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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think that if you give your child a name that more commonly belongs to the opposite sex, or name your child after a vegetable...

244 replies

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 00:37

... then you shouldn't be all that surprised to get comments from people?

Disclaimer: I absolutely believe that anyone should be allowed to name their child whatever they like, as long as it's not obviously offensive. I mean, "Fuckface" or whatever is obviously out :o

I'm asking this because I've found myself in two separate situations this week where I ended up thinking, "well, come on..." but then wondered what the MN Jury would think.

Will try to be as brief as possible:

1 - acquaintance was registering her DD for ballet lessons. Her DD is named something most commonly male.
Acquaintance to ballet school: "I'd like to register my DD "male name" for ballet class Tuesday nights at x time."
Ballet school: "I'm sorry but boys' ballet classes are Wednesdays at x time".
Acquaintance: "as I said, I'd like to register my daughter "male name" for ballet at x time"
Ballet school: "your daughter "male name"?..."
Acquaintance: (seething) "yes my daughter "male name""
Ballet school: "..."

Acquaintance hangs up and starts ranting about idiocy of school who can't grasp that "male name" might be a girl. I listen but then stupidly say "well, you have to admit, it's not usually ever that I've heard of a girl's name".
Acquaintance: AngryAngryAngry at me.

2 - friend makes reference to her teenage son whose name is in fact that of a leafy green vegetable. Person who can be a bit of a knobber in surrounding group overhears and in a sneering tone says to friend "did you say "x" was your teenager's name??"
Friend says yes. Knobber person says "you are aware that "teenager's name" is in fact a green leafy vegetable??" Friend (obviously irritated) says "yes". Knobber walks off smirking.

Friend is upset with Knobber, as was I because really he didn't need to be quite that knobbish about it... and I've obviously learned my lesson because I didn't say anything this time, but thought to myself, "well, he does have a point".

So - AIBU to think that you should probably expect comments all your child's life if you name them after a leafy green, or give a girl a boy's name or vice versa? I do understand it gets tiresome, but, well...
And want to add that I in no way condone rudeness!!! I think it should be possible to ask or comment without being horrible.

OP posts:
THEMardy · 23/09/2012 00:39

You know someone called cabbage?

Lakota · 23/09/2012 00:40

YANBU. There was a girl on X Factor this evening who was apparently called Collagen. Unusual.

Lakota · 23/09/2012 00:40

Was the teenager called Kale?

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 00:41

PMSL @ cabbage :o

Lakota, yes!

OP posts:
cece · 23/09/2012 00:41

Cabbage is indeed a strange name.

LadyBeagleEyes · 23/09/2012 00:42

Leafy green vegetable. He was called Cabbage? Lettuce?
What one, I can't think.

cece · 23/09/2012 00:42

Oh Kale, yes that would make more sense. Blush

Heavensmells · 23/09/2012 00:42

I need to know the veg name! Sprout? Spinach? Kale?

Heavensmells · 23/09/2012 00:43

Ha ha x posts big time

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 00:43

Sprout :o:o:o

OP posts:
Wetthemogwai · 23/09/2012 00:44

I'm suggesting cabbage on the next baby names thread...

What was the girls boy name?

ClaudiaSchiffer · 23/09/2012 00:46

YANBU

But in defense of some mad parents; when crazed with pregnancy hormones I desperately wanted to call dd Lettice. I mean FOR GODS SAKE WHAT WAS I THINKING. Fortunately for dd, dh put his foot down I came to my senses when she was born.

People are often idiots though and get shirty about all sorts of things, we must however feel sympathy for them and rise above it.

monsterchild · 23/09/2012 00:46

Lettuce Cup?
Chard?
Brussell?
Urach?

deleted203 · 23/09/2012 00:46

I suspect 'Collagen' on XFactor re-named herself after her favourite product having just watched her (although she should have possibly re-named herself Whisky, considering she got faintly pissed before she went on). One of my favourites was years ago when 'new' names were just coming out. I went to nursery school party where the leader had brought her 20 yr old DD and granny with her. DD had a baby.....and when I said to granny 'Oh, she's lovely - what's she called?' the old lady sniffed and said, 'I can't remember - I allus calls her Chutney'. DD was furious and was hissing, 'It's COURTNEY, gran - COURTNEY' Grin.

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 00:53

OK good - I'm glad that so far no one thinks I'm being a cow unreasonable. See how MN creeps into your thinking :o

This happens occasionally frequently in The Brain of Jacks:
Jacks:
Brain of Jacks: "uh-oh, are those judgypants I see? If you put this on AIBU, would you get flamed?"
Jacks: Blush

I obviously need a life.

OP posts:
Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 00:58

Claudia - Lettice is, ermm... pretty. It is. If you really stress the i.
It's probably best that DH intervened though.

OP posts:
SkippyYourFriendEverTrue · 23/09/2012 00:59

Kale is a ridiculous name.

You might as well call your child Brassica.

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 01:00

I like Brassica.

OP posts:
thebody · 23/09/2012 01:00

Actually lettuce is a very old Victorian name, look around any grave yard and you find a lettice( iucwim)

Personally I like chenin, and Chardonnay,, as names of course..

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 01:01

I like them as wines. Especially Chardonnay.

OP posts:
nailak · 23/09/2012 01:02

lettice is a bit like leticia?

was the girl called jack or john?

if it was jamie or something it could be unisex?

ClaudiaSchiffer · 23/09/2012 01:06

Yes Jacksmania, what was the boys name for the girl?

Gordon?

Brian?

Vernon?

TheOneAndOnlyMaryZed · 23/09/2012 01:06

YANBU.

And I can't help thinking Broccoli Grin I am disappointed with Kale as it is (almost) acceptable as a name.

Jacksmania · 23/09/2012 01:06

No, it definitely isn't what would be considered unisex.

I'll say if you all think it's ok?

OP posts:
TheOneAndOnlyMaryZed · 23/09/2012 01:08

Of course it's ok.

Why wouldn't it be?