Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Not wanting to explain my DD name

161 replies

HidingInTheBathroom · 24/09/2011 10:35

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.

OP posts:
carabos · 24/09/2011 17:27

Dallas is a lovely name. You don't have to explain unless someone asks the provenance. It's rude of people to pull faces or make adverse comments.

LilQueenie · 24/09/2011 17:38

I like the name and I feel anyone who pulls a face when its metioned is rude.

ItchyChin · 24/09/2011 17:39

I would assume she was conceived in Dallas... my other thought is indeed Debbie. That probably says more about me though?! YAB a bit U. Agree with everyone else it goes with choosing an unusual name runs away

flyingspaghettimonster · 24/09/2011 19:11

I would have assumed you were a J.D. Robb fan and not asked...

TheLadyEvenstar · 24/09/2011 19:21

Oh I always have to explain my name to people.

I was named after a nurse and have a double barralled first name. I always get

"Oh what an unusual name"

It is annoying at first but you get used to it. Grin

nooka · 24/09/2011 19:28

I have an unusual name and it is always an early topic of conversation. So long as you like your name and you have a good answer it's not an issue. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to like the unusual name. Some people are conservative. Some people won't like the sound, some might have particular associations with the word (Dallas makes me think JR personally). And some will both like the name and the association.

You need a good stock answer, I think a combination of after my favourite great aunt and it's an established Scottish name will probably put the conversation to bed nicely. Because people always wonder why an unusual name.

prolificwillybreeder · 24/09/2011 19:30

You will as others have suggested most likely have to explain her name for a few years but hey! You probably knew that though.

< I really like her name btw >

soverylucky · 24/09/2011 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Voidka · 24/09/2011 19:33

If you named her after someone surely you want to explain why she is called Dallas, so you can explain about your Aunt?

BadRoly · 24/09/2011 19:35

Our dc4 is called Redcliffe, Red for short. We knew when we named him that we would always be greeted with raised eyebrows and people wasnting to know why. What makes us laugh is how often he gets called Fred...

cat64 · 24/09/2011 20:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

DawnTiggaWeirdyBeardy · 24/09/2011 20:21

YABU if you give a child an unusual name and or spelling you are going to get questions. You can't do something like that and then get precious.

TheCubWillGrowUpHavingToExplainHowToSpellHisNameTiggaxx

DoMeDon · 24/09/2011 20:29

Have only read first page so this has probably crossed someone else's mind but I would be think of 'Debbie' if I heard that name.

YABU- 'you brought it on yersel' as my nan would've said

PumpkinBones · 24/09/2011 20:29

YANBU.

Pulling faces at someones name is incredibly rude. OP, you are not being precious. Lots of people just have very poor manners. WHy does meeting someone with an unusual name mean they have to comment / ask questions / visibly react?! If you meet someone who looks unusual, it isn't acceptable to start questioning them on their appearance is it?! ANd expecting them to justify it? FFS.

SlinkingOutsideInSocks · 24/09/2011 20:40

Gawd, it's not that unusual a name...? Confused Where have some of you been living?

My neighbour (parents' generation) growing up was called Dallas and also the Mum of one of my school friends.

In the unusual name stakes, it's really a bit of a fizzer compared with some of them out there.

soverylucky - the OP didn't choose the name because it's 'unusual'; she chose it to honour her great aunt. Growing up with the name, it probably doesn't sound in the least unusual to her at all. Not least because it's not unusual! Grin

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 24/09/2011 20:41

I'm sorry i must be naive I had not herd of Debbie. And now feel sick to my stomach that you could mention that. My DD is only 20 months and you mention porn.

I new it was unusual but just don't like how people can be rude. I don't mind explaining it I just don't like when they pull there face.

Thank you all for commenting though.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 24/09/2011 20:46

Don't then. Change it to Jane.

DoMeDon · 24/09/2011 20:52

Oh please - it is what came to mind. Nothing to do with your 20 month old. You come across a bit ensitive and high maintainence. Chill out.

PumpkinBones · 24/09/2011 20:54

Exactly SlinkingOutside - how narrow minded are some people that hearing an unusual name makes them visibly, and rudely, react?! Dallas isn't even particularly outlandish - Didn't the famous Hoffa family, in the 50's, have a daughter called Last-One?! I went to school / college, with a January, Bronte, and Solo, to name a few - would never occur to me to make a face and demand an explanation!! OP, anyone commenting on your daughter's name, in real life or on here, just has bad manners, it's as simple as that. You have chosen a lovely and special name for your DD - people can find unpleasant connotations to the most innocuous names, so take no notice.

StellaNova · 24/09/2011 20:56

"I don't mind explaining it I just don't like when they pull there face."

Well, I think that is fair enough. How rude of anyone to pull a face when told the name of a child. Saying that's unusual, or why did you call them that, is one thing, pulling a face is just obnoxious. YANBU.

StellaNova · 24/09/2011 21:00

Although, your initial AIBU was "to not want to explain my DDs name" not "to be cross that people pull faces when I tell them my DDs name", so actually YABU, if I am being a stickler for form.

Original poster
HidingInTheBathroom · 24/09/2011 21:08

Ok let me explain my self proper. I don't mind when people ask where her name comes from in a nice manner. It is the ones who pull there face meaning then I feel like I have to give a explanation of her name.

I am no good at explaining myself at times.

OP posts:
ReindeerBollocks · 24/09/2011 21:09

It's your daughter I feel sorry for, not you.

You think explaining the name is bad now, the girl is going to be explaining this name for the rest of her life. So you need to lead by example and just have a one line reply for the name. 'yes it's a lovely name isn't it, she is named after a very dear relative'.

I really like the name, but I think it's a bit rich for you to be whining about it.

ReindeerBollocks · 24/09/2011 21:10

X-posted. If it's just when they pull a face, just kill them with kindness, it'll stop them in their tracks.

pithtaker · 24/09/2011 22:34

I have an unusual name (thanks mum) , but aside from the having to tell people twice what your name is, it really is no bother.

Swipe left for the next trending thread