AIBU to be upset at DM's reaction to new DD's name

[Ladyonashortfuse]

We had great trouble picking a name for our new DD - she was actually nameless for a week while we trawled through 4000-odd names on the Internet, books etc. I mentioned some of the shortlisted ones to DM the other day: her favourite was one DH didn't really like and she said something quite rude about the one we have now chosen, which I sort of ignored at the time. When I told her (on the phone) the name we had eventually chosen there was a silence, then she said, 'You're joking?' And then, 'Oh, well, I'm pleased she's got a name at last anyway.' She is now persisting in calling her Baby so as to avoid saying it. Am feeling oddly hurt. It is a relatively unusual name in England, but it's quite pretty (I think) and not like we called her Moon Unit or anything. Should I have taken her preferences into account?

I think it's beautiful! Congratulations

that is a beautiful name!

not that that chnages anything - none of her business.

It always seems to me to be a shame to give a child a name simply because it is pretty. Clients of mine have chosen 'Klamidia', 'Bacardi', 'Thierry-Ann' (for a girl) etc etc etc for that reason. Then there are the faux clever ones - 'Neveah' sticks in the mind: fine, but what DOES heaven spelled backwards signify? Tia-Maria was good but her other names make her too identifiable for it to be postable here. And those chosen by mistake - 'Spatula', 'Virgina' - or misspelled - 'Antwun'. While who can forget 'Social Services Victim'? (The Registrar wouldn't wear that one.)
Forgive my view, but a name is an opportunity to connect a child to something of significance in its family, its culture, the World as it entered. I have friends and relatives who wear their Welsh names with pride (none more so than my father) but I do get a little peeved when they are used by anyone who chooses just because they are pretty. To take a name from another culture for that reason does seem a little ill-mannered.
So while the OP's MIL needs to start using the name without delay, I don't think for her to have asked "You're joking?" when the OP had chosen a name that had no relevance to the child (forgive me if I have that wrong) and was the very one from a selection that she had said she didn't like, is necessarily as awful a response as other posters believe.

We told MIL that we were letting DD1 choose DD2's name, and that we were delighted to be proceeding with the name Princess Princess.

Someone I know maintained all throughout her pregnancy that she was calling her baby girl Hrotswitha (completely relevant to the lady's career incidentally, and the original 10th century Hrotswitha was pretty bloody awesome, but still, you know, Hrotswitha), and everybody was afraid to comment, but the relief was palpable when the baby was born and she called her Alice. :)

What's the name?

Bamboo

It's earlier in the thread. It's mentioned earlier on this page.

It's Eleri

What a beautiful name. Your DM, needs to get over herself & to get a bloody grip

Ignore. We've told a few close family members of our name choice for dd (due in august) it's not dissimilar to your dd name actually. We've had a lot of 'oh, really?' Type responses. I had a wobble about the name for about a week and now I'm over it and sticking to the name as planned. Congratulations, it's a lovely name

Eleri is a gorgeous name.

notyoda thank you I'd missed that!

I think celery is a lovely name

Eleri is a lovely name - as you say not that common (in England at least) but very much a 'regular' name.

As others have said - its your call. (don't feel to bad about the delays, my kids were not registered until the last couple of days for same reason ) :)

Eleri is a really pretty name.

When i picked my 3rd childs name both my parents (theya re not together so told them seperatly) said they didn't like the name we picked. Well, taht just sealed the deal.

i refused to tell them the names of my next two kids till after they were born, my mum was not happy.

Tough.

Well, I think you've hit the baby name jackpot - traditional, pretty, and rare! Really great choice IMO and well worth the wait it took you both to get there.

Regardless, even if it was an awful name your mother is rude and inappropriate. A friend once said she never told anyone the names she and her husband picked for their children until the baby had arrived, because people will critique an abstract name till the cows come home, but once the baby is born and the name chosen, criticising the name is criticising the baby, so people don't go there. A shame your mum missed that memo.

Ignore anyone's opinions except your DP's. My friend called her son Jesse ( as it turns out a name that is in the bible) and was told by her parents that it was too new fangled! Her Sister then emailed her and said as she didn't like it either could her children call their new cousin by his initials!!WTF??!!

Lovely! Congratulations

It's lovely, never heard of it but liked it straight sway.

icanteven Did she pronounce it Rotsuit, as't should be?!

Blimey I thought it was going to be something really weird. Eleri is quite common in my world. It's only the Welsh version of Hilary. I have a relative called Dewi and it drives me crackers the way people manage to mispronounce it when it is incredibly simple to say.

I hope your Eleri gets her name pronounced properly.
Congratulations on your new sprog and her nice new name. May they live happily ever after. At least you didn't name her Hilaria which is another version of the same name and gave her a sensible Welsh name that bestows happiness and laughter - of the good sort.

Huppopapa you have an interesting way at naming babies but not everyone thinks like that at all

They pick a name because they are pretty or just like it. Both of my children's name are typically Irish though well known in English. I have no connection to Ireland at all. I just liked the names

No, DM doesn't have a say. It's too bad she didn't support you and your choice. Naming your child is about giving her something beautiful that expresses how much you value and love her, something you hope will capture her uniqueness and potential. As long as it's not all about you showing the world how cool you are in picking a really amazing name, be happy that you found a name she can be proud of.

Going through baby name ideas with DH's grandmother we said that Holly was on the list. GM was outraged - "You can't call a baby after a plant that isnt even a flower!" Her name was Ivy.
Then when dd arrived we told my dm what we'd chosen and her reactions was "Eeww, it sounds like Germoline". But within a couple of days she couldn't conceive of calling her granddaughter anything else.
Eleri is beautiful. It's hard to chose a name that suits baby, child and adult, but that definitely does. Congratulations too.

Gorgeous name. When I told my DM dd2's name she gave me a funny look but I was adamant and so was DH. Her name is Elara (Greek name root just like dd1, me and DH plus named after a moon just like dd1.

Your baby your choice.❤️

My mother has refused to learn to say my oldest child's name. She either just points and says "that one" or calls him a name she has made up. He is 14. My mother is going into a care home at the very earliest opportunity.

Beautiful name OP and I'm not biased just because I have an Eleri

I wanted to call DS Auberon but my dad put his foot down. DS, whose name is Nicholas and who is 12, is very grateful to his grandad!