn personally though.

@Nothinglikeagoodbook you know some people actually are American, even outside America 😯 and Casimir is used a lot in some ethnicities and you sound quite ignorant.

BusyExpert · 12/03/2025 06:28

IMO they are horrible names.