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 had a friend who called her dd a very old-fashioned name (think Gertrude or similar) i didnt like it however I congratulated her and replied lovely you found a name you love and agree on. She burst into tears as I was the first one who bad been positive about the name

So 99% of people didn’t like the name. Yet she is planning to give her name to her child, who will have to deal with these same reactions every single day of her life.

I can only conclude that these people hate their kids.

@Tlollj and @Billandben444 thank you Who says mums can't do dad jokes, eh?

I was a teacher for a long time and most odd and unusual names just seem normal quite quickly. And I never encountered any kid being bullied for their name either! But Maybe would just cause so much confusion on too frequent a basis. It’s such a commonly used word.

@PlanterGents

if you say it in the same Southern drawl that Dolly Parton has (think Steel Magnolias), then it kinda works smile

Ahh, not a rough Essex one then? Which is what most around us have to offer

Oh no that's even worse and before anyone starts I live in Essex it won't sound cute or nice

I think parents should do the "would I like to be called.....?" test.

I can't imagine anyone would like to be called "Maybe"!

But at least Gertrude is a name. Wouldn’t be my first choice but it is a name.
It’s all about showing off, being centre of attention. Meanwhile the poor kid is saddled with something that most people will think it’s ridiculous, not just not your preference but actually ridiculous.

I used to work with a (Japanese) Meibi, and it did cause confusion over the phone, on taxi bookings etc etc. It's just one of those things with international names. Different if parents have knowingly used the homophone of a commonly used word.

In some ways, I think it's worse to have a slightly daft or confusing name than an all-out shocker. If you're called Chlamydia, yes, you know people are silently laughing or judging, but only a tactless twat would say something to your face.

But if you're an Emmma or a Blue or (stolen from above) Kay Sarah Sarah, a vast amount of people will make harmless little jokes, usually when you've just met. There's no spite in it, but a) you will have heard every joke before, b) you have to smile, because otherwise you're the person with a daft name and no sense of humour, and c) it happens ALL THE TIME, for the rest of your life, whether you're in the mood for a mini-chat about your name or not.

I speak as someone who had a daft surname for years - and at least you can get away from that in informal settings.

It’s not just that it’s unusual it doesn’t serve its purpose which is easy identification of a person. It’s like playing an unkind joke on your kid that they will have to navigate daily. Who the hell would want to do that? 🙄🙁

Hope it’s mid pregnancy madness I came up with a few corkers. The kid will probably end up being called Eve or something.

@I0NA

I had a friend who called her dd a very old-fashioned name (think Gertrude or similar) i didnt like it however I congratulated her and replied lovely you found a name you love and agree on. She burst into tears as I was the first one who bad been positive about the name

So 99% of people didn’t like the name. Yet she is planning to give her name to her child, who will have to deal with these same reactions every single day of her life.

I can only conclude that these people hate their kids.

Precisely

She might love the name, but it’s almost guaranteed that the poor child is going to be bullied if everyone else doesn’t like the name

Hmm. Maybe. I quite like it!

One of the worst names I've come across is Oracene. It sounds like a brand of mouthwash!

I read this thread when it first started, read about Arrested Developemnt, which Inhad nvrr seen before, and started watching. Well, less than two months later I've just finished all 5 series and loved it.

And the name Maeby has completely grown on me, sounds normal to me adI quite like it now.

It does not take long to get used to a name.