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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's rude to comment on someone's choice of name like this?

241 replies

ThatWasMean · 01/10/2014 14:33

I don't know if it's just pregnancy hormones that are making me feel this way so I may well be being unresonable and probably quite silly but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I'm expecting a baby girl and me and DH have already picked the name out for her. It's not a common name and in fact has never been a popular name in the UK, however it was fairly popular in the US at one point. Even though it's unusual I wouldn't say it was unheard of and it's certainly not weird or out there by any stretch of the imagination.

However there have been a couple of occasions where we've told people what we're going to name her and they've just outright said "that's a horrible name!" Shock.

I get that it's their opinion and everybody has names they don't like. There are lots of names I don't like however I realise that other people do like them and I would never dream of telling someone that I think it's an awful name if that's what they were going to name their baby. I would just smile politely and nod.

I should add we haven't had all negative comments, there have been lots of lovely reactions too but I was just surprised that people felt the need to tell us they think it's horrible after we tell them that's what we're naming her.

Would you tell someone if you thought their chosen name was horrible?

OP posts:
ShadowStar · 01/10/2014 20:39

I would think it was pronounced Dah-na rather than Day-na if I saw it written down.

But either way, it's certainly not a horrible name and I can't see any immediate reason why a Dana might be teased for her name.

Noshowofmojo · 01/10/2014 20:39

Great name, anyone who says otherwise is a rude idiot or jealous they never picked it themselves.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 01/10/2014 20:42

I really like it, its really nice. My friend's cousin called her little girl Dharma, I like it.

moxon · 01/10/2014 20:46

viking Blush - at least I wasn't the only one!

waithorse · 01/10/2014 20:47

You're "friend" sounds horrible. I echo a previous poster, ditch the bitch and keep the lovely name.

PacificDogwood · 01/10/2014 20:48

I cannot believe your 'friend' continues to go on about it! [shock
That is really shockingly rude, no matter how much she dislikes the name.

I get confused (English is not my first language) between Zara and Sarah - I have to stop and think before I say either name, but I do like them both.
Same with Dana - it is lovely either way, and she will soon become known by either pronunciation.

ithoughtofitfirst · 01/10/2014 20:48

LOVE.

Arcadia · 01/10/2014 20:48

Isn't there a Dana in Homeland? I like it!

Jarca · 01/10/2014 20:50

It's a lovely name. My SIL's name and my niece's as well.
OK, I'm Easter European and here it's usual name. We pronounce it Da-na not Day-na.

DanyStormborn · 01/10/2014 20:51

There's no way she'll get teased for being called Dana. I don't understand how she's getting so opinionated about this name, it's so inoffensive. I would tell her that it's not up for discussion anymore and her comments are upsetting you.

Andrewofgg · 01/10/2014 20:54

Lovely name. And I can't imagine a baby girl it wouldn't suit. Flowers to you.

FinnsMum19 · 01/10/2014 20:54

Love it!

FinnsMum19 · 01/10/2014 20:54

Love it!

enriquetheringbearinglizard · 01/10/2014 20:56

I don't suppose it will make any difference to you OP and it probably shouldn't but
likewise if someone's writing it down I will also spell it for them and that takes a couple of seconds too

It does take a couple of seconds but I have people I've known all my life and also people I correspond with by email every day for work who spell my name incorrectly every single bloody time, even when they press 'reply' and my email address is my name.

My name only has four letters Sad

ChippingInLatteLover · 01/10/2014 20:56

I think you are telling porkies Grin

I don't think it's Dana.

FuckOffWeasel · 01/10/2014 20:57

If you ask for an opinion you get what you deserve, but since you only mentioned the name your friends are being arseholes.

I tend to dig my heels in when people tell me not to do something so I got stuck with dd's dodgy name Grin

AMumInScotland · 01/10/2014 20:57

For the 'friend' who keeps saying it's horrible, I suggest saying "Well, if you make one more bitchy comment about it, you won't ever have to say it again, because you won't be seeing her or me. Your choice."

ScrambledeggLDCcakeBOAK · 01/10/2014 20:57

Dana is a fine name!

Don't take any notice!

I have a nephew and a nephew in law with same (American) name I don't like the name but would never say to the parents as it's none of my business what they have named their child!

PacificDogwood · 01/10/2014 21:00

enrique, I have an (unusual) three letter name and I always spell it and it is rarely taken down correctly - I sometimes get mail/email with not a single letter of my name being correct Grin
I answer to almost anything….

Parietal · 01/10/2014 21:05

great name. i've a colleague from Belgium with that name.

it is also the name of a foundation which supports research into the brain, in case your DD grows up to be a neurosicentist
www.dana.org/

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 01/10/2014 21:06

Dana. I don't get why people are being so negative. It's beautiful elegant and very pretty.
Your baby your business your choice. Infact if I were you I'd have the name now out of spite.

MokunMokun · 01/10/2014 21:17

Ah, I really love it!

We didn't tell anyone our names until after the baby was born. It is better that way if you have made up your mind.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

emms1981 · 01/10/2014 21:20

My name is Emmalene as my mum and dad didn't want it pronounced emma line but nobody ever spells it right, I was called emmalena for ages at work. When I was a child I wished I had a simple normal name. Both my childrens names were kept to myself and husband until they were born because I thought nobody can be rude when you have the baby in your arms.

RedRoom · 01/10/2014 21:22

I think Dana is a pretty name. The 'a' ending is very feminine. Don't get their problem with it, tbh.

ContactIssue · 01/10/2014 21:30

I knew a Dana (day-na) in school! She'd be about 23 now I think. I like it.