Upset about critiscm of unborn child name.

[patronsaintofglocks]

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?

Getting annoyed" when people assume you're male when you have a male name (especially one like Gabriel) is a bit bloody dim, isn't it?

That's the point though Molly - it was her parents who named her (after the angel). A perfect example of being stuck with a name your parents gave you, and having to spend the rest of your life explaining it.

Indeed Expat.

As has already been stated, you've chosen unusual names so get used to criticism/odd looks. I personally would never say I thought a name was shit to a parents face but I'd be doing this in my head...
Also, yes-no sharing names before the birth.

Just ignore them - if u like a name use it. [Flowers]

I have 4 different friend groups, each one has a boy named Ezra born in the last 12 months.... I'd never heard of it until George Ezra released music!
Noah is a manly name, i find it quite brash, certainly not suitable for a girl.

Where is the OP?

Some stats:

In 2015 (last year of full data)

Boys named Noah: over 4,000 (7th most popular name)
Girls named Noa: 66
Girls named Noah: 6

So there are over 600 male Noahs for every female Noah. That's why little Noah will be constantly mistaken for a boy when people see the name written down. In that spelling it is a very masculine name in this country - in part because it is SO popular for boys.

I have 4 different friend groups, each one has a boy named Ezra born in the last 12 months

I know two! Sometimes there's a name that comes out of nowhere (or at least relative obscurity) and suddenly it's everywhere. Ezra is definitely one of those names.

years of school bullying and awkward questions ahead for her then.

After the angel, God love her... Did she not know angels are male?

Genuinely surprised at the amount of people who have never met a female Noah- most Noahs I know are and I'm in Scotland.

Really, mayoli? Here are all the girls' first names registered in Scotland in 2016 that start with No:

Noa 5
Noelia 2
Noelle 3
Noemi 4
Noemie 1
Nola 8
Nolah 1
Nontlantla 1
Noomi 1
Noor 5
Noor-Fatima 1
Noor-Ul-Hayya 1
Noor-Ul-Huda 1
Noor-Ul-Imaan 1
Nora 13
Norah 12
Noreen 1
Norri 1
Noura 1
Nova 19
Nova-Leigh 1
Nova-Louise 1
Novah 5
Novalee 1

(307 boys registered as Noah, btw.)

And here's the same data for 2015:

Noa 3
Noeh 1
Noelle 1
Noemi 2
Noemia 1
Nolah 1
Nolha 1
Noor 8
Noor-Fatima 2
Noorah 1
Nora 9
Norah 6
Noriee 1
Norviyah 1
Nour 3
Nova 10
Nova-Leigh 1
Novah 2

(265 boys in 2015.)

I would usually say to ignore them but your girls name is top 10 boys name in the UK. That means that you will find people commenting on it and you are already pissed off at that after less than 9mths - call her something else would be my advice

I have a friend who was called the male version of a name which has a female version. She never used the male spelling...

Giving a child a name with a cultural meaning is fine, but you need to consider how it is perceived by the dominant culture too.

I saved the unusual ethnic names for my DCs for their middle names. Their first names are fairly conservative as after many years of teaching teenagers who were irate at yet another person saying or spelling their name wrong or just struggling with something being very unusual or apparently illogical put me off wanting that to be the world's first impression of my children. Some children grow into unusual names, but first impressions do count, and some children want to blend in not stand out.

I love love love Ezra.

Noa is an unusual and charming girl's name.

Noah is a boy's name. Please don't.

'After the angel, God love her... Did she not know angels are male?'

They don't actually have a gender. They are pure spirit, have never been human, but can take on human form, presumably in either gender.

This reminds me of a primary school-aged girl I know named Nathan. Her mother was once told that she was "incredibly brave to be so accepting of her" by someone who thought said child was trans. So that's definitely something to take into consideration if you want to name yours Noah.

I would pick better names or grow a tougher skin.

At least Phaedra's obscure. There are a ton of little boys called Noah around.

Just ignore them - if u like a name use it.

Really, even though it's your child who has to live with the name, not you?

Why don't people change their own names by deed poll to something extremely unusual they've decided they love? Seems fairer to inflict all the confusion and jokes on themselves than on their child.

I like both Names for a boy and Noa spelt the female way for a girl is nice.

Ignore people criticizing your choice of names, it's so rude. I would ignore your family too, it's nothing to do with them what name you go with!
I think names within the top 50 are beyond boring (especially because I have one and always wish my parents had named me something more interesting - Noah for a girl could be a nice talking point for her!) but if somebody named their child 'George' or 'James' I wouldn't roll my eyes and say 'oh another one, how dull'.
Rather than spouting the usual 'they'll get bullied with that name', how about teaching children to embrace diversity.
I hope you go with your gut and choose whatever name you like most when baby arrives :)

it's up to you what to name your baby, but think carefully, children do get bullied because of their names. If Adults think certain names are not suitable, imagine children's opinions.

Noah for a girl? Please don't let your little girl go through life with a name like that.
Ezra mmm like it a little more but there's something about it I don't like.
But hey ho its your child, just be prepared to wipe the tears away and put on the big girl pants......