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?

Unfortunately it’s a been a name that’s the butt of a few jokes. I know someone called Trevor. Every character on TV called Trevor is a joke or a nerd. Similar thing.
Would you call a child fanny? Dick? Willy (not William) These were all perfectly acceptable non amusing names at one point.
Yes, it’s going to be those in their 20’s hiring for jobs later down the line but what about the next 10-20 years in the meantime? Will be get teased?
I think the answer is probably not once people get used to the name and no one he knows will notice then. I have a hideous surname that people fall about laughing at when they first know me but after a while it becomes normal.

Whatever the case, no one (much less family and friends) should be rude to you about your babies name. It shouldn’t even be mentioned no matter what the name is- it’s your choice!

I can't remember a single joke being made about a Brian

You're in your 20's but this must have completely gone over your head then.

My oldest kids are 18 and 20 and find all the shows I mentioned with comic references to Brian hilarious. Most of the comedies I mentioned are trending on Netflix.

There was no implication when naming Brian Griffin on Family Guy erm yes there definitely was.

@SimGuruRu

Wow must say I’m surprised by some of these responses. Didn’t expect that from fellow parents 😞 What on earth is wrong with Brian? Why is it any different from George? Alfie? Archie?

I'm astounded by some of the rude replies on here in regards to you naming your little boy Brian. I think it's lovely he's named after a much loved family member. My OH wants to use his Dads name if we ever have a little boy. That's quite old fashioned too but both of us love it and it has meaning to him (I never met his Dad, he passed away before we got together) I also know of a Brian named after his grandad. Think he'll be about 11 or 12 now possibly a bit older

Out of interest I googled Brian and nothing controversial or piss taking came up on the suggestions. I didn’t know the actor from breaking bad and Malcolm in the middle was a Bryan. Different spelling but even so.

“There was no implication when naming Brian Griffin on Family Guy erm yes there definitely was”

I missed it too then. If I had to pick a name from FG that influenced popular culture it would be Megan...

@SmileyClare

I can't remember a single joke being made about a Brian

You're in your 20's but this must have completely gone over your head then.

My oldest kids are 18 and 20 and find all the shows I mentioned with comic references to Brian hilarious. Most of the comedies I mentioned are trending on Netflix.

There was no implication when naming Brian Griffin on Family Guy erm yes there definitely was.

No, it didn't go over my head, it just didn't happen. The two shows you mentioned were quite old, and do your kids find them hilarious because of the context of the jokes, or because they genuinely find the name really funny?

I would venture that they are the outliers if so, because as I said, these jokes simply did not happen about Brian. They very much did happen, just as people are describing, about Bob. Sometimes there are regional differences which could account for a lot of the differing opinions here, but honestly given the very low level of actual recent, funny Brian references, I think people are just being out of touch here.

I worked with people whose surnames included Ramsbotham, Pigg, Roger and Balls, as in Ed. Maybe you notice that when you meet them, but next time it is just that person's name.
My daughter is 24, and knows 3 Brians from school and college. There are a lot of Barry's, shortened from Finbarr, our local saint. So all my kids know a Barry.
I would be horrified if any of my kids, in their twenties, were snide about what a friend or relative called a baby. They have heard the ridiculous opinions of their rude and unpleasant granny.

@PollyPepper But wasn't the joke there that it was a non-wizard name? It'd have been equally funny if he were Albus Percival Wulfric Dave Dumbledore, or A P W Archie Dumbledore.

I love our grandson’s name but still find myself calling him Bubb sometimes, just comes out 🥴
Our daughter would certainly tell us if she didn’t like it: have you told your relatives/friends and asked them not to?

Family Guy; You don't see the subtle irony in calling a Family dog Brian? He encapsulates Brian; an average rather disillusioned with life guy, not particularly worldly wise and desperate to succeed at writing so he can be something more than a Brian.
One of the earlier episodes is actually titled "The Life of Brian"

I'm bored of explaining this humorous stereotype now. As this thread demonstrates, some people aren't even aware of it. Therefore, its not a disaster to be named Brian.

