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?

"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'."

My great-grandmother called us by our birth orders, no.1,2, etc. She was of great age so couldn't be blamed.

This reminds me of my MiL when I was expecting her one and only grandson. She kept telling me to “give him a strong name, like John”. I said no, no and anyway that would be weird as it was very similar to my ex-DH’s name. She was happy with the name we chose ( which I didn’t share with anyone in advance). Turns out she thought I’d give him an “exotic” name. I have two older boys who both have run of the mill names. Why she thought I’d suddenly go off piste I don’t know. The funniest thing is though, my DH, her son, has an unusual name which he absolutely hates which she claims was chosen by his father 🤣.
Esme is a lovely name. Just ignore your Nan.

I am French. Esmé and Esmée are both correct and used as girls’ names.

It's a lovely name. My nephew (who is James) has best friends called Bradley and Cameron. Also in his class are Wolf, Kestrel, Buick, Trinity and Gypsy.

I love esmé! Presumably your nan is of the older generation could she maybe be confused about pronounciation? Ez-me does sound quite strange if that’s how she’s assuming it’s pronounced. Sorry if anyone’s got an Ez-me

@ERFFER 😂😂

Esme is a beautiful name. Don’t change your mind because of a silly thoughtless comment.

Lovely name, rude grandmother...and WHY oh why tell a name before the birth! Keep something a surprise!

I had a friend who named her daughter something incredibly . Honestly, I would have thought it was a joke if it hadn't been on official birth announcement. I'm trying to think of an equivalent example to not out her/me... it was like a stripper name, like Candy Galore Smith, where her other child was called Annabel Jane Smith.

ANYWAY. Although privately I think she's nuts, what I said to her (and everyone else except my husband) was "Congratulations on birthing another wonderful baby! I'm so thrilled for you!" She will go to her grave not knowing how I feel about poor little Candy Galore Smith.

Not at all weird, it’s a lovely name.

The first rule of baby club: never discuss names with anyone but your OH
The second rule of baby club: Never tell anyone the name until baby is born

Lovely name. Also she will probably be the only girl in school with that name and so no-one will forget it. She will love being unique.

I wasn't sure about my granddaughter 's name but now I couldn't imagine her being called anything else. I didn't say anything about it to my son and dil though. I'm used to unusual names as my daughter's surname is very common so she didn't want them to go to school with someone with the exact same name. I love Esmé it's elegant.

Meh/ If she's a great granny I presume she's ancient. At some point you earn the right to say whatever the fuck you want, no?

Hi op, are you sure she heard you properly? This is a lovely name. Not at all weird.

Throw it back at her. 😀

I like Esme , it's very pretty .
I made the same mistake in my last pregnancy , Someone at worked asked what we were calling our little girl , I told her and she laughed then said all the bad things connected to that name , I was devastated I cried and cried and changed the name , ( the original name is a middle name now) but sometimes I do doubt my decision .

Lovely name. Maybe she is sounding it out wrong? I've done that before, literally with my nephew I had to re learn his name the way my brother and SIL said it, gave me brain ache. Esme is lovely

I love Esme.
I also love the fact that one of the presenters on Sewing Bee is called Esme, because she is amazing. Tiny dynamic cool designer lady in her 60s. What's not to love.

I have never been able to understand why people pick a baby's name before the baby is born.

You really have to see the baby, look at his/her face, and little developing mannerisms before deciding on a name. It is natural to want to rush off and register the birth, but you do not have to do that right away. They give plenty of time.

It's a lovely name OP! How rude of your nan. When I told my nan what DD1 was called she said oh that's a new fangled name. Err no, it's actually biblical!!

If I had another girl now I would call her Esme 😊

I had a similar situation with a friend who asked me what I was going to call my baby girl. When I told her the name she responded with ‘are you giving birth to an old woman?’ I was horrified! Since then every time I call my daughters name in the playground etc, someone will always tell me what a beautiful name it is etc...my daughter is called Esme..

I think it’s a lovely name. In any case, it is your choice. It is a bit like the idea we had with our daughter’s name - unusual without being outlandish. Far better than being one several Isobel/Isobella/Isabels in the class, nice names though they are.