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...

[Jacksmania]

... 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: 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.

PMSL at this thread!

I got to Kale by myself, but only after going through Cabbage and Spinach too.

Elliott - I did wonder! We have a female one of those in DS's football group as well - threw me.

I don't like doing that. DH has an ostensibly girly name (thanks to American usage, originally it was unisex) and sufferered for it - now he doesn't mind so much because he's a sales rep and it gets him in some places he might not otherwise, because they think he's a woman

Ellis is another one - I always think "boy" but I know that people use it for girls as well.

Oh and YANBU, btw. :)

Won't anyone think of the Swiss Chard???

Apparently there's a figure skater called Elliot Pennington.

No, wait, that's a man.

Perhaps confusing with George Elliot?

At least the girl's not called George :o

But that's not so bad, Jack - I've a friend here called George, short for Georgina. :)

George is fine if it's short for something. But seriously, George just as it is for a girl? Urk.

I might perhaps be a bit sensitive to the whole issue because I've been dealing with having an unusual name since age 12. People's comments get so tiresome. I've often wished my mum had named me something different.

How about Kevin for a girl, I wonder if that could become popular.
Or Arnold.

I know a female Arnie. Although it's actually Ar'nie.

And I pressed post too soon, she's not British.

We named DS2 Sol.
I have come to expect people giving me the or saying Saaaauuuull.
Who'd have thought such a short name would need so much explanation.
But hey, I think it would be unreasonable of me to be annoyed or angry with people who ask about his name. If it bothered me then yes I could have called him Brian.

My DD is named Cameron.
I have no problem with explaining, yes she's a girl etc etc
Because it is more commonly used for boys......now.
Years ago it was more common as a female name.
So YANBU.

Pig - Sol as in Spanish for sun? That's pretty cool :)

yes exactly, latin innit

sometimes just for kicks I say he's named after the beer.

:o

No worse than naming a girl Chardonnay!

i usually save the beer comments for those who i suspect have their judgey pants on.

:o

I think it's trendy now to give girls names more commonly used for boys. Maybe because of slebs like Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Drew Barrymore (Glenn Close?) and TV shows where there are female characters called Elliot and Rory etc.

I have a friend called Davinia. I call her Dave.

Littletrees, I'm not being snotty at all, genuinely curious: why is the distinction important to you? Is the original fab and the remake just crap?

Elliot from scrubs does say that her dad wanted her to be a boy though.

Pg hormones are tough, I have an unexplained liking of the name Reid atm, dp just keeps saying Reid read your book, I still like it though

Just thought, Elliot from scrubs last name is Reid

I know a woman called Steve - just as it is, not short for anything.

mr miyagi?