Hate DD’s planned baby name. Is it ever ok to say that?

Is that sarcasm? I'd put nothing in the gift shop having her name on it as a plus.

I like it! I thought of Jupiter’s moon right away. I think it’ll be one of those names where initially you are unsure but very quickly you won’t be able to imagine her being named anything else. Do not say anything. You have had your turn at naming a baby, this her her turn.

I agree with @TabbyCatInAPoolofSunshine ina way the fact that is her rape we are focusing on in the story downplays the fact she had a sea and a moon named after her. She was actually a fairly strong female character yes she was a cow for awhile but then she became human again

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle the names on your list have just as dark stories (Ariadne/Jocasta killed themselves!)

I think you’re completely out of touch if you think a name like Io will lead to ‘merciless’ bullying, OP. There is massive diversity in first names now compared to when I was a child, other kids won’t bat an eyelid.

As for all the ‘rape victim’ commenters, wtf?! Is that how we’re defining women now? @MolkosTeenageAngst has it exactly right.

I would start humming “hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go…”

what a difficult place to find yourself in. Hope your sd sees sense

I mean Zeus raped pretty much everyone so I wouldn't worry about that association.

I love the name - I think it's genuinely unique without being weird. She can avoid the Lo thing by using a serif font (including for handwriting).

The biggest bummer having Io as a name is one that I shouldered as a child (and my name isn’t weird or oddly spelled): nothing in the gift shop will EVER have her name on.

I’m over it now. Just.

Most of those legends have equally or more unfortunate aspects, especially Pandora (and you know that Pandora's Box is more likely to be something teenagers catch onto than any of the reasons to tease a girl called Io).

I love Io! It’s a really lovely name - the myths around her and Zeus are manifold and differ depending on the author. As someone whose name wasn’t very well known at all in the Eighties, I promise you it’s not a death sentence! I would have hated to be one of the gazillion Lauras or Rachels in my class (nothing against any who might be on this thread and they’re both lovely names!) Honestly, the kid will be fine, especially as it sounds like she’ll be going to an EIS. If it had been a ‘creatively spelled’ name, I’d have understood. But Io is both pretty and a little different ♥️

I love the name Io. DH had one in his class once (teacher) and we both said how lovely it was. Babies become the name they are - you’ll get used to it!

I said to DH that she would have learnt to write her name quicker than everyone else too…

Good idea. Or how about 'Hera' - I mean, if you're into Greek mythology, might as well go for boss goddess not the OW. (tongue in cheek)

Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and forced into a marriage and living part of her life underground against her will. Not much difference surely?

I know someone with a name pronounced the same but spelt Ayo. Maybe this would be a less confusing option than Io if you think she would take kindly to suggstions? I don't think it sounds that bad but it looks horrid written that way.

Oh, that’s bad

And then turned into a heifer.

There are so many lovely names, Phaedra, Antigone, Jocasta, Callisto, Calypso, Dido, Ariadne, Artemis, Electra, Demeter, Persephone, Pandora

It is the word for 'yes' in Tongan - not sure if that helps! I have unusual names for my children and got quite a bit of flak at times (my brother-in-law even stated he 'would never employ anyone with that name') but soon enough babies grow into their names and the names become 'normal' within the family at least.

Ooh, I like that! I have un unusual name, hated it as a kid but love it as an adult. Good ice breaker. My name actually came up on an usual name thread and someone called it awful 😬

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/The_Myths/Zeus%27s_Lovers/Io/io.html

I really think reducing a fairly substantial mythological character to being defined as a woman Zeus raped is quite misogynistic.
An awful lot of the stories about women in Greek mythology include them being raped or kidnapped or married their brothers, but that aspect usually doesn't define the name or indeed the mythological character.

Honestly most names could be cast disparagingly if a person chose to pick a negative meaning/ look for a fictional or historical character with the name who did something bad or experienced something bad.

I'd pronounce Ayo with an A sound, like the letter, rather than the letter I sound.

If it’s pronounced ‘eye-oh’ then how about if she spelt it Ayo instead? I know a girl of that name. Would avoid the i v L confusion.

Gosh, maybe try to persuade her towards Persephone or Clio or something similar!

Not one I'd choose but Io is a perfectly okay name to choose. If they like that sound, Cleo would also be a good option.

This. Perhaps you could gently drop in to suggestions.

Did your DD have a name that can be shortened? You could mention how it's nice for child to get some choice over shortening/nickname.

I might also do the 'as in Old MacDonald ' in a jokey way and see if it's enough to put them off without outright saying 'i hate it'.

I think Io is a great name.

Who cares about nick names?

Lo; "ten"; Io addio; Io, Io, it's off to work we go. Great scope...

In answer to the question of whether it's OK to say anything, I personally think that if there's something significant about the name that they might not have noticed, it's OK to tactfully point it out. They're likely to get defensive, though.

A relative of mine (let's call her Laura), has chosen names with "creative" spellings for her own kids. Her second DD will be spelling out her name everywhere she goes, for her whole life. As someone with an unusual name myself, I would have liked for her to be spared that annoyance. Laura won't have experienced this herself.

Laura's mum did say, "how about spelling it [usual spelling]?" But Laura was clearly annoyed and gave a huffy response that she and her partner both preferred the spelling they had chosen invented. So, for the sake of family harmony, no more was said. Poor Emmely.