Do I be honest what I think about this name

[Driftingthoughlife]

With everything going on with DH (previous thread) I may be potentially be about to fall out with my best mate if I tell the truth
She is pregnant due in a month and she has texted me to ask what I think of the name they have chosen. I think it’s awful. She says she really values my opinion
I don’t know if I can take falling out at the moment so aibu to lie and say it’s lovely but at the same time in am thinking this poor kid has to live with this name

I'd just be honest and say its awful, but tact isn't my strong point. If people don't have a decent name then just stick to something average I'd say.

My granny was called Nellie and she hated it

Just tell her it’s lovely, what would it achieve to share your true views?

There’s nothing inherently wrong with it.

Nellie (or Nell) is the pet name for Helen/Helena/Ellen .I like it, but Nell works much better as a standalone name , and it doesn’t have the same elephant connotations.
It’s the hyphenated name that spoils it. I would suggest she chooses one of the two. Ann is nice actually, and underused.

If it's one of those made up , stupid spelling names you know will cause issues when at school, trying to find employment then give your thoughts but in a 'not my cup of tea' sort of way. Friend has said she values your opinion, so give it. If she takes offence then not really your friend.

If shes asking for your opinion then be honest. A friend of mine once asked my opinion and i was honest. I even suggested a different name which i thought would be better (similar though to what she had chosen). She wasnt offended and after giving it some thought she even ended up going with exactly what i suggested, even down to the spelling lol

My daughter is called Penelope but we call her Nelly. I absolutely adore it, but I also like the fact we can call her Penelope as well. Maybe suggest something like that? However if it was my friend I would just say, it’s lovely and leave it at that. Not really your problem if it isn’t your baby...

Also while i was pregnant myself i had a bunch of favourite names which family members all hated and put me off. Looking back im actually quite thankful now i think some of them were awful. If someone genuinely wants your honest opinion then be honest with them

If it's going to have a hyphen it could sound a bit tacky, IMO. Perhaps you could say it's lovely but you'd prefer it without the hyphen? She'd just be called Nellie - isn't there a famous baby with that name, linked to TOWIE?

I like it...it’s different without being weird

She'd just be called Nellie - isn't there a famous baby with that name, linked to TOWIE?

Linked to TOWIE? You say that like it's a good thing!!

'What an interesting name' is fairly non-committal.

Hmm I’d be thinking she’ll be call smellie-Ann at school but I also dislike double barrelled first name it’s sooo pretentious

I would just say what i thought. "Sorry, not to my taste". She asked for honestly

There are far worse names! You said there was a potential risk of fall out? Just smile and say it's lovely. No need for drama. She may change her mind before baby is born, so why risk an argument?

I am a big chicken, mind you!

I would respond with “great, I love a list of names, what else have you on the shortlist?”

When I hear Nellie I think of Little Nellie, the little vicious aircraft in one of the James Bond movies!! Maybe you could joke about that?

This is a difficult situation. my first name is actually a nickname. Fine when I was 5 but not as an adult. I quickly figured this out and now go by my middle name. Just check with her and ask if they considered calling her the proper name and then use the nickname so that the child has a choice as she grows. If they no, that is it, then leave it.

Don't be honest. There'll definitely be people in her friends and family circle who will say it's awful. It doesn't need to be you.
Plus they might end up opting for Nel once the baby is here.

You could always reply "I love the name Ellen Anne Surname" and then leave it at that.

Nellie-Anne not offensive itself but if you need to give an opinion then you can always misunderstand the name.

I think it is an ugly name, but I would tone that down and just tell her that it isn't my cup of tea.

@twinkledag do we know the same person or is there more than one zebedee out there?

Suggest she tests the loveliness of the name by starting an AIBU baby name thread.

It's a hard one... think about why you don't like it try to be nice about it, she could have a few in mind and needs help narrowing it down

Hows about...

I wouldn't choose it for my own because.... but it works with your surname.... for example

None of your buisness in all honesty.

"Well. That's certainly lovely. But do you think that it can be shortened into something that you don't like?"

Compliment (it's not hypocritical to fudge) then reccomend a second thought.

It looks like Nellie/Nelly/Nell is going through a sharp rise in popularity - the playgrounds may be full of them in five or ten years' time: names.darkgreener.com/#nellie
names.darkgreener.com/#nell
names.darkgreener.com/#nelly

(no sign of Nellie-Ann, though)