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Baby names

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

Original poster

If you love a name should you use it even if everyone pulls a [hmm] face when you mention it?

40 replies

casino81 · 17/05/2010 10:38

We really love Florence, esp. shortened to Floss/Flossie.

But when I have mentioned it to friends and family we have had faces from everyone, even a few deogoratory comments.

So should we use it or find a name that is more acceptable to our friends, family?

Some people have said its posh, which I didn't think it was at all. Is Florence considered so posh that it will really stand out in a state school?

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Skegness · 17/05/2010 11:11

Florence is a lovely name.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 17/05/2010 11:10

Florence is nice and not particularly posh. Your family will get used to it.

Clary · 17/05/2010 11:09

DS2 was going to be Florence.

I love it. (obv)

You should use the name you love. Best not to tell in advance.

Actually Florence not that popular in fact I don't think I know any! but all the better for that. Not posh, any more than Alice, Olivia, etc etc.

PlumBumMum · 17/05/2010 11:01

I love it,
I wonder if some of the faces are just because its not a name you normally hear,

Although I am with LoveBeingAHungParliament I wouldn't tell anyone names I'm thinking of,
then there can be no faces or someone else stealing the name you were thinking of,

But peoples comments on babies names are a sore point for me as I don't speak to my father because he didn't like my dd2s name, (that is not the only reason obviously but the final straw)

sophiesmummie · 17/05/2010 11:01

Of course you're going to get mixed reactions - especially the more people you ask. Everyone has different tastes and ideas.

If YOU and dh love the name Florence, then go for it. Everyone else will get used to it once the baby is born.

My ds's name is often described as 'posh' on mmumsnet, yet we've never had any issues with this (he is now 7) and he loves his name (and goes to local state primary). I'm glad I named him before I was a mumsnetter (as I would have possibly would have been dissuaded by the negative comments )

mrsruffallo · 17/05/2010 11:00

I would use it

Imarriedafrog · 17/05/2010 10:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Aitch · 17/05/2010 10:54

florence is a LOVELY name.

mountainmonkey · 17/05/2010 10:54

I know of someone with a baby Florence- its a lovely name!

TigerFeet · 17/05/2010 10:53

dd2's middle name is Florence - love it

i call her flossie sometimes even though it's not her first name - poor baby has no chance of learning her name she gets called different things all the time

best tactic is not to mention your choice until after the baby is here

give your baby a name you love, and bollocks to everyone else

Chozzer · 17/05/2010 10:52

Lovely name

SillyTillyBilly · 17/05/2010 10:48

Florence is a fantastic name - I don't know why people would pull a face. Go for what you love.

LuluF · 17/05/2010 10:46

Use it, it's lovely.

The thing is, as parents, we all spend LOADS of time thinking of names to call our children, we don't sit there thinking of the worst name we can come up with.

We've had it with both of our girls. And in the end, people get used to it or they get on with it. It isn't their choice - they've had their turn. When we named our DD1 - with a name that none of DH's family had heard before - and they came up with some corkers as alternative 'suggestions'. But I can't take seriously suggestions from people who chose 'Neville' as a middle name for their son. No offence intended to any Nevilles out there.

Your baby, your choice.

bratnav · 17/05/2010 10:43

Do it, Florence is a lovely name, my BF was one and we went to a very rough state school, no problem at all

LoveBeingAHungParliament · 17/05/2010 10:40

Defo you should use it, this is exactly why i didn'y tell anyone the names we were thinking of.