Parents criticised our chosen baby name without knowing it was ours

My dad did this after we had named our son! He screwed his face up with we told him and made a comment. I just said "well we like it, we think it's lovely name" and he never said another word. I don't really care if he likes it or not, it's not his child.

It's definitely a generational thing - I don't like those old man names either, or old lady names like Elsie, Esme, Olive, Ivy etc - but to generations who don't associate them with nonagenerian great-aunts and uncles, they're obviously quite attractive!

So what, though? Their taste isn't yours. Would you let them choose your DH, your clothes, the way your house is decorated? Do you love the names they gave you and your siblings? If not, accept that their taste is not yours. They will adjust to your child.

(I mean, my own mother let a nursing nun who was working on the labour ward name me, for God's sake! (Particularly dreary saint's name.)

As far as I can judge, my mother, who is a timid people-pleaser, thought that she had to because the nun seemed to expect it. The killer is that this nun was remarkably unpleasant to her when she was in labour and kept telling her she wasn't in active labour yet when she was practically crowning.)

My 3 year old is called Rupert and though I have generally had a positive response to it, my mum actually pulled a face when she found out his name. Apparently she 'couldn't help it'. She has said since that it has grown on her and I imagine it will be the same with your parents.

Thinking about it, they might not even remember in a few months that they ranted about that name so enthusiastically. Some people just like ranting.

They don’t know you’ve chosen it though so it’s not like they were criticising you personally. If I said I didn’t like a name, not realising that person was planning on using it, I’d hope it doesn’t make me a mean person. I did mention to a colleague a name I found really dull once and they told me that was their DD’s name. I laughed as I thought they were joking, they weren’t 🫣😳

My stepmum really hates the name George. Always has done! When I said I was having a boy she said 'you won't call him George, will you?' and we had a laugh about that. I'm not especially fond of the name George either, so it was never on my list, but if I had wanted to call him that, I'd have done it anyway. People can be funny about names but they'll get used to it - just call him what you want (unless it's something weird or misspelt, in which case, don't).

The actual name is irrelevant- it obviously isn't XY12!sss, as that wouldn't come to mind of two couples in one area in the same time.

Ignore, announce when you decide, they will get used to it

but so will they and they will know that you know......perfect revenge!!

Well that’s it, you’re prepared! Honestly, this is going round in circles, you know they don’t like the name, you can say, I know you’re not keen but we love it, or you change it.

They cannot help not liking a name! It’s personal preference.

My mum doesn’t like my daughters name, it’s never mentioned 5 years later and I didn’t care then and don’t care now. My mum remains a fantastic grandmother and loves my daughter. Don’t think on it to much.

And?
Then they will also know that you know that they don't like the name.
What do you want to do? Force them to lie and say they like it to make you happy?
Not sure what you want, or expect TBH.
Its your baby- your name choice.

When you name your baby the name will become associated with your baby and they will love it because they love your baby no matter what they previously thought about the name.

I appreciate it's disappointing to hear they are not fond of the name but no one likes every name and I'm sure there's plenty of names you don't like. In future I'm sure if your child happened to choose one of those for their child you'd still love you grandchild.

My MIL actually said to my face she couldn’t believe what we called our DD - very old lady name but it was my grandmas name and that’s where we got it from. 21 years later she’s over it 😂. She’s normally lovely so I’m not sure why she was so blunt about this. I think she was miffed we didn’t tell her I was in labour until after I had her (which is just as well because it went very wrong and we were both lucky to get out of it alive - maybe that’s why I didn’t give a shit).

If they were being rude about the name you had given your baby then that would be hurtful, but I think YABVU to be upset about them having an opinion on a name they don’t know you’ve chosen. That’s just ridiculous.

I met a toddler called Stanley. He was the cutest baby & I now love the name. I would have to hold my laugh in if I heard the other 2 names but agree it's just an opinion & personal taste.

This - You might like the name now but when Baby is born might change your mind
Think of the friends episode of Rachel naming Emma
You can name your child what ever you want though
You cant change what people think of it
My nephew is named a god awful name 😫an old fashioned name that has come back in fashion - even nearly 20 years later i still cant say it without getting shudders - detest it - but sure its not my child 😶

When you pick a name I think you have to accept that not everyone will like it. One person’s ’classic and timeless’ is another person’s ’dull as dishwater’.

You will not find a name everyone loves. So focus on the fact YOU love it and use this as practice for all the opinions you will get on all aspects of parenting when the baby arrives ..

I do understand, my FIL said ‘you can’t saddle a baby with THAT’ about my favourite name a couple of years before I was pregnant, but we used the name anyway.

We picked beautiful, old but unusual names for our DC. Unusual means not everyone will like them, and that’s fine. DC love their names!

You must have led a very sheltered life. Or have very little to worry about.

A good friend of mine berated the name I gave to my dd before she knew that we’d had it on our list. Months later we were talking about names and I brought up what she’d said, she said “I was hoping you wouldn’t remember that” and we laughed and moved on. I have no regrets and DD is 20 now. Obviously it would have been more hurtful from a grandparent but I still would’ve picked it.

Meh, my parents and sibling hated DC4’s name and DC1 thought combined with our surname it sounded like a reference from a popular series.
That’s why I like to discuss potential names. Surprising them doesn’t change people opinions, it just tends to hide them although I had to force my face into submission when I heard two of my niblings names. If you hadn’t heard the conversation they’d still be thinking it but you’d be none the wiser which is far worse IMO.

It's literally none of their business. It is your baby, not theirs. When born and the name is revealed, they will remember that you heard them say those nasty things. YANBU to be hurt by their comments, but it wouldn't deter me from giving my DS the name I've chosen for him.

its YOUR opinion and not fact.

But that isn’t what’s happened. They have no idea you are also intending on using the name.

People have opinions on names, you can’t stop that.