To find this strange on Baby Names

[swanandduck]

Op:

Hi, DD due in three months and we can't decide between Beth and Hannah for her name. Which do you prefer?

Response: They're okay. But I prefer Jessica or Lucy.

Am I missing something here?????

OPs often seem to find it helpful when people offer alternative suggestions

And you have an idea of the person's taste from the suggestions they've made.

If someone is deciding between Beth or Hannah, then Jessica and Lucy are very good suggestions (and not random at all) as they fit the theme of traditional but currently popular

It depends, I suggest names in the same style sometimes. People often want that, or are open to suggestions. But if somebody says, we've finally narrowed it down to these three, then I wouldn't bother.

I tend to assume people are open to ideas and suggestions unless they specifically say they are not I'm sure many people still keep an open mind even if they have a shortlist.

The one that gets me is when people ask for opinions on say Taliesin and Ossian, only to get told that choosing a more unusual name is a stupid idea, why not go for Edward or William.

If they wanted a common / English name they would have chosen one!

Grrrrr.

What I hate, is when somebody says, I don't like the name Fantine-Gavroche (purely an example) and then somebody says, well, my 3 year old really suits the name Gavroche-Fantine-Mae and we get loads of compliments, so there, you are wrong to not like the name as it is gorgeous because my child is called it.

snort @ monkey magic......

This is one of the great underrated comedy joys of the baby names section, I love it there.

I'm loving the "do I just have bad taste in names?" thread in there at the moment. The Rufus one... She did need help though...

Baby Names is just brilliant. We have long-since decided on a name, but I get much entertainment from frequenting that forum...

Same here, not having any more children either!

but if I ever have a kittens I may use Fantine and Gavroche.

Or Belphoebe.

I find the most annoying thing to be as follows:

OP - what does everyone think about the name Beth?

Answer - I don't like the name Beth. I think it's hideous because my auntie used to have a dog named Beth that bit me once, so the name is ruined for me.

Umm, thanks... we'll take that on board?

I planted my leeks 2 days ago. It is far far too late and they are all going to die.

One of my favourite name threads I have ever seen went

"My Friend has just called their baby Persephone"

"Oh what a fabulous and wonderful name, I'm going to use that for my baby, thats amazing....how do you pronouce it"...

Catinthehat... eh?

Bathsheba

Is that pronounced 'Bathsheba' or 'Barthsheba'

pmsl!

I love it when a thread begins "What do you think of (for example) Tyler-Jay? I already have an Ellie-Mae and a Lexii-Faye?"

Always a few amusing replies to be had there.

Lol, this is SO true! I put up a thread asking for a second name suggestion - we already have the first name and I made it clear I didn't want comments on that - but of course, most of the responses I got were of the 'OMG what a stupid name you've chosen, do you want your child to have piss ripped out of them for the rest of their LIVES??' variety. I KNOW it's an unusual name, but I don't WANT to call him Jack or Ben. FFS.

Mudandroses

I like Jack or Ben or William. Have you thought of these as a middle name?

am laughing so hard i just snorted

Lol

I too cannot understand how the baby name threads can actualy help anyone. Some of them run into hundreds of random posts. Does anyone actually come away with a name or just a blinding headache and a craving for gin??

I'm sure I'd think 'forget it - we'll just have him chipped down at the vets' in weary submission.

Thread Hijack

I mean [patronising smile before ducking and hiding in a cupboard]

Fancy names are okay. Talesin or Ptolomy or Persephone or Tanith in whatever context. My point with weird names is; these kids have to go to 'normal' school.

John Lennon was just 'John'. John Steinbeck was just 'John'. Kate Bush was just 'Kate' etc etc.

Giving your child an unusual name does not make them 'unusual'. It just gives them a life time of explaining why the fuck they are called that.

OMFG Lamplighter. Please tell me you're trolling. You canNOT be sirrius. You really came on here to have at people who give their kids unusual names? Really??

That should read, have a GO at. Doh.

I was thinking the same thing about it the other day. OP suggests, wild example 'I like Ted, OH likes Jonathan which do you prefer'. And then get, but Ted is short for Theodore which is just awful/a chipmunks name - both points are correct which is why I'm not suggesting bloody Theodore!!

It's as though they don't realise they're not legally obliged to respond just because they've read the thread. Don't like either? Scroll on by.....