Your baby's name is 'so weird' ...?

[brandnewcoffee]

Due with our baby girl in just a few weeks. It took us a long time to pick a name that will flow nicely with the middle name as well as the surname and a name we both love equally. My nan texted me this morning and ask if we've picked a name yet so I told her that we have and told her the name we chose is Esmé. Her response was simply 'such a weird name'. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm gobsmacked and don't know what to say back. I know it doesn't matter what others think about the name we chose for our baby girl but it really got me doubting myself and now I'm sat here worrying whether we picked the right name. AIBU?

I think it's a beautiful name. My son's dad told me that when he told his mum what we were naming our son (Joey) she said 'I hate that name'!

I was expecting something weird and it’s not, it’s absolutely lovely, and not even unheard of.

One question as I haven’t RTFT so don’t reply if it’s covered but why the accent? Esme with the accent is the masculine version in french. In English surely it doesn’t have one and the female french version has the accent but two ees.

I would drop the accent as it’s incorrect and pretentious.

When I chose my ds2 name 25 years ago I deliberately didn't tell my family as my sister was persuaded to change the name she'd chosen for a girl.
I rang my Mum after ds2 was born and told her his name, she replied that she would have to get used to the name... I replied firmly that yes she would and she's accepted his name and never mentioned it again...

definitely a "normal" name, especially compared to a lot of way out there ones nowadays

It's a lovely name and not weird maybe she's just never heard of it. Older folk can be so blunt and rude!

People will look back in a few years and not be able to imagine her as anything else . 😊 don’t worry .

At the outset I was curious as to what exotic name you had come up with. Esme is a great choice. Nans are lovely but say strange things- it is in the job description I am afraid... Just text back and say, thanks Nan, but it is the one we are happy with and leave it at that. My DH's nam could not cope with my (Indian name), so called me Susan for a good few years (at least it had the same starting letter)... she was lovely just a bit eccentric. Trust me she means no ham and its a great choice.

Beautiful name! ❤️

Its not a weird name - I would either just ignore her or sent a jokey message back saying "Ah, well ,we love it! You will get used to it nan!"

My mil said something very similar to us when we told her our DDs name - she went very quiet and said ' oh, I guess l'll get used to it'. DH responded 'Well, you haven't got much choice, that's her name!"

If I ever have a daughter I will push hard to call her this name! It's my favourite girl's name. It's also normal, traditional, no dodgy associations. But even if it were unusual, it's your choice! Never share (I was also stung by violating the sacred Never Share rule when pregnant with DS, luckily with a name we ended up vetoing for other reasons)

@failingmother

I would respond with…it’s a good job you are my grandma and I love you. If I didn’t I would let you know how hurt I am by your comment. I know you wouldn’t be trying to upset me at this important time in my life when I need the support of family yhat love me 😊

Wow, that’s wordy and heartfelt. I’d reply with:

“Weird? Haha Nan, she must get that from you”

Tell her it’s short for Esmerelda 😂
Take no notice, it’s a gorgeous name.
My kids have out there names and knowing it gave MIL and DM the cringe to share them with their friends and elderly family was a very welcome side effect 😂
I adore their names and don’t regret them at all

It's such a weird text! Do you think it could have been a typo?!

My nan didn't like either names we had for dd, said she didn't like 1 and the other choice wasn't a real name. dhs grandmother looked at me and said 'can i just ask, why X?' in a really condescending tone....eeeer because we bloody well liked it, same as most people that choose a name for their child. I didnt let any family dictate what we named OUR children and didnt let unwanted opinions change my mind

That's a lovely name and not weird at all. Sounds like your nan was having a bad day. I would text back "Such a weird thing to say."

It is a beautiful name with a lively meaning
The name Esme is a girl's name of French, Persian origin meaning "esteemed, beloved; emerald". Esmé comes from the past participle of the Old French verb esmer, meaing "to esteem" or "to love." It can also be considered a derivative of the Spanish name Esmeralda.

Should read lovely not lively

We had a similar comment and that was after our daughter was born! I just laughed it off and a few days later the person who said it phoned to apologise.

I love it, gorgeous name.

Don’t doubt yourself op it’s lovely. It’s one of my favourite girls names

Don't text back "rude" @AfterSchoolWorry this is your nanna. I'm sure you have respect for that status. My nanna would belt me if I told her she was rude 🙄 your name is nice@brandnewcoffee nannas loose there filter in later years 🤣🤣

Same is a pretty name and quite on trend with the professional classes in the USA.

My only doubt would be the hassle of an accent in a country with a language that doesn’t have accents. Sometimes people will write it, sometimes they won’t. Could get her lost in data bases.

Same? Esme!

It's not weird but old people can be funny about names. My very lovely MiL (who we didn't realise had the first stages of dementia at the time, didn't like the name we chose for DS2 and used to refer to our DC as 'Cowbells and the other one'. She just called him 'the other one'. Didn't love him less or treat him differently and got used to the name before he was old enough to recognise it himself but it was very odd for us at the time.

Beautiful absolutely beautiful and the meaning is lovely too