Baby names - I need the Jewish community!

[ModernJew]

DH and I are both Jewish, but not completely observant. DH refers to us as 'culturally Jewish' rather than religiously Jewish.

Our two DCs have been named indirectly for relatives and we are expecting a DD. Both DC have English names but we are thinking of Talia for DC3, just because we both like the name. The problem comes for the middle name. We love how Talia Rose sounds but/and both our deceased grandmothers were named Rose.

The problem is that DH's grandma died when he was very young, he didn't know her. I didn't have the strongest relationship with mine, to be candid, she wasn't the kindest woman.

If we named DD Talia Rose, it will be taken as if she has been named for the grandmothers, even if that's technically not the reason we've chosen the name. My question is - is that really insincere/rude/offensive etc? Is it worse to explain to people that DD isn’t named for them, or to let them think we have honoured them even when that wasn't the intention?

No matter what you say people will think what they think.

My Great Grandmother's mum was called Emma. I'm called Emma.

Apparently I'm not named after her.

But.... I didn't believe my Mum when she told me when I was a child and I still don't believe it now.

My mother may well have told me the truth but it didn't change my thinking.

So my daughter is called Marcella. It was the name of my nanna's aunt who wasn't always very nice to her! I thought long and hard about whether or not to use it but in the end, I never knew her, my nanna would probably like that I was using a family name and I just loved the name.

Basically, it you like the name, use it :)

Choose the names you both love best and don’t explain anything to anyone.

People will think what they like anyway and any explanations will be taken as “The lady doth protest too much, methinks”.

best wishes xx

I hadn't considered that to be honest. People will think what they like, and I usually try to believe that other people's opinions are none of my business (to varying success).

It's not an offensive thing to do, though?

No, not offensive :)