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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?

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Topseyt123 · 12/03/2025 03:14

I'm afraid I agree with your DH. Your taste in names is much too "off the wall" and I wouldn't impose it on a child.

Awful names.

FondantFancyFan · 12/03/2025 03:14

Campbells soup anyone? Those names are awful, really tacky but I'm not a fan of surnames as first names.

I work with teenagers abs this poor girl got lumbered with a similar bane like Campbell. She is teased mercilessly and I suspect that she'll change her horrendous name as soon as she's 18.

https://www.campbells.com/

Quality Soups, Sauces, Food & Recipes | Campbells.com

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TappyGilmore · 12/03/2025 03:08

Oh dear.

Campbell - fine for a boy, not for a girl.
Renn - I probably wouldn’t. But Wren is quite nice for a girl.
Casimir - no.
Cassidy - assume you mean for a girl. I don’t love it but it’s probably the most normal thing on the list.
Elizabeth - it’s a very long name so if you have a short surname then fine, but not with a longer surname. But you can make lots of nicknames out of it.
Claire - not a huge fan.
Oliver - this has been the most popular name for like 20 years now, I’m confused how you don’t like your partner’s tame, classic suggestions but you like this.
Aspen - yes I like that.
Magnolia - the child will not thank you for that, ever.

MounjaroOnMyMind · 12/03/2025 03:06

She may be adopting a baby?

Dita73 · 12/03/2025 02:58

What do you mean you “may be” expecting a child soon?

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 12/03/2025 02:54

we may be expecting a child soon

Well; are you or aren't you?

Hortus · 12/03/2025 02:50

Oliver is a beautiful classic name for a boy, he would never get teased or anyone think he had a silly name.
Aspen reminds me of where people go skiing in Colorado, and again is not a girl's name. Magnolia is ok, certainly better than the dreadful suggestions in your first post.
It's really important to remember with names that while you think you want something unusual and out there, the child itself will not. That doesn't mean you have to call it one of the top ten names, but there are many lovely names in the top couple of hundred which won't mean your child is teased or constantly asked why they're called that name. Calling a girl Campbell is cruel in my opinion, it's a surname or boy's name.

Louielooiloveyou · 12/03/2025 02:42

Anrom19 · 12/03/2025 01:25

My middle name is Campbell , not even ‘outing’ because I’m not sure that anyone other than my parents know . I hate it , although I get the reason behind it .

This!

Thursa · 12/03/2025 02:34

Wasn’t Renn Kevin Bacon’s Footloose character?

passwordaboutyou · 12/03/2025 02:29

How about Campbell for a boy and Wren for a girl?

Original poster
Awhimsy · 12/03/2025 02:15

This reply has been deleted

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

I like the boy’s name Oliver, for girl’s names I’ve discovered I like some tree species names a lot. eg Aspen, or Magnolia.

OP posts:
MayaPinion · 12/03/2025 02:11

Are you Posh and Becks? (And don’t use those as names either)

snowflakelake · 12/03/2025 01:59

My dd has a Scottish surname as her middle name and she doesn't as a teen thank me for that. I don't think she would be talking to me if it was her first name.
Try and see your dd's view as teen, what would you have wanted.

BettyBardMacDonald · 12/03/2025 01:55

Well said, @BigHeadBertha

You're naming a human being who may live 90 years, not a kitten.

Teapot13 · 12/03/2025 01:50

pleasedonotfeedme · 12/03/2025 01:20

Please don’t call a poor child Campbell. You wouldn’t call the kid Baxter’s or Heinz! (Presumably 🤣)

Isobel, Elizabeth, Iona - all lovely. What about Ruari for a boy?

Heinz is actually a given name in German but, like Thomas in English, can also be a surname.

ThinkingAboutMyLifeChoices · 12/03/2025 01:39

I know a 15 year old boy called Cassidy, known as Cass
I quite like it
I also like Wren, not Renn

ClairDeLaLune · 12/03/2025 01:36

BettyBardMacDonald · 12/03/2025 01:31

I immediately went thought of Ren & Stimpy, too!

How about Renee?

Show quote history

Both Renn and Renée make me think of Rennies!

CatchHimDerry · 12/03/2025 01:36

I love a bit of an “out there” name but no, sorry, I agree with PP

Cassidy would be the least objectionable to my eyes, but not something I’d chose myself. This would get shortened to Cass or Cassie

BigHeadBertha · 12/03/2025 01:35

Here's my opinion, for what it's worth: A child has to live with the name you choose for them their entire life. It serves as an introduction and first impression of them wherever they go, always. So I don't think it's wise to be too creative there. Dignified always wins over risking coming across as attention-seeking for no good reason, in my opinion.

There's the possibility of getting teased by other kids, and also what many see as a slight lifelong stigma. It can make the first impression of them that they are a silly, not-to-be-taken-seriously adult, or had a fifteen-year-old mother something along those lines, that just isn't that great and isn't necessary. I imagine it gets tiring to live with.

Why not start with the top 100 boy names and top 100 girl names and see if you both like any of those? I'd save the ones that are far above average in zaniness or uniqueness for a middle name or nickname, if not for a puppy or kitten, if you just have to lol. Just my opinion. Good luck with it!

BettyBardMacDonald · 12/03/2025 01:31

Firefly1987 · 12/03/2025 01:28

Cassidy is the only one that sort of even passes as a name...and Renn just makes me think of Ren and Stimpy...

I immediately went thought of Ren & Stimpy, too!

How about Renee?

BlondiePortz · 12/03/2025 01:31

Renamed · 12/03/2025 00:42

Elspeth Wren

sounds okay

How many times would the child have to correct people who thinks it is Elizabeth?

Nonrienderien · 12/03/2025 01:29

WetBandits · 12/03/2025 00:31

Campbell? Are you expecting a child or a tin of soup?

😂😂😂

username462025 · 12/03/2025 01:29

This reply has been withdrawn

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

Firefly1987 · 12/03/2025 01:28

Cassidy is the only one that sort of even passes as a name...and Renn just makes me think of Ren and Stimpy...

Ottersmith · 12/03/2025 01:26

People on here tend to get annoyed about any name that isn't very plain. Has he come up with any suggestions or is he just poo pooing yours? Whose surname will the baby have? If his, then why should he gets to choose the first name too? If you really want a name, then wait until after labour and see how the negotiation goes.