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.

I know a family who do the mother's maiden name as middle name thing - in Edinburgh.

But then I also know of a married couple - both called Lesley/Leslie (not sure which spellings!)

YANBU.

Although, being a big Scrubs fan, I wouldn't regard Elliott as wholeheartedly masculine.

Ddubs no offence intended just an opinion :)

No. 1 no issue with that.

No.2 come on, surely Kale is a girls name?

I went out with a horrible Cale as a teenager, coloured my view on the name sadly
DD has a unisex name but it's more usual for boys. it's a nice name though

My names Stevie. Just that, not short for anything. My middle name is Erin, on the basis I could use that if I wanted. I like my name, although DP has taken to calling me Big Steve.

DD1 is Erin James, just cos its cool.

I read this earlier and had a giggle at Kale, but have come back to admit I really like it now having pondered while housekeeping. . .

If you call a child cabbage or carrot you can expect to get a few odd stares and comments. Also if you call a girl George or Joshua people will ask if they have heard correctly. So use the daft unusual names if you must but don't complain about people's reactions. That's my thoughts.

I knew a bloke called Sprout. He was most odd.

Holy cow, look what happens when I go to bed for the night!

Morning all :)

Kale is starting to sound nicer and nicer, isn't it.

Just had a little chuckle about one comment, saying that Cameron was common in previous times in Scotland - one 106 year old lady whom your DD is named after does not make the case that it was a common name! :)

With regard to Mercedes being a strange name, to confirm what someone has already pointed out, Mercedes is a girls name, the car company was named after a girl.

Never said it did OP.

Oh I wish Id been mumsnetting at that time of night instead of listening to DD1 and her friends having a riotous sleepover! Then I cud have owned up to having a daughter Elliot. Its becoming more popular, DD is 4 and there is another one in the year above her at school. Our list was all unisex to match DD1s which is short for a definite girls name. It just sounded unisex and appeared on a few sites at the time as both male and female, mostly those sites were American so Im surprised you havent heard of more. I do just say 'its her name' when people say isnt that a boys name and tbh I havent had that many comments and none since she started school. I wouldnt go in a big strop though.

I love Kale tho so maybe its me

What about a boy named Sue?

I am also torn on this. I totally understand parents wanting to find a little bit of a unique name for their child BUT I think it would be awful to be a child with a really strange name. One of DD's friends is called the name of a yellow fruit with a y on the end. It is absolutely bizarre and every single time the poor child has to introduce herself people say "WHAT???" I think that must be such a pita.

On the other hand maybe some people like it and enjoy standing out a bit.

My DS1 has my maiden name as a middle name, and a fine Scottish name it is too. My mum has Macintosh as a middle name for the same reason but I agree it does seem to be dying out as a practice. The surname as first name thing is the historical origin of names like Gordon and Stewart, Cameron etc. but I don't know anyone young with their actual mother's maiden name as a first name. I do know two women called .Christian though.

Kale is growing on me actually.

I am Scottish and have moved all over the country, I have never came across a male with mothers maiden name as a name

It used to be quite common in the Scottish borders, it is not so usual now I don't think.

However, I didn't know Cameron used to be a girl's name in Aberdeenshire - every day's a school day.

I've just thought of an example from DH's family, his mother's cousin was called Chalmers which was his mother's maiden name, however he must be over 70.

I like Elliot as a girl's name - mind you I also love Ellis for a girl (used to work with someone who named their DD this).

however I heard a name at the supermarket today which tops the above by some way - Logan. For a girl...!

It's interesting how names evolve. My grandfather's brothers were Beverly and lesley. Lesley had a son named Lesley and then Les Jr named his daughter Lesley. She's called Lesley Ann by the family to avoid confusion.
Interestingly male names can become female but I can't think of any names that have gone from female to male.

I once taught a girl named Brassica blue. Kid you not.

A yellow fruit with a y on the end?

Even though I kind of like both names, you'd have to be a self obsessed berk to be offended in either of those circumstances.

Lemony?

Or melony which would just be an odd spelling of Melanie but melons are green

Bananay