Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Upset about critiscm of unborn child name.

529 replies

patronsaintofglocks · 05/04/2017 13:22

To cut a long story short,

I am pregnant with my first child and DP and I have chosen two names.

For a girl: Noah
(I understand that many people prefer the spelling Noa for a female but we don't.)

For a boy: Ezra

I am sick and tired of my family telling us to change our minds/names. It's getting me down and making me second guess myself.

Does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
PrivatePike · 05/04/2017 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SquinkiesRule · 05/04/2017 17:06

I like Ezra, it was on our list but Dh said it was too short.
Noah I like for boys, Noia for Girls (although that is for both apparently)

Historygirl97 · 05/04/2017 17:07

Ezra is my DS' middle name. I've had nothing but compliments! However, I would avoid announcing names next time as people always give unsolicited advice!

Boooooom · 05/04/2017 17:08

Wow I LOVE both those names, never heard Noah for a girl but think it's fab. Ezra was on my boy list but OH wasn't keen.
If you're both happy with your choices then go for it.
Maybe stop telling people. I get why people keep it secret for this reason...your family will get over it!

Drivemetofolkestone · 05/04/2017 17:08

My parents gave me a "look at me" name. It's like having a big black orthapaedic boot attached to you at birth. It's the first thing people notice about you, you dread meeting new people because of it, and even though people who know you almost stop seeing it after a while, you always have to lug it about, feeling so awkward and self conscious, and pretending not to mind the endless questions, teasing and occasional bullying. And the worst of it is that the metaphorical orthapaedic boot was completely unnecessary - your parents didn't have to force it on you!

GinIsIn · 05/04/2017 17:10

I have an unusual (but not made up) spelling of a common name. Please don't do this - when you are a kid at school, it's miserable.

Dozer · 05/04/2017 17:13

If you use unusual names you - and DC - should expect comments.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 05/04/2017 17:16

More selfish than people who give their kids trendy names which then become a huge joke (Sharon & Tracey, Jaden/Hayden/Kayden/Brayden)?

Or the ones who give their kids a popular name even though they will be one of three Olivia's or four Harry's and be known by an initial all through their school years?

Some names take a bit of explaining. Those names are usually not Oliver or Jessica. But that's alright.

^❤

tinypop4 · 05/04/2017 17:17

Haven't read the full thread so apologies if this has been said. I am also from a Jewish background and know a few girls called Noa. The Hebrew version for a girl is spelt Noa so culturally you would be better off dropping the h if you want to be more accurate.

floraeasy · 05/04/2017 17:17

Totally Driveme

This happened to my sister and me, and to a lesser extent, my brother.

My mother is a narc and I am not sure she didn't do this for her ego or to make our lives hard. Hard to say. But she's tried to make my life hard in many, many ways since so I find it hard to separate the two sometimes.

*Disclaimer: Not saying that everyone who spends time thinking up something a bit different for their child has psych issues, just to be clear. I am sure it's with the best of intentions. This is just my musings on the subject based on my own life.

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 05/04/2017 17:19

Tali if I answered I'd be outed-I think she was 1 of 4 born that year!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/04/2017 17:20

Noah so awful for a girl. Let's hope it's a boy, Ezra is ok.

Yorkshirebetty · 05/04/2017 17:21

I thought Noah was a male name
Your choices, but be prepared to explain Noah is a girl. A lot!

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 05/04/2017 17:23

I am also from a Jewish background and know a few girls called Noa.

I agree. Drop the H.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 05/04/2017 17:24

Her name will still be Noah.

That's your call of course. Just be prepared for you and your DD having to explain all their lives.

ChestyNut · 05/04/2017 17:26

If you give her an unusual/ recognised by majority as a boys name be prepared for raised eyebrows and prepared for her to have the same her whole life.

Ezra- lovely
Noah- boys name

Babybeesmama · 05/04/2017 17:26

I love Ezra! Think it's a great name! And if Noah is right for you for a girl then it's right!

My MIL hates my potential girl name.. which is only fuelling me to use it more 🤣

Littlecaf · 05/04/2017 17:28

I like it. But I'm biased.

The Jewish/Hewbrew cultural trend for names ending in "ah" is throughout the Old Testament. It's not different, or quirky, it's following the proper cultural norms, although those might have changed in 20th Century UK.

Sarah, Rebekah, Deborah, Devorah, Keturah, Noah, Hadassah, Leah, Shoshannah, she even the variants which omit the "h", Anna, Hanna, Suzanna, Netanya, etc all follow that name typology. Yes, Noah is generally a boys name but it's not culturally incorrect to call a girl Noah too.

theothercatpurred · 05/04/2017 17:29

I love your name choices. Fascinating to learn there was also a female Noah in the bible. Not hard to understand is it? People will get used to it quickly.

Your biggest mistake IMO has been to post in AIBU.

It's full of posters just itching to have a go at other people for anything they can find to have a dig at. This was only ever going to go one way here.

Ignore them, they just like picking on people, it seems to me. Next time, try posting in Baby Names - you may get a slightly more considered response over there.

BertrandRussell · 05/04/2017 17:29

It's extraordinary how low down the list of priorities the person with the name is on baby name threads.

Astro55 · 05/04/2017 17:30

I've never hear so Noah for a girls - but it's really lovely!

podrig · 05/04/2017 17:33

I'm getting a lot of 'but what about when he's at primary school and he just wants to fit in' and I say 'well, if he's a dork, he's a dork, he's going to have to stick up for himself and it will do him good in the long run. Calling him Martin, or Jason, or Beetlejuice, is going to have no bearing on that and if someone wants to pick on him they'll find a way.'

Also see: a boy named Sue

BelleEsme · 05/04/2017 17:34

I love both names, their's a little girl called Noa in my DD's class. If you love the names then stick to your guns and have the names, give a shit what others think. I wasn't overly keen on my DSis's choice of names but never in a million years would I have said anything. Now they are born I can't imagine them being called anything else Smile

mygorgeousmilo · 05/04/2017 17:35

Do what you like, obviously, but as PP have said - perhaps drop the H for Noa unless you want to explain it forever. Ezra is becoming the go-to hipster kid name. In my local area it's really taken off.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/04/2017 17:35

Couldn't agree more, Bertrand! I said upthread that I can't understand why if these unusual names are so wonderful more adults don't take them by deed poll. Perhaps one reason is they don't fancy endlessly going through tedious conversations about the spelling, the pronunciation, 'Yes, I'm a woman, not a man.... Yes, I do know it's unusual for a woman to have that spelling... No, I don't know why my parents thought it would be a good idea....'

Swipe left for the next trending thread