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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Changing DD s name

84 replies

whynowblowwind · 28/05/2014 22:57

Has anyone ever done this?

Dd is 6 weeks. Her name is nice but unfortunately it's a brand name of something. We decided early on in the pregnancy on this name as a possibility and decided to use it - I think because it "became" our dd we didn't think of the product.

But, other people do and whenever I say DDs name they say "oh like the ..."

WIBU to change it? DH thinks I'm being stupid but I'm worried about the poor child going through life constantly saying "yes, like the ...."

OP posts:
cookiefiend · 29/05/2014 01:52

There is a character on a TV show with the same name as our dd. People always mention it (even though the show is older than I am) and it drives me mad.

My name is really unusual and every time I meet someone they say they have never heard it before and ask where it comes from and it drives me mad.

You can't win no matter what you do. What is important is whether you like the name and whether it suits her. The other names you like are equally lovely but would you be annoyed when everyone says "poppy like the seed?" Etc.

enormouse · 29/05/2014 01:53

Oops posted too soon…
I think it's lovely. Not to keen on Florence but that's mostly because of PILs permanently pissed off cat.

Fwiw DS1 shares his name with an actor and it was mentioned for a few weeks after his birth. Now at 2.6 it's hardly ever brought up. Smile

Singsongmama · 29/05/2014 01:59

Keep it! Anyone who says that is just plain rude. I know a flora...the margarine never even entered my mind, it's just her name. Virtually every name can be compared to something or someone so chin up and say it confidently!

slithytove · 29/05/2014 02:04

I didn't think margarine.

Tbh, it depends how much it bothers you. Could be nice in later life. I knew a boy at school with the surname Hynes, he very quickly and to this day is nicknamed beanz.

slithytove · 29/05/2014 02:05

And I buy flora!

Ariel makes me think of the little mermaid :)

ThaneOfScunthorpe · 29/05/2014 02:59

Flora is beautiful. It would never occur to me to think 'margarine'. And even if I did I would never be so crass as to open my mouth and mention the spread. How rude.

KoalaDownUnder · 29/05/2014 03:19

Oh wow, Flora is gorgeous! Please don't change it! (Fleur is horrible.)

I grew up eating Flora spread, and I never even made the connection. And anyway, the old Flora tubs had meadows of bright golden flowers on the front, because the spread was named after flowers - not the other way around, FFS!

Please keep it. I think you'll be so disappointed if you don't.

MammaTJ · 29/05/2014 05:13

My DD has a name more associated with a product than a name too.

Initially we got 'Is her middle name Maria?' (Bet you can guess her first name now) but it stopped. It could be because I would look at them and say 'As if!' every time it was said!

I say keep Flora and people will get over it.

augenblick · 29/05/2014 06:02

Maybe also give her if she doesn't have already a middle name that you can do a lot with (Elizabeth/ Katherine) so if she doesn't like it in the future she has options. And for what it's worth I think it's gorgeous.

Rabbitcar · 29/05/2014 07:01

Keep it. I know a Flora, and no one ever mentions the margarine. I love it.

SanityClause · 29/05/2014 07:07

When people say, "like the margarine?", say "no, like a summer meadow".

People are so rude, at times.

wowfudge · 29/05/2014 07:08

Don't change it OP - my first thought was as in Flora MacDonald. It was a woman's name long, long before it was used for a product. How would you feel if in a couple of years the product name was changed? You've changed your DD's name for nothing really if that were to happen.

HelenHen · 29/05/2014 07:15

I know two people who changed dds names around 6 weeks. At the time it seemed silly but now it's long forgotten and they've both grown into their new names!

OrangeMochaFrappucino · 29/05/2014 07:16

I love Flora. I also loved Stella, which dh vetoed on similar grounds :( Luckily we only have boys!

I'd keep her name as people will quickly get used to it - and what if you change it to Poppy and then a big company brings out Poppy Margarine, for example? You never know how perceptions of names may change - Flora is a beautiful name so I say keep it!

(I also think of Jilly Cooper's Appassionata rather than margarine, btw...)

YeGodsAndLittleFishes · 29/05/2014 07:29

I love the name Flora too and don't think of the margarine.

I know a few people who use their middle names, could you give her a Poppy and Emily or the other two preferred names as middle names and then she cane choose to decide if she wants to change it herself later on.

MiniSoksMakeHardWork · 29/05/2014 09:08

Flora, as in roman goddess of flowers and spring. Definitely keep it.

Those who go 'oh like the margarine' will only find a way to cause you to dislike other names. They think they're being funny.

heraldgerald · 29/05/2014 10:56

I love flora as in Georgie mcquires daughter in the jilly Cooper books

lylasmam2012 · 29/05/2014 10:58

I love the name Flora and would stick with it! Names are hard. DD is Lyla but forever being called Layla. I have perfected the aforementioned withering stare!

goodtimesinbontemps · 29/05/2014 11:05

Flora is a lovely name and makes me think of meadows too. Btw ther is no Irish name Floragh Hmm

I guess it depends on which is the lesser of two evils, calling her your second favourite name or listening to people say 'oh like the marge' for the rest of her life :)

Mim78 · 29/05/2014 11:09

How about Fleur?

BabyDerek · 29/05/2014 11:16

Oh no, don't change it - over time the occasional comment will just go over your head, and if you really love the name (it is LOVELY) then it's not important. At this time you're probably a bit oversensitive what with post-partum hormones etc, so I would definitely wait a few weeks at least.

It's a beautiful name - don't let others annoy you into changing it! My daughter has an unusual name and I always have to repeat it at least once when people ask (or she has to repeat it!) but i've just got used to it and I'm glad I stuck with that name.

MonstrousPippin · 29/05/2014 11:21

I love the name Flora. I think you should keep it.

I can be quite sarcastic. If people said "like the margarine" to me, I'd be liable to say "yes indeed, and her middle name is Proactiv".

People close to you will get past that question in a second and won't mention it ever again. For anyone else, there's always someone who dislikes the name you'll choose and be a nob about it - you can't completely avoid it with ANY name.

InfiniteJest · 29/05/2014 11:35

Flora is a lovely name. It makes me think of lacy cream vintage dresses, vases full of lilacs and roses, and Swiss meadows. Gorgeous.

People will always find some sort of annoying association. If you changed it to Harriet, who's to say a company won't bring out a menstrual product range based on that name?

I think if you love the name, keep it!

PeterParkerSays · 29/05/2014 11:40

I went to school with a Flora Margeret - if you think just the first name causes comments, try calling your DD Flora Marge! It was a new product when she was born so her parents didn't think it's have the longevity it has.

I can confirm though that people do get bored with mentioning the connection after the first comment though so I'd ride it out. It is a nice name.

MidniteScribbler · 29/05/2014 11:44

I wouldn't really worry. Even if you change it, someone could come out with a product with the new name.