@SmileyClare

Family Guy; You don't see the subtle irony in calling a Family dog Brian? He encapsulates Brian; an average rather disillusioned with life guy, not particularly worldly wise and desperate to succeed at writing so he can be something more than a Brian. One of the earlier episodes is actually titled "The Life of Brian"

I'm bored of explaining this humorous stereotype now. As this thread demonstrates, some people aren't even aware of it. Therefore, its not a disaster to be named Brian.

Well now people on here have said that's how they view the name I can see how the middle aged writers MIGHT have had this in mind when they wrote the character, but it wasn't ever really mentioned or emphasised within the show, and it was very much a show of my generation. It's not something young people picked up on and ran with.

I find so many of the reactions on this thread to be very odd indeed.

Admittedly I'm from Ireland where the name Brian is considered a solid, if slightly dull, classic that could belong to an 80 year old or an 8 year old. And here we have the women of Mumsnet horrified that a child could be inflicted with such a horror. On a forum that regularly coos over names like Teddy and Rupert and Alfie.

A lot of you had better steel yourselves for the year 2051 when you pick up the phone to take that long awaited call from your son or daughter. 'Mum, he was born last night! Your first grandchild. Keith'.

Of course names like Brian are going to come back in fashion. Get over it.

If I said Brian to my 4 year old she would think of Brian the robot from the car insurance adverts who is incredibly cool in her eyes.

@RedcurrantPuff

People are rude but let’s face it your MIL isn’t wrong is she. Poor baby Brian.

Yes. people are rude

OP they will get used to it. DGM refused to call my sibling by their name for the first 3 months because DM named them after a family member DGM didn’t like. She soon realised the name was theirs for life and she couldn’t continue to call them the wrong name.
Congratulations on your little boy

A lot of you had better steel yourselves for the year 2051 when you pick up the phone to take that long awaited call from your son or daughter. 'Mum, he was born last night! Your first grandchild. Keith'.

Haha brilliant. I wouldn't be surprised at all!

Fair enough sofa the Brian stereotype isn't necessarily picked up on by younger people.

I'm a bit depressed to be referred to as middle aged though I'm only 43. I hope you have to be about 50 to be middle aged!

@SmileyClare

Fair enough sofa the Brian stereotype isn't necessarily picked up on by younger people.

I'm a bit depressed to be referred to as middle aged though I'm only 43. I hope you have to be about 50 to be middle aged!

Haha I was referring to the Family Guy writers being middle aged, not you! Though I think it is mainly people 40+ that see the name as funny, in this case.

Oh, OP. I'm sorry that your family are being so rude as to openly criticise or laugh at the name. But honestly, it's a name that even polite people are likely going to comment on one way or another between themselves (not in your earshot!), so I think you're going to need to have the courage of your conviction, be comfortable in your choice and develop a thick skin about it.

I think you're overreacting to family calling your baby by a nickname. It happens even when people like the name you've chosen. If they don't, it's a tactful way of avoiding it. My family nickname my son - some I like, some I don't. I don't really consider it my business. I have a hundred nicknames for my son and I assure you that I like the name I chose!

The idea that you would cut your baby off from a presumably otherwise loving family because they're not calling him by his full name is really not on because that's not in your baby's best interest.

Maybe give it some time and see if your perspective changes.

@Serpenta my daughter knows two Keith's in their twenties, and has friends called Alison, Gillian and Heather which are the same sort of vibe. Nobody seems to think anything of it. I'm in Ireland too, Keith and Brian can happily coexist with Cillian and Diarmuid.

I have an Alice. Couple of times men over 40 have started singing "who the fuck is Alice?". I just roll my eyes at the tedious bores. No big deal.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/family/people-refuse-use-sons-name-24057923.amp

my daughter knows two Keith's in their twenties

I can see why Keith wouldn’t be the most popular choice but my immediate association would be the guy from the Prodigy.

There is nothing wrong with the name Brian it just isn't currently trendy.

I called by ds by an untrendy old fashioned name and a decade later it seemed like every other ds was being called it.

I would probably shorten it to Bry but that that is just because I have a horrible shortening habit.

We use loads of alternative names for our DD - ferret, chicken, the dowager countess, c-lo, Beryl. I don’t see the problem.

It's just because he's new OP. In time Brian will just be who he is.