How awful would your friend’s choice of name have to be before you said something?

[PlanterGents]

DFriend is pregnant with a little girl that’s due and couldn’t think of a name the entire pregnancy (for boy or girl), so found out quite late that she was having another girl.

Anyway, I saw her alongside a few other friends today and she was saying how she really wants something soft sounding yet alternative and unusual. She then announced the bloody name and I was a bit so laughed it off.

Everyone went a bit quiet and then someone else piped up that it’s her choice (the name). I said ‘that isn’t a name, it’s a common word’. Friend then smiled and changed the subject.

Have now had a text from friend that she really loves the name and hopes I’ll come round to it?!

Obviously this thread is completely outing so I’ve name changed so nobody can connect me to any other threads. I’m sure a few of our friendship group use MN, as I’m sure it’s come up before. So if you’re reading this, I’m sorry for upsetting you but I’m shocked! Sorry

I think it's sweet sounding, but ridiculous. In the same way "Ethene" is a nice word but a terrible name. Could you suggest Mabel or Maeve with Maybe/Mabes for sort?

I quite like Maeby but can see why the majority wouldn't. What about suggesting she changes it slightly? Mae-li?

@JosephineDeBeauharnais

We’ve got two nephews with awful / ridiculous names. The older one particularly is laugh out loud. When DBiL said the name in passing before nephew was born I laughed because I thought it was just a silly name they were using for the bump and thought nothing more of it. But no, that was the name. None of us ever commented on it again but it’s really hard when you have to say it because now we’re used to it, but the response of new people is always the same - total gobsmacked nervous laughter.

Oh please tell!

There was a woman at the park today with children called Thursday, Poem and flower.

People are just really, really weird.

Maybee or May-Bee or May-Bea

It could be spelt lots of ways.

Maybe, and her sister Perhaps.
May-Bee?

Not sure naming children after songs is a good idea. I remember one pupil telling me 'My name is Rio. As in 'She dances in the sand'. Her friend was Amber, as in 'Forever Amber'. If you're reading, ladies - because you'll be ancient by now - I haven't forgotten.

We called DD a fairly ridiculous name as a bump (along the lines of Ermintrude). A close friend of mine was told by another friend that this was what we were going to call the baby. She did have a very gentle conversation with me as to whether we'd thought things through. It came from a place of love, and I did appreciate it, though it might help that DD was never going to be 'Ermintrude' to start with!

A while back a woman from work announced whilst pregnant that the baby would be called DJ.

OK...her choice. I know a few people with an Adam John called AJ, Thomas James called TJ etc, it's fairly common.

Someone asked what DJ stood for and she looked at them blankly. Then said 'Ohhh no. It's just DJ. DEE JAY'. Cue awful silence, no one really knew what to say.

3 months later and the baby was born and the name announced as a perfectly normal, common name 😂 So I imagine someone close to them managed to talk them round!

I'd message her back and say "I'm sorry I laughed but I was totally surprised by your choice. I'm sure you've put a lot of thought into though". Don't pretend to like it as you'll sound insincere. I agree with you by the way.

My friends surname is Mabey. She goes for an appointment “call you give me your name please” “Mabey” they all this she is taking the piss, like maybe I can’t, maybe I can’t

Can you*

I have a big mouth and when a friend said she was considering Leanne as a name, I said "God, no! That's a really rough name!".

Luckily she didn't fall out with me (or use that name in the end). She did put a flat veto on "Michael" when I was considering it for DS, which I accepted.

And her husband/partner is onboard with it?

Maybe it'll change when they tell their parents and get horrific reactions!

I've definitely heard worse. If she doesn't think it's terrible, then you telling her it's terrible wont do anything. All you can do is be polite and say "it's not my style but it's your child so I respect your opinion". Or jusr check she's happy and doesn't care what others think.

Could suggest Maybell instead? At least that sounds like a name.
I swear people don’t consider the long term consequences of some names and it’s entirely selfish of them. They’re not the ones who have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

Maybe .....no .....really ..EEEK.

@PlanterGents

Yes, it’s maybe! Didn’t know there was any films or or stuff with the name. Going to go and google since it seems other posters think it is a name and ‘maybe’ I’m wrong

You're not wrong!

Just because some other idiot has saddled their child with it, it doesn't make it a name.

It's utterly bloody ridiculous!

I don't like colours,seasons,trees as names myself, but this is a whole other level of fucking barking!!

'Dear friend, she's your daughter, so you can call her whatever you want to. What I think of her name isn't important, I'm sure I'll adore her no matter what name you choose - but I think 'Maybe' will be a very difficult name for a child to live with. But as I say, your choice, not mine. Cant wait for. a cuddle'

Maebe/Maybe is an awful name for a native English speaker because it's a very well used word but I can see the appeal for someone without the association. Although I now have "call me maybe" playing in my head

I did suggest gently that a friend tried introducing herself as "Heavenleigh" (without the hyphen because it looked clumpy apparently!) for a day or 2 to see if she could live with it when she suggested it for her DD... She soon realised it wasn't ideal.

May Beatrice instead possibly? Then she can call her Maeby as an affectionate nickname without lumbering the poor child with a lifetime of confused looks.

Oh that is awful, I would have said something too. Hopefully she’ll see reason before baby arrives!

It would have to be something the child would suffer with- so if my friend thought Chlamydia was a lovely name or something. I'd only say it once, and if they wanted the name, thats their problem.
If it's an otherwise inoffensive word, I'd keep quiet.

Suggest Marabee to her. Slightly similar in sounds, actually a name and not in top 100 etc.

Is there any chance she's seen Meabh written down and doesn't realise it's the original spelling of Maeve??
It reminds me of a previous thread where some gobshite called their son Guy, and pronounced it Gooey!

It's awful... But tbf if it had another meaning or if I somehow hadn't heard it before, it does sound like a nice girls name.

I think as a friend you should say something, but to them alone not with others hearing.

Strange names or strange spelling will lead a child and even as an adult to spend a lot of time correcting people as to spelling or pronunciation, and perhaps make them more likely to be name called or bullied about their name. Tactfully point this out.