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?

Would you not be surprised if you were introducing to baby Derek at playgroup? 😅

This is the thing with names, though - they come round. I actually struggled to keep a straight face when, 9 years ago, I was first introduced to a baby called Noah. Now it’s top 10. Same about 15 years ago when my mum’s friend’s DD had a Stanley. It’s often names of people’s great grandparents that come back - whereas Brian is probably (like the OP) more of a grandparent name (if that makes sense). Give it 10 years and I bet it’s very popular again.

Brian is not a terrible name. You can’t stop them calling him Bobo (or whatever) but you can tell them you’d rather they called him Brian and then just shorten their names in the same way, so Jane is now JOJO and Sarah can be SOSO.

I love the name and considered it 2 years ago (was in my top 5 names).

Well people are being twats about it in your RL and on this thread. Own it and demand they stop being childish and find some manners.

Of people are rude about the name tell them they're being unkind and to stop it.

If they're using cutesy names to your cute baby o think do an internal groan and get over it, it won't last. DF has a girl called say Ruby Louise. I call her Ruby Roo because it alliterates without really thinking about it. Bf accepts it's just me being mushy.

I like it! İt will come back into fashion.

And yes they are rude.

@safiya7

Dolly - no I don’t know any Alfred children. Mind you, my youngest is 12, so maybe this is a more recent trend? I’m London too. I know a Freddie and an Alfie, that’s it.

Ah, fair enough, all the ones I know are toddlers - maybe it’s an age thing.

I don't see what's wrong with the name either!

In my home country it’s very common to have nick names or shortened names. My daughter was named after my grandfather (but the female option) and it is an old fashioned name so I always called her by her shortened name or her nickname. So much so it never occurred to me to tell her her legal name. She came home from school aged 5 and asked me if she had another name as her teacher seemed to think she was called something else to what name we called her. To be honest it’s been a bit of an issue at school for her so if I had my time again I might have registered the shorten version of her name instead. But culturally in my country it’s very common to do what I have done with names.

I lost my post...I have several Brian's in my family, assorted ages, all lovely. I'm in Ireland, so I know a lad in his twenties pronounced BreeOn.
I can't believe how rude people are, I hate my own name but it is beloved on mumsnet.

I know a baby Brian, also named after his grandad (he's older than OP's though). I like it, it's refreshing to hear.

I think you are just 15-20 years ahead of the curve. Brian is a 1950s/60s name and the current fashion seems to be 1920s/30s names. I gave my daughter an ‘old lady’ name in 2003, and then it became super fashionable about 10 years later, and now every time my 18yo goes to Tesco’s she hears her name being shouted by an exasperated Mum

His name is Brian, it’s not a stupid name, it means a lot to you and your MIL is just being really horrible. I have a cousin Brian and he is the loveliest man. Brian’s are the best! for you.

OP wasn't asking for everyone's opinion on the name Brian. Have I honestly just read someone suggesting she change it? This is a new mum you're all piling in on.

Bloody hell.

All the lovely Brian's, their ears will be burning!

For what it's worth, I really like Brian. Not to everyone's taste, but he's not their child.

I know an 18 year old Brian, and he is majorly cool and never been picked on for his name. How is it different to calling your child Stanley, or Doug (both names heard on the radio the other day and the Response was that they were brilliant!) or Archie or bloody Atticus or Ptolemy as suggested on MN so often?!

[quote Bagamoyo1]@DappledThings just for info - it’s not because it’s an old fashioned name that hasn’t yet become fashionable again. It’s because it’s the name of a character in a Monty Python film, The Life of Brian. A whole generation of people know the film, and the multiple quotes, which revolve around the name Brian.
His name’s Brian
I’m Brian and so is my wife
He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy etc etc

It’s a joke name. That’s what people are referring to.

OP I’m sorry to say you’re going to get plenty of people sniggering over the name in years to come, but you knew that was the case when you chose it, as does anyone who gives their child a “different” name. Calling your baby by cute pet names is normal I think, although I can see it might be irritating at times.[/quote]
I'm well aware of the Life of Brian. I'm plenty old enough that I've seen it more than once. My mum saw it in the cinema with her vicar friend who thought it was brilliant incidentally.

I don't think that makes it a joke name. People are still massively overreacting. LoB is one connection to it. Lots of names have connections to funny films etc.

It's a perfectly normal name that currently isn't fashionable, that's all. And that's a daft reason to mock a name or insist it's going to be a problem all his life.

I remember thinking (to myself) that Stanley was an unusual name for a small child that I met a few years ago. Then I heard about a few more of a similar age. Brian is just another name from a different generation - maybe it'll do the rounds again or maybe your child will be the only one in his class at school. But what does it matter - it's his name. I'd far rather see a good old traditional name that some of the made up or incorrectly spelled versions of names. I'd also rather call your baby by his name of Brian than calling him 'bubba' which seems to be common on social media!

And my kids get called all sorts of things - Sausage, pudding, squidgy - hardly ever their real names!

People are being really rude about the name. Brian was my dad’s name and I think it’s a perfectly good one. I think to comment on a child’s name is a horrible thing to do.

The cutesy nicknames may be just that though. My daughter is called Penelope and I’ve called her Poppops since she was tiny.

As the thread goes on, I’m starting to like the name Brian . I’m sure your family will too, OP.

My daughter knows twins called Natarsha and Sarcha. Nobody knows why they have the ‘r’in the names. But even more weirdly, the younger one’s name is pronounced as Carla, but spelt Cala! So they dropped the ‘r’ for that one I know this has nothing whatsoever to do with Brian, but I do wonder about this family.

Brian is a beloved uncle of mine. It's a nice name.

Could you use the shortening Bri? I think that’s a bit easier for a baby. Once he’s older he’ll chose what he prefers. I like some of the similar names mentioned (Ian, Stephen, David) so I think your DS will grow into it.

I think Brian is rather cool. Brian O’Driscoll anyone? Prof Brian Cox?

MIL has outright told us it’s an awful name for a baby
This speaks volumes. She’s jealous because he’s named after your grandad. It’s a name from your family not from her family. I’m guessing she’s generally difficult, spiteful and jealous?

I rather like it too OP.

A few years ago I was out walking when a man behind me started shouting "Stanley!"
On the path up ahead a little boy of about three spun around. He wore a little flat cap and he absolutely suited the name. Really made me smile and a little Brian would too.