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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Arguing about newborns middle names

105 replies

Liveinmypjs · 01/05/2019 19:27

Need advice. I had my second child last week and myself and dh are arguing about its middle name. About 3 months before the birth dh mentioned he wanted his first name to be babies middle name if it was a boy. I said I would also like my father's first name as a second middle name. He disagrees at the time but we didn't speak about it again. My argument was as the baby obviously has his surname (our surname) and also his name as middle name, that it was nice to include a connection to my family, with my dad's name. So anyway baby is a boy and on the day of his birth when it was brought up, dh said fine to the double middle name but he didn't think it sounded great. Both names are reasonably traditional and not weird. I then told my dad who was so happy. Dh then told his mum who made some sarcastic comment as per, and after that he did he didn't want my dad's name included anymore and that I had jumped the gun s it hadn't been agreed on. We have argued so much about this and he doesn't see it as important to include a link to my family. He says it's a family tradition in his family to have the middle name of your father. But surely he should be accepting of my choices too. He wants me to tell my dad we have changed our mind but I don't want to and we have to register our ds tomorrow

OP posts:
HoustonBess · 02/05/2019 02:24

Well done OP, sounds like good course of action.

100% not acceptable for him to do this, and absolutely no way after you'd told your dad.

Cruelstepmother · 02/05/2019 03:14

Yes, of course he's being a knob, but could you find some other compromise? Could you call the baby your Dad's name as his first name with DH's name as the only middle name? Or vice versa? You may have agreed a first name already but it's not set in stone (obviously!)

Rosesaredead · 02/05/2019 04:22

Definitely don't back down! I'm so angry for you! Let us know what happens x

Shoxfordian · 02/05/2019 05:41

He sounds like a knob
Interesting that he didn't care about your daughter's name. Do girls not matter so much in his family?
Don't back down op

Blondiemama · 02/05/2019 05:50

Good on you OP. Stand your ground on this one. Pregnancy, birth and newborns and bloody tough and he should be showing you way more consideration. In our house, my DH gave me free reign on middle names in reflection of putting my body on the line!

Friolero · 02/05/2019 05:57

Well done OP. Stand your ground, he's being totally disrespectful to you, and by not willing to compromise at all is acting like a total prick.

ItsThisOneThing · 02/05/2019 05:59

Stand your ground - you are right!

My son has my dad's first name as his middle name and I gave exactly the same explanation - he has my husband's family's surname so it's only fair! Plus I gave birth ;)

Fcukthisshit · 02/05/2019 06:43

He’s being totally unreasonable. Stand your ground. To be honest, if it was me - I’d go alone and only register my dads name after how he’s treated you. He’s massively out of order.

chocolatesparkles · 02/05/2019 06:54

Stand your ground! I had a similar thing.

DC1 is John Charles Michael Jones
(Middle names are DH name and my DD and DB name)

DC2 is Harry Jacob Oliver Jones

(Middle James are one me and DH liked and BIL name)

My MIL came to visit on the day DC2 was born and made a comment to my DH when he was walking them out the hospital like "I thought you would have included your DF name) FUCK OFF

My FIL hates his name (it's very unusual) and the fact we had BIL name in there wasn't good enough for her) one of the many reasons I have little contact now. Don't hurt your DF stand your ground.

Veterinari · 02/05/2019 07:05

It’s your baby not your MIL’s
You make the decision.

Ask him what’s his rationale for going back on his agreement and upsetting your family and deeply hurting you apart from want to please his mummy? He needs to consider his priorities, cut his apron strings and grow the fuck up. He sounds pathetic

ClaryFray · 02/05/2019 07:08

As he could make another in secret if your married don't be daft.

Stand your ground. Both names or none.

Charley34 · 02/05/2019 08:28

Well done OP stand your ground he is being a right dickto !
My son has 2 middle names grandfather's name from each side .

Calatonia · 02/05/2019 19:06

Don't give in and give the baby your maiden name.
This.
Since your maiden name is presumably your dad's name... .

@NameChange30

OP and DC1 already have DH's surname, so I don't see the point in giving DC2 her maiden name, DC2 will be the odd one out and won't share a surname with any immediate family. OP could change her surname back, but she couldn't change DC1's surname without DH's permission. Which will hardly be forthcoming!

Sorry, that's not what I meant... when I said "give the child your maiden name I meant as a middle name which is what I did - despite it clearly being a surname it is down on the birth certificate as a third given name for all my children: firstborn - William David Harris Bloggs (David being DH's given name) subsequent kids Laura Calatonia Harris Bloggs, etc (we moved on to grandparents' given names as middle names after that - fortunately there was a certain amount of overlap as two granddads had the same given name).

Sparkle733 · 02/05/2019 19:09

Good on you!!

Hazlenutpie · 02/05/2019 20:35

Well done OP. I hope you get some sleep soon. 💐

Justgorgeous · 02/05/2019 22:25

He’s being a controlling twat. Always stand your ground. Hope you get some sleep. 🌸

DanielRicciardosSmile · 02/05/2019 22:33

Stand your ground on this one - he's being UR.

DS has my DF's name as his middle name, and it was DH who suggested it.

Liveinmypjs · 03/05/2019 04:51

Well latest is he is now refusing to talk about it. I said all I had to say, he's now burying his head in the sand as it's something important to discuss. I've rescheduled registering DS until next week so I'll update what our outcome is but I'm not backing down.

OP posts:
Trebla · 03/05/2019 04:58

Naming veto rights go to the person who grew and pushed it out of their vagina in our house. Clearly there is some discussion but ultimately this is my call and DH trusts me not to go with something he hates

PregnantSea · 03/05/2019 06:30

Who gives a flying fuck what his mummy thinks of the name? It's not her child! You wanted different names for valid reasons, you settled on using both. End of discussion.

MrsMozartMkII · 03/05/2019 08:14

Just make sure he doesn't go and register the name without you.

redhotchill · 03/05/2019 08:25

So he doesn't agree to it and you are saying no middle names at all? So your Dad who was so happy gets his name removed anyway?

I think your DH will take this option just to be spiteful.

Stick to your guns or just go register the baby without him. He's ruining what should be a lovely time

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 03/05/2019 11:21

he's now burying his head in the sand as it's something important to discuss

What does he think there could possibly be left to discuss? You are both the parents of a baby and you have each chosen a middle name for the baby neither of which is unusual or objectionable, so the baby will have both middle names. No further discussion needed.

If he has a problem with this, it is for no other reason than that he is seeking to belittle and control you, which needs to be stamped straight on instantly. Watch very carefully for him trying to constantly criticise every little parenting decision that you make - maybe even 'informing' you that you 'should' have lost the baby weight by now or blaming you for any breastfeeding difficulties/decisions - and DO NOT stand for it.

Don't suggest the no middle names option, as that will cause you resentment and your lovely Dad sadness for no reason at all. If he went for that option, it would still be a 'win' for him and his controlling ways as the option would never have been on the table if he'd been a half-reasonable person rather than inventing an objection for no reason whatsoever other than apparently to control, gaslight and put you 'in your place'.

NameChange30 · 03/05/2019 12:20

Calatonia
Sorry I misunderstood! That makes more sense.

OP, I think the only two options should be:

  1. both middle names
  2. dad's name as only middle name
If he doesn't like option 1, option 2 it is. Using your dad's name is non-negotiable, it's what you want and you've told him you're doing it.
SnakesBarmitzvah · 03/05/2019 14:42

You can register the birth without him, but he can't do it without you. I would remind him of that. It would be a cold day in hell before I would give in to him on this. He is being massively U. Stand your ground. I feel quite cross about this!

THIS!!!