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 Maeby sounds lovely.

Only on Mumsnet are kids bullied for having an unusual name. I have never encountered this in the real world and my DSis is called ‘Fanny’. And no, I’m not joking.

And FWIW I really like ‘Maybe’. Better to have something unusual than pedestrian.

@SevenAndMe

And FWIW I really like ‘Maybe’. Better to have something unusual than pedestrian.

Except when it's Maybe.

Mae/may Beatrix/Beatrice then she can have maybea as a Nick name.

I would never say anything.

Knew someone with twin girls Precious & Promise then had another girl called Pretty.

Also know someone with Saint and shes just had King.

Worst I've heard though was Misery but spelt Mizareigh.

Just tell her Mabel / Maybli is lovely. Let her think you miss heard.

People do go a bit crazy when they're thinking about baby names. But.... and this is a big but... there are lots of weird names out there at the moment. A "Maybe" might not be too out there.

My DM and MIL both shuddered when, a few years ago, we suggested Arlo, Felix and Rufus as boys' name for our DS as they said they were dogs names. We eventually chose something else but still love all these names and they are very popular in our area. Neither were they very fond of our girls options - Edna, Skylar and Agatha - as they thought they were just weird. But these are all increasingly popular names. It's nice to see a bit more originality in names so there are no longer hundreds of Sarahs and Rebeccas. "Maybe" is not so awful that you need to get involved.

Was it actually Mabel, and you misheard?

@SevenAndMe I would be more concerned about it holding them back in adulthood - not quite the same but a friend of mine changed her surname when she became qualified in her profession because she didn’t think she would be taken seriously and it wasn’t even as bad as Maybe.

I actually really like it!

I would never say, or show, a negative reaction. Their child's name is their choice, nothing whatsoever to do with anyone else - no matter how awful it is. I really don't understand people who have to stick their oar into something like this. As for the chosen name, it's far from being the most outlandish I've ever heard.

Actually, reading through this thread it seems to me that the British are rather conservative when it comes to names. I live in NZ and we barely turn a hair at unusual names.

I really can't believe the posters who are suggesting OP give alternate names to her friend, it's nothing to do with OP what her friend chooses, and if someone told me I should choose another name they would soon be put in their place!

Never watched an Episode of Arrested Development

If I came across a kid with that name at school I would be a bit

Please try to talk you friend around perhaps suggesting Maeve has an alternative

I would gently say. As much as you love the name. That poor child will get ridiculed at school.. Kids can be cruel.

Oh my god, seriously? That child will never have a moment's peace from all the crap jokes everyone will come up with!

Not to mention the misunderstandings. I'm already mentally drafting the skits.

"Please would you state your name for the record?"....

Maeby's parents in arrested development are idiot narcissists so maybe don't copy them? Love the actress playing her though.

If I saw it written down, I'd think it was pronounced:"mayb". Or that someone had misspelt "maeve" . Is the Irish 'bh' pronounced 'v'?

I struggle with people who say Elle should be pronounced Ellie though. Spelling rules have stuck fast.

Meh, it's a silly name, but once the baby is here it will be the lovely baby's name and that will be that.
I honestly wouldn't say a word.

I SAID MAAAAAYBEEEEEEEEE you’re gonna be the one to SAVE MEEEEEEEEEEE!!

Expect her theme tune to be a sing-a-long.

I really think it’s not your place to try and dissuade her from a name she likes. I actually think Maybe is a lovely sounding name and would sooner have it than lots of commonly used, perfectly socially acceptable names that I personally find loathsome. It’s so subjective - e.g. a pp said that her and her friend vetoed each other’s respective preferences for Leanne and Michael (?!) - that I don’t think you get to decide it’s ‘bad enough’ for you to have a say.

I fell out with a colleague at work who, when I told her the (very old-fashioned) name my DIL and DS had called their first daughter, she said she was horrified and what were they doing lumbering her with such a name. I told her to wind her neck in and not be so rude - we didn't exchange another word in 10 years! We look at my granddaughter and she is that name and we love it because we love her. It's really nobody else's business, is it?

It's really nobody else's business, is it?
Maybe

My great aunt Mabel, who would have been 102 this year, was known as Maybe all the rest of her life from the age of 7 - my grandad apparently couldn't say Mabel properly.