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?

@friedasunibrow hahaha I know! Poor little thing. It's an extension of his lovely name. My partner hates my version!

Haven't rtft but just wanted to say Brian's a great name and what a lovely tribute to your Grandad.

I like the meaning of Brian, strong and noble. You've given him a name to grow in to and he'll soon tell them himself 'my name's Brian not Bobo' when he's older!

I wouldn’t have considered Brian before now but actually think Bri/Bry as a shortened version is really lovely for a wee baby boy! 😍

@HaveringWavering

Barbara is the name of David and Victoria Coren Mitchell’s daughter, who is 5.

Very unusual, little Babs

@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 sure your Grandad was lovely. I'd have used it as a middle name though.

It's very dated but not yet due a revival. The other names that are back in use are older than Brian snd are now in common use.

I came back to England after living overseas. Around 2007 and was a live in nanny. I took the little girl to school snd the boys were all Edward (Eddie), Albert (Albie) etc etc. It was all I could do to keep a straight face but they grew on me and sound perfectly normal now, but it takes time & it doesn't happen with every name.

I have a cousin Brian, he's in his 30's now - named after a relative of my cousins husband. He just is Brian. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But I think you'll get a lot of eyebrow raises before he gets to thirty!

Still, your baby, your choice!

It's perfectly normal to call babies cute names instead of their real names, especially when they not a cute name. One of my god daughters is Monique it's just too much for a baby. She has a family name & chose a nickname for friends to use when she was little.

It would be daft to go no contact with family for calling him cute baby names, but you should both say to them that you get it, they don't like the name you've chosen, but that IS his name (unless you decide to change it) & you've had ENOUGH of the puss taking & it stops now. They can call him Brian or other normal things but the piss taking stops now

My 1 year old has the same but for a middle name- I couldn’t give a damn what people have to say. They’ll get used to it. Some of the nicest people I know are called Brian. It’ll come back and he’ll look ahead of the pack in 20 years.

Brian gets stick but its actually quite a nice name. Bri is a good NN.

Brian is a good name, solid. Very popular in Ireland (they had a King Brian once).

I would love to meet a baby Brian ! I like it.

It’s plain fact that some names are terrible, will lead to a child being bullied etc
But the response is ALWAYS ‘oh I knew someone with that name and they are a lovely person’ like that somehow overrides how awful it is!

And it’s plain fact that not everyone will agree that a name is terrible nor does everyone think that people think it isn’t because they know someone who has that name.

Also, as many people pointed out, the name itself doesn’t have the same connotations to many younger generations and even some people in their 30s and 40s. Regardless, the people that OP has to deal with are being rude no matter how people want to moan about the name. It’s a baby who knows nothing of all these ridiculous connotations and I highly doubt a decade from now, his peers are going to be funny about his name like supposed adults are being now.

The only names I think should not be inflicted on a child are ones with strong negative associations with one person eg. Adolf. Ones that sound overtly sexual in a creepy way eg. Lolita. And names that work in some countries but would not work here eg. Fanny, popular in France but a very bad idea in the UK.

Other than that, go for it. Who cares if a name is unfashionable.

I don't really get the problem with Brian? I probably wouldn't choose it myself but it's a pretty normal name!

Cutesy nicknames make my stomach turn but I think it will stop as he gets older.

As long as you like the name OP that's all that matters. As for the family, get your DH to have a word

Why are people being so rude about the name Brian?? I like it It's a perfectly normal name and all the classic names a back in fashion who'd have thought just 15 years ago they'd be baby Arthur's and Elsie's these names then would have been laughed at but are now extremely popular. There are plenty of little Ryan's so what is wrong With Brian or Bryan?? There was a baby Brian at my daughters baby and toddler group he'll be about 4 years old now. Enjoy your new baby Brian it's a great name and ignor other people's rudeness.

I like Brian it reminds me of Brian May of Queen one of my musical heroes.

Brian might not be many people choice, but neither are a lot of names. There’s sentiment to the name you chose and that’s lovely, people should respect it.

I have a DD called Mabel, but I HATE the nickname May. Thankfully people haven’t yet shorted it.. expect me calling her Mabes half the time😂

If people snicker at the name, call them out. I think that’s just downright rude and shows what kind of person they are to snicker at a baby, let alone anyone else.

YANBU in my opinion... But ffiw, you had to know, surely, that Brian is a grumpy middle aged man sort of name?

I'm unfortunately biased against the name Brian... It's my sister's fiancee's name, and he's an unlikeable creep IMO. But I get along with him for my sister's sake.

This thread is surreal, honestly. I've never given a thought to the name Brian and I'd not have any reaction to hearing someone had named a baby Brian.

I will add the caveat that I am not originally from the UK, though I've been here most of my adult life (20ish years).

My own mother still doesn't like my DC's name and calls him by his second name, which nobody else uses. My DC is 8y now 🤷‍♀️

Where I come from Brian is a completely normal and common name. I don’t understand this at all!

I completely understand where your family are coming from. Sorry to say it but I would struggle massively to call a baby Brian. I understand how hard and frustrating it is for you but I also understand how your family feel.

My son's name is a very mature and I remember my sister and I chatting about it when he was a baby. We decided that although I absolutely love the name, it seemed a little strange calling a tiny baby this name. However, despite having a cute nickname, he grew into his proper name very quickly and I still love it, as does he!

Graeme Chapman personified cool. No issue with Brian here.

They'll get used to it. People used to snigger and comment negatively at DSs name but it's getting quite popular now.

BUT I knew it wasn't to everyone's taste when I chose it and expected their comments. I was prepared for that so it didn't bother me.

Don't choose a controversial name if you aren't prepared for people to dislike or comment.

Where I come from Brian is a completely normal and common name. I don’t understand this at all!

Same here. I feel sorry for you MNers who couldn't possibly use a name for a child unless it is 'fashionable' or 'current'. Talk about sheep! People can call their children whatever name they want and shouldn't have to deal with a bunch of nonentities criticising it.