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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:
ThreeLeggedHaggis · 05/04/2017 17:36

My advice... listen to your family.

ageingrunner · 05/04/2017 17:38

I think it would be unkind to give your dd a name that most people will assume is a boy's name. Noa sounds like a boy's name (unfortunately because it's lovely) but to also spell it with a spelling that's accepted to be male, is something I imagine she wouldn't thank you for. Who knows though? You'll only find out if your dd is happy or not if you actually call her Noah. To a lot of people, that suggests a big burly bearded biblical boatbuilder 🤷‍♀️

ageingrunner · 05/04/2017 17:38

Ezra is nice though Smile

kierenthecommunity · 05/04/2017 17:41

Another with a boys name and another who thought it a royal PITA Confused I've no idea why dropping the H is such a massive deal personally

Noah possibly isn't the most out there 'boys name for a girl' I've ever heard...if only it wasn't SO popular at the moment. There are three in my son's reception class. I think that'd put me off more than the gender ambiguity thing tbh

kierenthecommunity · 05/04/2017 17:43

Love Nova for a girl though. Shame it's not Hebrew Grin

squoosh · 05/04/2017 17:44

’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?’

Listen to your family.

Being brought up with a name that's perceived by the majority of the population to be a boys' name would be so tedious.

donadumaurier · 05/04/2017 17:50

If you like the name Noah and you consider it unisex, why isn't it your top choice for both? I get the cultural significance, but there are lots of beautiful Jewish names that won't leave her correcting everyone on her gender. Especially with today's transgender movement, why do that to your child?

JigglyTuff · 05/04/2017 17:52

Indeed Bertrand. You would almost think it was about the parents rather than the child ...

squoosh · 05/04/2017 17:53

That's a good point donad. I wonder why the OP is so committed to Noah for a girl, but not a son.

Logolphin · 05/04/2017 17:58

Love Ezra, dislike Noah for a boy or girl.

WizardOfToss · 05/04/2017 18:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AcrossthePond55 · 05/04/2017 18:07

Personally, thinking of Old Testament names, I've always loved the name Sephorah (variant of Zipporah, Moses' wife). But it wouldn't have sounded right with our last name. Plus, I had boys.

Redglitter · 05/04/2017 18:09

Ahhh don't you just love these threads.

OP: AIBU
99% of MN: Yes
OP: Well Im doing it anyway

Why ask opinions when you clearly have absolutely no intention whatsoever of paying any attention to posters and their experiences

expatinscotland · 05/04/2017 18:22

'Her name will still be Noah.'

Then let's hope 'she' has a cock.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 05/04/2017 18:26

If you have a girl and she's annoyed with the hassle/stick you'll be able to tell her that your family and most of mumsnet said not to do it.

ollieplimsoles · 05/04/2017 18:27

Yeah sorry op YABU...why the 'h' ? You're only adding it on to be quirky...

Poor girl

Cloudhopping · 05/04/2017 18:27

I have a middle name which is a boys name. Even in my 40's I get embarrassed about it and avoid revealing it. Don't call your daughter Noah. I know you love the name but that's not a good enough reason.

AmysTiara · 05/04/2017 18:28

Noah is lovely. For a boy.

There's a million girls name out there. The only name you can think of for a girl is Noah? Hmm

Cloudhopping · 05/04/2017 18:30

Also OP, what if your dd ends up looking a bit like a boy when she's growing up? I got mistaken for a boy quite a lot when I was a child and being able to then give my name (first name thankfully is a girls'name) cleared things up nicely for people without the embarrassment continuing for too long.

Ihateandysdinosauradventures · 05/04/2017 18:35

I have an Elijah. He's gorgeous and it's the name we settled on for him. We are both Christian and we picked it because Elijah was an amazing prophet, it's also a bit of his great grandads name.

We told folk once he was born and from the get go people told us how they hated it.

Why would you call him that.

I don't like it

My brother actually refused to call him by anything but his middle name.

Stand your ground. Choose the name you want!

maddiemookins16mum · 05/04/2017 18:39

Elijah is a lovely boys name. I know of two (both under three), that said both from our church. We also have Jonah and Isaac in our church (both baby boys under a year).

maddiemookins16mum · 05/04/2017 18:40

And a Jeremiah.

kali110 · 05/04/2017 18:40

Then why ask op?
You'll have to get used to it, as you can see on here the majority agree with your family.
I only have an unusual spelling, yet i have had nearly 35 years of people questioning it, assuming it is spelt a different way and actually asking me if it was spelt that way.
That is just a unusual spelling.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 05/04/2017 18:47

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

True

although those might have changed in 20th Century UK.

That is the crux of it.

Ihateandysdinosauradventures · 05/04/2017 18:49

At our toddler group we have Elijah, Joshua, Martha, Mary, Titus (took me a bit of getting used to)

I also know a Malachi. I love his name.

My Elijah is most definitely an Elijah. His name suits him. I haven't met another one.

I adore Ezra! I know one and he is cute. And I adore Noah for a girl.

It makes me giggle to see all those saying...it's a boys name! You can't call a girl a boys name...

Did we not break down gender toy and colour barriers... why not names. Why do we fixate so much on names instead of saying... we can move past that!

I worked years ago with a guy called Stacey. Really nice chap he was to.