To want people to calm my baby by his actual name?

[SimGuruRu]

Name change as outing. To avoid the inevitable “what’s his name” replies ... he’s called Brian, hence outing.
He’s 6 weeks old and friends and family seem unable to call him by his actual name. They make up stupid names for him “baby Bobo” for example, I’ve had people literally snigger when I say his name. MIL has outright told us it’s an awful name for a baby and she can’t say it without laughing.
I’ve told DH I’m getting to the point where I feel if people can’t call him by his name maybe they shouldn’t be seeing him?! He thinks this is an overreaction and that I’m being too dramatic. They are going to make him grow up hating his own name.
AIBU?

Snigger @ the people who say Brian is an older man's names, not a baby's name...... Just to clarify....any man called Brian was also a baby called Brian at some stage lol

They are being rude in directly saying something but nicknames are very normal so I'd let that go.

Brian/Bryan will be back. You are just ahead of the trend.

When I was at school I said I liked the names, George and Henry. oh the derision, ten years later Georges were ten a penny.

some of the names people were using for children just starting reception as mine youngest was leaving year six are names that I think of as old people names but would not be remembered as that by people in their twenties and thirties having children.

Brian is still quite popular in the US, not as much as it was say 10-15 years ago but it’s still about more than it is in the UK.

I don’t think it’s even in the top 500 in the UK. It was a popular name in the 1960s so lots of middle aged men named Brian, it will also make some people think of monty python. It will make your child stand out at school, I’m not sure whether that’s for the right reasons. I’d have used it as a middle name personally. My DC all have older names as their middle names and they’re all after relatives but I would only have used one as a first name and that’s Alice.

I think people are trying to tell you it isn’t a very cute name and they don’t like it very much. Your child, your choice obviously but it does make me picture a middle aged bald man.

I have a liking for “old fashioned” names, especially classic ones or ones with a family link.
I must admit, Brian doesn’t float my boat, but you have good reasons for it (one of my sons has Herbert in his name) and it will grow with him, much better than these babies call Jayden/London etc who will end up very much looking like a product of their time.

any man called Brian was also a baby called Brian at some stage lol

Whilst this is true, it was a common name for babies back then so didn’t seem out of place.

Wow, this thread is horrific! I can’t believe how awful people are being about the name Brian. What’s wrong with Brian? It’s fine. @SimGuruRu please ignore anyone who is nasty about your baby’s name. In fact, I’d ask them what’s so special about their own damn name. My DS’S name is in a traditional dialect and I have had some people take the piss. I’ve had others try and shorten it - I ignore this and will continue to ignore it. I don’t respond to them shortening it. The irony is that Brian will probably be fashionable again in years to come, because things always go around. Stand tall, tell anyone who laughs or takes the piss that they should be embarrassed to be making fun of a baby. Brian is a grand name and you’ve nothing to worry about.

Some people on here should be ashamed of themselves.

Oh and it makes me think of Brian Williams (played by Mark Williams) in dr who. A good strong association with an excellent family!

well I like it - you can say "Morning Saviour" to him every morning, and Brian Clough was an actual GOD. As people have said it's ever so close to Ryan, and will just be a little unusual to people his age. I think of a Brian as being a good bloke, but don't be surprised if he develops a taste for real ale and has a very hearty chuckle when he's older - which will be good!

@Thatisnotwhatisaid

Brian is still quite popular in the US, not as much as it was say 10-15 years ago but it’s still about more than it is in the UK.

I don’t think it’s even in the top 500 in the UK. It was a popular name in the 1960s so lots of middle aged men named Brian, it will also make some people think of monty python. It will make your child stand out at school, I’m not sure whether that’s for the right reasons. I’d have used it as a middle name personally. My DC all have older names as their middle names and they’re all after relatives but I would only have used one as a first name and that’s Alice.

I think people are trying to tell you it isn’t a very cute name and they don’t like it very much. Your child, your choice obviously but it does make me picture a middle aged bald man.

Well your post makes me picture a tosser.

[quote Helendee]@SittingHereShaking

Elsie is a very old English name that has become popular in the last decade or so. I have a granddaughter named Elsie. The name is here to stay.[/quote]
Yes I also like the name and I know it is an old one. I knew whatever name I picked for my example would upset someone. My point is that Elsie is super cute for a baby!

