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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to announce baby's name before it's born?

102 replies

olivertwistwantsmore · 27/02/2018 14:34

Friend is pg. She's 22 weeks. Has just had her anomaly scan. She has posted a scan pic with her baby's name on FB saying 'welcome to the world, xxxxx'

Isn't it odd to name your dc before you even see them? What if the baby doesn't suit her name?? We had a name picked out for dd but then she didn't suit it at all and we changed our minds when we saw her.

And where's the element of surprise?! Friend has had a gender scan and now everyone knows the baby's name. Is this a thing? Seems odd to me...

OP posts:
Original poster
olivertwistwantsmore · 27/02/2018 14:34

Oops, thread title should read: 'to think it's odd to announce a baby's name before it's born?

OP posts:
TabbyTigger · 27/02/2018 14:34

Honestly, I can’t really imagine caring...

Isadora2007 · 27/02/2018 14:36

I think it’s odd to say “welcometo the world” before a baby is born. Saying it’s name isn’t odd but I don’t like it personally as then there is no surprise at all. To be fair I’m sure that other people having babies are not really aiming to provide me with entertainment so it’s entirely up to them.

thecatsthecats · 27/02/2018 14:36

There's no such thing as a baby's name 'suiting' them. It might feel like there is, but it's all just in the minds of the parents. HTH.

DramaAlpaca · 27/02/2018 14:36

It's a bit unusual, but she's probably just ridiculously excited.

Or maybe someone else in her close circle is pregnant and she wants to announce the name now because she's worried someone might 'steal' it.

HollyBayTree · 27/02/2018 14:37

It's a thing, Several pregnancies I'm aware of have been FB'd with a constant stream of 'I felt Horatio move today', 'here's Horatios scan pic', 'cantwait to meet horatio' etc et ... and it was indeed called Horatio. Unusual choice.

*disclaimer Horatio is a pseudonym

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 27/02/2018 14:37

We named our DS before he was even conceived Grin He's 13 now and absolutely suits his name. DD on the other hand was 2 days old before we named her

I can't see the problem if they like the name the baby will suit it

VladmirsPoutine · 27/02/2018 14:37

Honestly, I can’t really imagine caring...

This pretty much sums it up.

LeKirby · 27/02/2018 14:37

It's up to them; surely?
Odd to say "welcome to the world" though.

To me, people don't really "suit" names so it would make no difference to me anyway, personally. Everyone sees thinks differently.

isthismummy · 27/02/2018 14:37

I think it's odd. Then again I think putting your scan photo on Facebook is oddConfused

LeKirby · 27/02/2018 14:38

Things ffs Hmm

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 27/02/2018 14:38

Meh. Don’t have an opinion either way. Don’t really give a crap. “Why are you posting then?” I hear you cry? Good question! .

DeathStare · 27/02/2018 14:38

I've known a few people do this now. I've often wondered if it's a way of staking a claim on name before someone else does. (Not that I believe names are owned by anyone and can be claimed, but I know some people do)

greendale17 · 27/02/2018 14:38

I agree OP- it is odd and I have never heard of anyone doing this before

TisConfusion · 27/02/2018 14:38

I'm with you on this one OP. I know a couple of people who have done this and it seems to take away any element of surprise. But each to their own I guess!

HollyBayTree · 27/02/2018 14:39

There's no such thing as a baby's name 'suiting' them

I dont know about that ... yes you Grace, at 12lb ... or you Daisy with a shock of jet black hair!

Checklist · 27/02/2018 14:40

DS and gf have known the sex of the baby since the scan at 21 weeks (?) and they have named the baby! They always talk about her as XXXX - I suspect they don't care about "surprise"!

harlaandgoddard · 27/02/2018 14:41

I named my DD before she was born, I didn’t announce it or anything but we had a name already picked out for a boy and a girl. When she was born we thought about other names but it just stuck as we had been calling her x since the 20 week scan.

Element of surprise for who? Sorry but I don’t think parents to be should particularly care about surprising their friends and family. They are just happy to have a baby!

DeathStare · 27/02/2018 14:41

I dont know about that ... yes you Grace, at 12lb ... or you Daisy with a shock of jet black hair!

Eh? Why wouldn't a Grace be 12lbs? Or a Daisy have black hair? Daisy Lowe? Daisy Ridley?

WTFIsThisVirus · 27/02/2018 14:42

I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

I posted my second scan and said "everyone say hi to "ds" due ..."

We only ever had one name in mind for our son, and never thought of any girls names. We just had a feeling that we were going to have a boy, and what his name would be.

Original poster
olivertwistwantsmore · 27/02/2018 14:43

Honestly, I can’t really imagine caring...

This pretty much sums it up.

Well, why post? Honestly. Nobody is forcing you to.

And it is true that babies' names suit them or don't, thecats. Hmm

Yeah, friend has been documenting her pg every step of the way. It's as if she's the only person who's ever been pg...

OP posts:
Hillarious · 27/02/2018 14:44

Each to their own. People or more likely to be brutally honest with their opinions on a name, though, if you disclose it before a baby's born, ie when there's still time to change your mind.

I didn't even want to know whether it was a girl or boy until they were born, let alone name them.

YerAuntFanny · 27/02/2018 14:45

This seems to have become a thing amongst my FB friends too, they just casually discuss that "Elliott" is kicking like mad/has the hiccup's etc. Not something I would do personally but I can't say it bothers me.

Welcoming an unborn child is odd though!

Jaxtellerswife · 27/02/2018 14:45

Well however tedious it is to you she's obviously happy. If only everyone was happy eh

yougetwhatyougive · 27/02/2018 14:46

Bit strange saying "welcome to the world" but choosing name isn't odd.