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

It must feel difficult for you, but I agree you shouldn’t say anything. Would it help to reframe it in your mind?

Io (and imagine it also in the Greek lettering, Ιω, ΙΩ in capitals) did so much more than be raped by Zeus. She endured and came through many hardships; the violet flower was created in her honour by the Earth, and (according to that myth) named after her; she was the ancestor of a great many heroes; she has given her name to the Bosphorus and the Ionian Sea. She has been linked with Egyptian deities and with the moon, and widely revered (our moon, long before she was a moon of Jupiter). It is a name rich in history and worthy of respect, yet without the hubris associated with naming children directly after deities. Your daughter would have had all this in mind.

Also, in modern Greek culture, it’s not uncommon to give children names like this, in full knowledge of the often brutal mythological background (Philomela springs to mind as an example.)

As for having to spell/correct pronunciation – it’s annoying, but many have this issue and is something people just get on with. It can happen with so many names

As for bullying – I think it’s less likely than you might think. In schools these days there is such a wealth of names from different heritages - especially in an international school.

congratulations on the imminent arrival!

edited to add: in my opinion I still don’t think you should say anything, but it just occurred to me that Ione (Ιóνη), pronounced “eye-OH-nee” is the name meaning Violet (not actually linked etymologically to Io, but thought to be hence the myth) and it could be shortened to Io. You might have heard of the political correspondent Ione Wells. I think it’s a pretty name.

I have a colleague called Io. She is never called Lo or 10, we literally use her name.

Probably MIL has hated her names all her life, and wishes she were called Jane. That's WHY she commented!

I loathe people doing the “accidentally-on-purpose-because-I-think-it’s-too-weird-for-me” name mispronunciation.

So rude and transparent.

I immediately read it as the mythological Io and not Lo or a kind of X-I name.

Zeus’ lover! And a moon.

I’m not one for “yoonique” names but this is not “made up” and I don’t mind it!

I think it’s quite elegant.

I think it sounds pretentious and performative but not a source of teasing. I wouldn’t worry about it.

It's a bit of a silly name, I agree OP. But not enough to warrant saying anything, I don't think. There was one on here before, where a mother wanted opinions about the name "Lucky Buoy" for her son 😂 The thread got deleted as she didn't agree with people's opinions on it, but I still think about it periodically and chuckle. Anyway, if it was as blatantly stupid as that, I think you'd have to say something. But "Eye-Oh", is just a noise to most people, not a "thing" like a buoy (!) iyswim? And apparently there are already people with this name. So not really League 1 stupid.

I really disagree. I'm close to my Mum but, as with anyone, I think it's it's rude and annoying to give opinions that aren't asked for. The chosen name isn't rude or offensive.

If the DD asked the OP for her opinion on Io then that would be fine to give her honest view. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

But people's minds will still substitute it for an 'L', as words beginning 'Lo...' are far more common.

I never quite got to grips with Lisa I'Anson's name, as loads of French-derived words, names and phrases start with 'L' and then an apostrophe (often with a lower-case 'L', even if the name/word itself has a capital); but I perspnally had no mental frame of reference for an 'I' followed by an apostrophe.

I'm not sure you can say anything. I wouldn't like it as, whilst Io was a strong woman, she was a woman who suffered and endured (which is how her strength is known). Where baby / children's names have distinct origins, I prefer stories of optimism and hope.

I like it.

Suspect once granddaughter gets older it won’t seem AS unusual. Our parents talked us out of what we thought was an v unusual name for our son and there are now 2 of that name in his year. Obviously now that he’s called the other name I don’t resent them for it because he is intrinsically that other name in my head but they were clearly wrong to talk us out of it. Like sometimes you think you’re being unusual but have actually caught a zeitgeist! If they are teachers there will be billions of more common names ruled out because of associations with little sh**s they’ve taught. Also, kindly, they know the peer group granddaughter will be brought up in better than you!

I know an adult Io. She likes her name.

But if she becomes famous and goes mononymously in her professional life, she could never appear on Only Connect in the missing vowels round!

From one grandmother of grandchild with ridiculous name to another….

Dont say a word or suggest anything.
You have had the heads up so you can prepare.
I was just introduced to Grandchild at birth and told her name.
She is almost 3 and I’m starting to get used to it . It doesn’t roll easy off my tongue and I hate writing it down. But that’s my problem!

However, more children have been born and given this name so it’s clearly popular and I’m not vogue enough.

I agree but that doesn’t mean we should define the name by that rather than she swam a sea?

to me she never comes across as a victim

Hercales is always a far more depressing story than we have now due to the Disney and tv stories - not least he has become Hercules who is Roman!

I think you have an old fashioned apprroach OP.

Any British primary school now particularly in an area with diverse community will have SO MANY different names/ unusual spellings etc - it's just normal and nobody will think twice about it.

It sounds totally normal to me.

I know a child with this name ! never seen or heard any issue with it at all - the children who know them and adults who know them will know their name.

I honestly can’t believe people would think someone would get bullied for being called Io. As I said earlier I know an Io and I don’t know anyone who has misspelled or mispronounced her name once and she’s certainly never been bullied because of it.

Could you not convince her to change the spelling but the pronunciation is the same? I went to school with an Ayo and they didn’t have a problem with how people pronounce their name (which is identical to the pronunciation of Io).

As above, I’ve known a couple of children with the Ayo spelling, which seems fine to me. Perhaps suggest that?

I don't have general knowledge of Greek mythology sorry. Didn't think most people of child rearing age did...never seen it on a syllabus.

But as you can see from the thread (and general knowledge), it’s the Greek name Io, not Lo. I like both!

I think I'm the only one who likes it 😂 it's not that unusual is it? I remember "Lo" from the hills

I dont like it but see no bullying issues at all its doesnt rhyme or sound like dick or shit which us what was expecting you to say , it’s not hitler or Myra you need to get over yourself and get on board , say nothing unless directly asked

eye o

lots of people have names that need a bit of pronunciation explanation , my kids have Irish names

Same with any name, my name is a very popular 80s choice and it gets pronounced differently when I go abroad but so what?

Olivia is very popular at the moment and nobody says oh you can't call someone that in case it gets pronounced Oleevya.