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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Seriously talking to me cousin about her baby name choice

84 replies

Festinalente · 27/07/2014 05:16

This is my first post, if I get anything wrong I'm incredibly sorry.

For a bit of background, my cousin and I are in our teens, great friends, yet total opposites.

She is having a baby any day now and is set on naming her 'Nevaeh', when she told me I just smiled and nodded my head thinking she was either kidding me or would change her mind as usual.

Am I being unreasonable to ask her to consider changing the name?

Luckily enough she is using a classic middle name under my persuasion, so the baby will always have that to rely on.

Thank you for reading my post.

OP posts:
steff13 · 27/07/2014 05:19

That's becoming a more common name here in the US, "heaven," spelled backward. While I personally hate it, I think you would be unreasonable to say anything about it, unless she asks for your opinion.

Original poster
Festinalente · 27/07/2014 05:20

*my cousin

What an embarrassing typo for my first post. Sorry again. Blush

OP posts:
CarlyRichards · 27/07/2014 05:27

Yes, YABU. None of your business what she names her child.

NinjaLeprechaun · 27/07/2014 05:40

Nevaeh isn't quite as popular as it was a couple of years ago, but last year (I checked) it was still in the top 50 in the US, top 100 in Canada and Australia, and top 150 in England/Wales, so it's hardly the weirdest name going.

RitaConnors · 27/07/2014 05:42

I would leave it.

There's worse names and this one of the first decisions she's making about her own baby, and you are criticising it.

MsVenus · 27/07/2014 06:14

Just buy her a pot of nivea face cream as a baby gift. She may take the hint or not.....

Mumof3xox · 27/07/2014 06:16

Yabu

What buisness is it of yours?

I work with children and have met about 6 nevaeh's in the last ten years

midnightagents · 27/07/2014 06:32

What is it you don't like about it? Is it the spelling? I don't think it's too out there as names go, sounds like Niamh (pronounced neve). Which is very popular at the moment. We even considered it for our dc.

I wouldn't bring this up with your cus if I were you.

Andrewofgg · 27/07/2014 06:35

MYOB

Delphiniumsblue · 27/07/2014 06:35

Her choice- people choose dreadful names all the time- it is very subjective.

fizzylime · 27/07/2014 06:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nooka · 27/07/2014 06:46

I always thought Nevaeh was a bit of an urban myth until I met a young couple waiting with us at the GPs a couple of months ago. They announced the name (and it's rationale) ever so proudly, and everyone looked a bit surprised and then went back to cooing at the baby. I do think it is a fairly ugly sounding/looking name and really quite naff but agree that it would be totally out of order for you to challenge it.

nooka · 27/07/2014 06:46

Pronounced Nee - va (like Eva)

Mumof3xox · 27/07/2014 06:47

Nev-ey-ah

FatalCabbage · 27/07/2014 07:36

At least it's Nevaeh and not Neveah. "It's heaven backwards" - no it isn't.

hoboken · 27/07/2014 07:41

It is up to her what she names her child. It would not be my choice (Nivea for a nickname?) but so many names are so much worse.

YoniMitchell · 27/07/2014 07:41

When/if you have a baby then you can decide on the name. Until then, butt out, it's none of your business no matter how weird unusual the name.

LongTimeLurking · 27/07/2014 07:47

MN rules state that no matter how unbelievably crap the chosen name is, you are not allowed to criticise.

YANBU, it is a shitty name.

GertieFinkle · 27/07/2014 07:49

I managed to talk my friends out of a really dodgy name for their child. Now they (literally) look back and laugh at what they were going to call her. She has a perfectly gorgeous name thank goodness.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 27/07/2014 07:52

You can't ask her to change the name but you can gently say that such an unusual name might be challenging for her in life with spelling and pre conceptions etc. depends what your relationship with your cousin is like.

SapphireMoon · 27/07/2014 07:55

Heaven backwards. I didn't notice that.
I think you will have to bite your lip.
What does the father think?

crashbandicoot · 27/07/2014 07:56

i think it sounds ok "neeva" and only when it is written down do you realise it's a bit gimmicky so i think the baby will not have too many problems tbh. i am so dumb that it also took me a while to realise it was heaven backwards so some people won't click either.

nb i have heard of much worse names anyway. so, sorry OP but you are BU but it is just because you care!

CheerfulYank · 27/07/2014 08:00

Here in the US it's Nuh-VAY-uh and I know a few. I don't like it but it's no worse than Madison, Kinley, etc, and I know some of those too! :)

superbagpuss · 27/07/2014 08:02

I have one in my family

it suits her very well and she's grown into the name

yabu its not your child

another cousin gave his daughter my name, that was more weird

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 27/07/2014 08:02

It's pronounced Nev-ay-ah.

I think it's terrible personally, worse when it's spelled incorrectly.