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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give my pet a human name

190 replies

Iliketoparrty · 28/09/2015 21:56

Hi I have a hamster, I just got him. I have given him a human name like Kevin but not. My SIL thinks its 1stly weird I have a hamster (I'm in my thirties) and 2ndly given him a human name.

SIL isn't pregnant but says I have taken a name way from her. She doesn't like Kevin but now I've used it she can never use it Hmm

Apparently this is a common rule for names, I should have known this. I should have waited until I knew her baby names before choosing to use a name for anything other than a baby.

Aibu to have not known this was a thing and to have laughed.

OP posts:
CheesyNachos · 28/09/2015 22:00

Oh what a load of rubbish.

Is your SIL being serious?

all our pets have human names. I realised why when I cam across a spaniel called 'Lunchbox' the other day.

Secondtimeround75 · 28/09/2015 22:01

I prefer human/ proper names on living things .

TreeSparrow · 28/09/2015 22:01

I'd have a cat called Alan and a dog called Brian if I could.

ghostyslovesheep · 28/09/2015 22:01

Kevin is a gerbils name though - Hamsters need to be called special patrol group Grin

although ours is called Mr Fluffles ....lord of the dark underworld

BikeRunSki · 28/09/2015 22:02

Your SIL is nuts. Our cat was called Eddie. I wanted Barry originally, but Eddie suited him well. I know dogs called Charlie, Millie, Maisie, George, Sally and Arthur, and a rabbit called Arthur (R for Rabbit), and cats called Barney, Malcolm and Derek.

VinylScratch · 28/09/2015 22:02

Kevin is a fine name for a hamster. Get him a friend and call it Perry.

Sighing · 28/09/2015 22:03

She's delerious. Get her sat down with her feet up and get the blood flowing to her brain for a bit.
It's very normal for pets to have human names (after all, do you speak hamster to ask what name it prefers?)

usual · 28/09/2015 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wizadora1 · 28/09/2015 22:03

YANBU, I much prefer human names for animals makes them much more interesting.
I did actually rule several baby names out due to knowing animals with the same name but I got called ridiculous for doing that.

Skiingmaniac · 28/09/2015 22:04

I've got about 15 pets - all with human names! Grin

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 28/09/2015 22:04

I had a cat called Edwina. She was a stray I picked up and the name just suited her.

ThisWillSoOutMe · 28/09/2015 22:04

TreeSparrow - I had a cat called Brian Grin

TheCatsMother99 · 28/09/2015 22:05

I don't want to out myself but my pets (cats and dogs) have all had human names. I've also known people with those names.

I think your SIL needs to get a flippin grip. No offence to you (and your hamster) but if your SIL isn't pregnant now then there's a chance little hammy Kevin here won't actually be around if/when she does fall pregnant & have a child.

LemonPied · 28/09/2015 22:05

NDN has a cat called Graham.

DoJo · 28/09/2015 22:06

Your sister in law is a hugely peculiar person - I can only advocate filling your house with hamsters, giving them all several double barrelled names, working your way through the top 1,000 baby names and cackling in her face if and when she does get pregnant and has to call her baby 'Fluffles'.

OfficeGirl1969 · 28/09/2015 22:07

She's bonkers. Animals with people names are brilliant (speaking with cats called Ben, Dave, Jeff, Angus and Walter.....Grin )

thegiddylimit · 28/09/2015 22:07

Your SIL is insane, Kevin is an awesome name for a Hamster. It's not a human name, humans should only have names like Ptolemy or Candida Wink.

wtfisgoingonhere · 28/09/2015 22:08

I got my first pet in mid twenties and it was a hamster. He was called Dave

FartemisOwl · 28/09/2015 22:08

A friend has a cat called Matthew Grin

hampsterdam · 28/09/2015 22:09

With some of the names people give their babies the line between human names and pet names is very blurred. Ywnbu to call your hamster whatever you want.

catfordbetty · 28/09/2015 22:09

Name the hamster after your SiL as a sign of your love, respect and admiration.

Pipbin · 28/09/2015 22:10

Hold up.
So you have called your hamster Clive, or whatever, and she has said, 'but I want that for DS1'. Like that is going to be a problem for her DS for life. I can see it if you had called your new baby Clive, and that was a name she wanted, she might be pissed off. But honestly, unless you have named your hamster after your dead father she can get to fuck.

FWIW I have the same name as my Aunty - never caused a problem (my uncle met her about 6 months after I was born) and my cat had the same name as my Uncle, again, never a problem.

villainousbroodmare · 28/09/2015 22:10

As the adult owner of a series of hamsters with human names (Tim, Seamus, Nora, Dymphna) I can only Grin
My dog is Shane and my cat is Emer... on hearing the cat's name my mother sighed (in good humour) "Another lovely name wasted!"

Original poster
Iliketoparrty · 28/09/2015 22:11

I did tell him we would call any future dcs by a number or vegetable. She stamped her foot at me and has decided to go home. Grin

OP posts:
grassisgreenersometimes · 28/09/2015 22:11

My pets over the years have been Jack, Jill, Peter, Freddie, Susie and Matilda so she is BU.