To Not wanting to explain my DD name

[HidingInTheBathroom]

My DD is 20 month old. She is called Dallas. I have named her Dallas after my great aunt who is no longer with us as my Aunty Dallas did alot for me when she was alive and holds a dear place in my heart

My problem is that when people ask me what my daughters name they dont seem to like the answer. They pull there face and say well that's unusual. I then feel like I have too explain it.

AIBU to feel like telling them to pit there face straight.

One of my best friends has an unusual first name with an unusual spelling because her mother is foreign and it's a common name in her home country. I've known this friend for over 25 years and she's always having to spell it for people, correct the pronunciation, explain where it's from. She accepts it goes with the territory ... but has given her own children dead ordinary names so they're not plagued with the same problem :)

Does anyone really think they care? They are trying to think of something to say to make it seem they are interested.

Ooh, Dallas Winston from the original brat pack movie The Outsiders. He was played by (a very young and gorgeous) Matt Dillon...

I would be pleased to get the chance the explain it was after an Aunt, one I loved very much - your aunt will get some air-time ( rather than people think I had a huge crush on JR or Bobby Ewing).

Anyway my first thought was "Stella Dallas." Haven't seen that film for yonks.

There could be a complete about turn on this in a few years anyway and every second child being born might be named Dallas.

It's amazing how many kids in my eldest son's year (almost 20yrs) were given 'unusual' names like "Jade", "Chelsea" "Alfie" and "Harvey"

YABU of course.

Don't explain it, it's nobody;s business.

But TBH I reacted the same when my cousin named her DD Montana. It was long before Hannah Montana, so I did think why name her after a state in America.

If people are genuinely pulling faces and being obviously rude about your DD's name, then of course that is unreasonable of them.

If you're just getting a bit fed up with having to constantly explain an unusual name, then sorry, but what did you expect?

Anyone mentioned Debbie yet?..............

OP you must've known that people would comment when you named your dd. It's entirely up to you if you explain or not.

Oh come on!

You knew when you named her that people would have a quizzical look on their faces when they heard it.

Just because you're used to it now doesn't mean other people are.

It's not even because it's unusual that I suspect people do a double-take. It's because most people over the age of 35 think of the TV show and think "oh my God no - you didn't name her after the TV show????".

I bet all the people close to you and DD don't think about it anymore and she is just 'Dallas' . It's a pretty name.

Your fault though, not other peoples.

I overheard a mother in a cafe moaning that people made a face when she said her son's name. His name. Blade. What the hell did she expect?

"What the hell did she expect?"

That people might just say how nice/different/unusual-with a smile?

'She's called Dallas'

face is pulled

'It's after my aunt, actually - oh sorry, did you not know that it's a traditional Scottish name, too? Really, that's unusual '

Worth a try!

It's a lovely name.

It's way upthread, but squeakytoy I was also at school with a boy called Dallas! A redhead, iirc.

I knew someone called Dallas once, not that strange...they probs think that you honeymooned there!

i knew a female dallas, so wouldn't be strange to be either

LOL at Dallas

its a daft name

I think YABU to an extent - just because it is a normal name to you, doesn't make it so to everyone else - however, anyone who is rude enough to comment adversely on it to your face doesn't deserve an answer!

You could say "this is Dallas, named after my favourite Aunt" to just get it out the way so they don't have to wonder or ask, that would save a bit of pain for you.

I don't think it's any worse than calling your child Brooklyn, Madison, Arizona, Paris, Milan etc. Just the same, really.

I presume you actually like the name and didn't feel forced into using it. So be proud of it, say it with confidence, own it. No need to squirm and feel people are judging you.

TeamDamon That's who I think of when I hear the name too.

OP, no matter what name you had chosen, you would have met people who don't like it.

I even find myself explaining my sons traditional name to mothers of children who have more unusual or modern names.

As the others have said, either don't bother to explain or explain before they have the change to pull the face.

lol at honeymooning in Dallas (the Scottish one is three white bungalows and a heavy grey sky..)

Poor tragic Dallas Winston, is have loved him.

Stay gold ponyboy.