AIBU to want to tell my sister to change baby’s name?

[Eleanora8]

My nephew is due this week and my sis really wants to name him Atlas! Me, my parents and her friends all dislike it and my Mum has made her feelings clear and joked she hopes he never gets lost with a name like Atlas...
My sis got upset but I wanted to tell her I hated the name too but felt bad.
Should I speak up (vote yes) or keep quiet (vote no)?

@EssentialHummus

I'm interested in what makes Atlas more ridiculous than Alexander, Hector, Athena, Iris, Jason, Phoebe etc. Anyone?

Nothing. It’s perfectly fine.

DD is in a class with a boy called Achilles. He's very sweet but almost every time I see him he's asleep or crying.

Atlas was a Titan who held the world on his shoulders. It's a lot to live up to.

@EssentialHummus

I'm interested in what makes Atlas more ridiculous than Alexander, Hector, Athena, Iris, Jason, Phoebe etc. Anyone?

I suppose the others have been 'normalised' through use. Achilles is still famous for the hero Atlas is a Titan (or a book).

I've always thought the Latin use of Jesus as a first name is pretty weird. Imagine an evil Jesus?! I'm sure there's been plenty but still odd.

There's nothing wrong with giving your opinion once - I think there's room for honesty in family relationships. But be tactful, don't make her feel bad and don't keep on about it.
It will grow on you. Lots of people disliked my choice of baby names, but now they can't imagine my kids being called anything else. I did enjoy pretending that I had my heart set on some really outrageous choices though

DD is in a class with a boy called Achilles. He's very sweet but almost every time I see him he's asleep or crying.

Do you expect every ‘Noah’ to build an ark?

I've always thought the Latin use of Jesus as a first name is pretty weird. Imagine an evil Jesus?! I'm sure there's been plenty but still odd.

Not odd at all, just common in religious countries. Mohammed and Issa (Arabic for Jesus) are common names in Muslim countries.

Ds1 accidentally announced slightly less unusual but not exactly out there ds2's name at the Christmas dinner table. There were raised eyebrows all round and it wasn't well received. Dmil coerced ds1 in to "suggesting" more traditional names right up until the day ds2 was born. Now he's here I can't imagine him being called anything else. I quite like Atlas fwiw. It is rude to tell someone to change their baby's name, however much you want to.

It would be interesting to hear from more people whose parents gave them "unusual" names

I have an unusual name in that, these days, it is usually a male name. I love it, and wouldn't change it.

My family also had an unusual surname, one that lent itself to name calling. I've never heard anyone in the family say it has blighted their life, much less condemned them to a life of misery.

I actually like Atlas, and yes, at least it is a real name. A teacher friend was recently telling me about some of the names at her school (not in the UK), and you wouldn't actually be able to tell what the names were by looking at them written down.

Not your baby not your name. I personally like the name. More and more unique names are coming up at the minute. I was watching the chase the other day and they had contestants called storme, ocean and moon not even kidding.

I'm interested in what makes Atlas more ridiculous than Alexander, Hector, Athena, Iris, Jason, Phoebe etc. Anyone?

Because it's not what the CFs who like to judge others in order to try and make themselves feel superior called their little cherubs.

The idea of 'normal' is highly offensives as it really means 'white and anglo-centric'.

if she asks - yes id say its not to my taste and id think carefully about bullying etc...
but dont target her and tell her its an awful name

Butt out.

What's wrong with it? You want the child to be scared of opinions like yours? Ha...

My middle DD has alot of 'unusual' names in her classroom which originally I was raised eyebrow Judgy but once you get to know the individual child the name no longer feels peculiar.

Atlas is a bit out there as an idea but you wont blink an eye within a year as his name becomes synonymous with someone you love.

Lovely name, her baby not yours so she can call him what she wants.

Atlas is quite middle of the road compared to the names sil called her boys. DH and I eye rolled as did FIL. As per MIL could not utter a word of demonstration but took the tiddle out of her nephew who called his dd Arabella. .

I have a very unusual name and have it. I spent my childhood wanting to be called Susan or Angela. Oh how I'd love to have been a Susan. Such a pretty name.

My DC have classic names with no alternative spellings.

With a name like that, he’ll have the weight of the world in his shoulders...

I’ll get my coat 🙈

@Lightsonbut Exactly.... because who could ever dare to want to be anything else . The worst abuse is when it's actually part of the persons' heritage. Even then it's 'acceptable' to make a point by raised eyebrows from certain types of (to put it mildly) ignorant xenophobes. Thankfully I only see it on forums like this and not in person, as we choose who to surround ourselves with as we get older. Sorts the wheat from the chaff.

It depends entirely on the relationship you have with her.

Mine came up with some awful names for my nephew. I vetoed them without a second thought. We have a very good relationship though...

I don’t think you can say anything unfortunately.

It’s not a great name, but there are far worse. If she’s in a middle class area of London there’ll be kids in his class with stupider names. If you’re elsewhere in the country then I wish the poor boy luck..

You’ll just cause resentment if you tell her, and she won’t change it anyway then she’ll always be cross with you.

You will get used to it. But YANBU- it’s not a great name.

It was on our list 🤷🏻‍♀️

I like the name! I hope she picks it!

I'd just mention it's a brave choice for a boy's name particularly when he goes to secondary school. Then🤞she connects the dots. Your sister is setting her son up to be bullied at secondary school.

It’s fine. Plus it’s not your baby. Why are you all so invested in her choice of baby name? You’ll get used to it

(Also hardly anyone uses atlases anymore. Now if he was called Satnav...)

Not a name I'd choose but not my baby.