to ask you what you think about comments about our baby's name?

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We have chosen to name our baby daughter Ellen after several members of my family. I've mentioned the name to a few people who I'm not likely to see again as a way of testing reaction and had several of lukewarm comments - or no comment at all! They clearly didn't hate the name or ridicule it but just seemed to be very non-plussed. Another woman described it as 'run of the mill'.

We have had some positive comments but the fact that we may be giving our DD a 'run of the mill' name has started to bother me. I'm beginning to think it may not be special enough for our precious bundle. I know it's a name that doesn't have the immediate wow factor like Anastacia or something but I think it's pretty. AIBU to call my daughter Ellen?

I really like it!

YANBU.

Personally I think it's nice, but as you say, doesn't have a wow factor.

Don't tell people what you are calling your baby, just do it!

Coincidentally I am reading The Age of Innocence and Ellen Olenska is the wonderful main character in that, so for that reason, I think you are not BU and it is a beautiful name.

I like it too :)

YANBU. Call her what you like. You're the one who has to live with it (oh and her). You'll never please everyone anyway.

I think it's beautiful & elegant.

Elin (Welsh) was on our short list.

I think it's a lovely name. Just because some people seem to feel the need to think up ever increasingly outlandish names for their children does not mean you have to do the same!

It is a fine name.

Love it!

Its beautiful. Ignore them, people are so rude. Just say 'did you meant to be so rude' a MN fave to rude people.

Best not to tell people, as whatever name you have, somebody will pull a face or say 'really?' or say nothing and then you doubt. So just don't say.

YANBU and you should be calling your baby whatever you want to call her.

You should keep your baby names to yourself if you don't want reactions. When someone told me they were calling their baby Kiera I did the no reaction reaction as I didn't like it and I thought ...'really????' and I didn't know how to arrange my face.

people are probably lumping it in with all the Ella/Bella Ava/Eve names when they think it's a bit ordinary.

Why do names need a 'wow factor'? Those sort of names become ridiculous in the long run. Ellen is a very pretty name which will stand the test of time. It is lovely for a small child, but equally Great Aunt Ellen or Granny Ellen sound resonable. THere will also not be many of them in her class/school. I may be biased as I have a neice called Ellen.

It's elegant and pretty. Ignore any cretin who says otherwise.

I know a lovely Ellen.

In the past I had a beautiful friend named Ellen, so kind, bubbly and confident. I think it's a good name! Don't worry about what other people think, names mean different things to different people!

It's a lovely name.
Anyone who questions your choice of name for your child IBU.

It's very nice indeed.
You like it because you 'get' it.
Some people have no imagination and don't.

I love, love, love Ellen

It's a beautiful name. My grandmothers middle names were Ellen and May, I always quite fancied it for any future DDs.

Agree with cardibach, though, I personally prefer names that will stand the test of time rather than having an immediate 'wow' factor. Ellen is a great name for every age your daughter will be. And you can always abbreviate it if you want.

Ellen Barkin is hardly run of the mill!

Ditto Ellen Burstyn, Ellen De Generes, Ellen Terry.

It's a lovely name, classic and strong. I don't like the trend to give baby girls stripper or princess names.

It's lovely. People are rude!

Beautiful pretty and elegant name

People can be rude. It's a nice name, it's not one I'd choose, but that doesn't mean I think it's horrible.

i always say "What a nice name" whenever anyone mentions a name, because we all have different taste and I know for sure people don't like my kids names, but it's tough!

If you love it, and it has special meaning then use it and ignore other people.

It's a great name, but even if you'd chosen Pixie Bumfluff I would still smile and say "oh that's lovely" because anything else is just plain rude.

All that matters is whether you and your other half like the name, I would not give a damn what others think. Sometimes the simplest of names become unique because they have been overlooked by others.Personally it's not my cup of tea,but she's not my baby, but you must stand by your choice and ignore the comments what suits one does not suit another.