[U]]

It's going to take many people a long while not to think of this when the name Brian is around

Wasn’t there a story about Brian the Snail?

I’m also thinking this name will come back around. Also I much prefer it to Bryony (is that Irish)? I knew a psycho woman called Bryony.

The use of a baby nickname wouldn't offend me. The comments your MIL has made would.

Brian is a lovely name, don't let other people's opinions question your decision. It's a lovely sentiment too, naming him after your grandad.

Names get recycled in popularity every few generations, I doubt the name would be up for debate in a few years time. It's also much nicer than some of these more modern cringe inducing ones.

My eldest child has a name from a similar generation to Brian, and people have asked me if he's "sure that's his name" when he's told them

Ask them if they mean to be so rude.

@mygenericusername

Please change your babies name op. He won’t appreciate you calling him after his grandfather. As somebody with a named after my grandmother name trust me. I hate my hideous name. I wince when I’m asked for it.

I was given the same name as both my grandmothers, my aunt, my Mum's first cousin and innumerable other female relations. It was my mum's sister's middle name. I don't hate it, even though it was becoming old-fashioned by the time I was born, and was then dealt a killer blow by a certain election result. Brian is a perfectly fine name. I associate it mainly with my favourite character in The Archers, which may be a bit niche, but there we are. He'll grow into it, OP, and in a few months nobody will remember finding it odd.

@WakeUpSchmakeUp

Anyone else think LittleTiger007 has probably given her child the name Hunter or Harley or something and thinks she’s being different?

I love my child FFS. 🙄

You are intentionally misquoting me. I said people would be rude to comment. I said that like the OP my grandad was Brian.

People just have nicknames for babies. My son wasn't called his actual name for quite a while by most of our family! I think by the time he was a year old I could count on my hands the amount of times he'd been called his name by us and our families and not pudding, pud, boo, etc etc...

@safiya7

Wasn’t there a story about Brian the Snail?

I’m also thinking this name will come back around. Also I much prefer it to Bryony (is that Irish)? I knew a psycho woman called Bryony.

You're thinking of The Magic Roundabout. Brilliant programme. Odd how some of the names from it are now very popular and others aren't. Zebedee, Florence, Brian, Dylan, Dougal and Ermintrude were the main characters.

In fact, I’d ask them what’s so special about their own damn name.

My name is awful. Absolutely terrible, has been ripped apart on MN many a time, and gets strange looks any time I have to introduce myself to new people. Yes it's rude, but some names just don't ring well to the ear.

I like it. Makes a change from Archies and Oliver’s. OP I bet you are ahead of your time and Brian will make a come back. I live in a very multicultural area where English names don’t have the same connotations. Dd 14 knows a Paul, Kenny, Helen, Patricia & a Graeme. Don’t change the name, encourage him to own it.

I had a boyfriend called Brian... still cringe saying it now.

I think it's just people's immediate reaction to Brian.

Brian is associated with run of the mill working class middle aged men. That's why it's used for comic effect in sitcoms (Brian or Colin in accounts) or in jokes (The Life of Brian) being an example. It's a bit like referring to a Brenda or Susan next door in a funny anecdote. It conjures up a mental stereotype.

However, everyone grows into their name and their name becomes them. All connotations are quickly forgotten by people who know the person.

Wow some people have been really rude on here. At the end of the day it is up to you what you call your baby and bonus points for a name that is easy to spell!
Your MIL is being rude and you could point this out by saying if we had named him xxxxx after DH grandad would you still be rude about it? And see what she says.
To help the situation, to stop everyone picking their 'own' nicknames and it grating you, I would agree on one with your DH. Then say to all baby goes by Brian or BriBri (for example) and that be the end of it. Then don't acknowledge anything else used. Basically you need to take control of the situation before someone's stupid nickname catches on and annoys you forever

I love the name Brian! Great choice Op, and a nice change from all the 1000’s of boys called Alfie, Theo, Harry, Oliver etc. It’s really not that ‘out there’, sorry people are being idiots!