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?

By the time baby is, say 16, Brian will probably be a very popular name - I'm old enough to see how names go in and out of fashion - everyone knows they do so I can't see why people are being so critical.

@Member984815

Why is Brian a controversial choice, it's fairly common name where I am from especially in my generation

I think it's because for most people it's not a common name for children born now or within maybe the past 20 years. Rightly or wrongly it's fallen out of common use and doesn't have a positive kind of vibe

Like most things though people will probably get used to it but it's a bit odd for no one to use a baby's name at all. Nicknames as well as the actual name but never just cutesy names ime

How absurd. There are lots of names I perhaps don't like/wouldn't choose - doesn't mean I would refuse to use it for a child with the name! The comments about the name on here are ridiculous, ignore them OP.

Though I will say, it's pretty normal for people to use cutesy nicknames for babies no matter what their name is. I wouldn't take that personally

I love it for a baby, it's cool. You are ahead of the curve OP

He’s going to get this all his life and it’s not fair on him. Maybe have Brian as a middle name.

Well, no, obviously the fashions will change.

I think it's partly ageism because names that were quite prestigious when I was young eg Barbara, quite middle class - are now treated as if people with the name are beyond contempt.

It's fashion folks.

My husband is called Brian and anyone being twatty about your baby’s name is BVU. It’s not like you called him Adolf. Everyone makes up nicknames for babies but if they are obviously avoiding calling him his actual name I’d be upset too.

I think you just need to give people time to get used to it.

I know someone who called their baby Colin. I didn't say that I found it an odd name for a baby. just oh, that's nice.

It's normal for cute nick names.

I don't see anything wrong with the name but I think you're overreacting to this. Just chill, let people use whatever cutesy names they want. You're just going to come off as super high strung and controlling if you try to censor them over something so tiny.

@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.

I’m really surprised by the responses here. I don’t think Brian is a weird name at all! I know two adult Brian’s but I wouldn’t be surprised by a baby Brian (and even if I was I certainly wouldn’t be so rude as to actually SAY anything)

Brian is a much better name than River or Mulberry (both genuine boys names for babies I know)

I’m sorry people are being rude to you about your name choice, yanbu about that but I think yabu (a little bit) about the pet names, especially whilst he’s so little. If you don’t like bobo or whatever they’re using maybe come up with your own?

My dd at various points gets called sausage, poppet, munchkin, monster, stinker, etc you get the idea, despite having a lovely “normal” name. The older she gets the less it happens as people use her actual name to try and get her attention!

I think you are going to have to get used to people's reactions. It's a very unusual choice.

It's one of those baby names where you have to really hope that your face doesn't show what you are thinking when you're told it.

My daughter is Hannah, her gran and grandad only ever called her Honey bee, they never use her given name, even in cards she was their Honey bee... I never took it as a slight on my name choice...

Really want to be balanced about this. But Brian? I mean, that's a difficult one, it's never been a nice name really, has it? Regardless, if that's what you insisted on calling him then they should respect that.

Brian though....

Brian is an awesome name.

DS has an "old man's" name. When he was born the midwife in theatre said it was "a big name for a little boy!". They're only little for a short time.

Actually can't believe you called your baby Brian.

Sorry 😂😂

What the bloody hell is wrong with naming your baby Brian? It may be slightly old fashioned but so was Albert and Alfred three years ago and you can't move for them now.

Saying you don't like something isn't rude.

"I don't like mustard".

There. Was that rude?

It isn't an awful name in the context of genre and far nicer imo than: Jadon, Darren, Gary, etc.

Just as Thomas, William, Edward, Frederick, George, Henry picked up favour in the 80s, peaking in the 90's and Wilf, Arthur, Stanley, picked up in the 90's peaking later, so too will:

Stephen, Brian, Paul, Nigel, Clive etc, in time.

My contemporaries (male) at school were Simon, Martin, Peter, John, Julian, Jeremy - they will come round again.

I LOOOVE the name Brian! Me and DH argued over it but we had a girl in the end. (I do think the nickname Bri is cute so would have gone with that a lot of the time)
I think just keep calling him Brian and 1) people will ‘learn’ from you
2) people will start to think his name suits him
3) he’ll learn his name and won’t answer to fucking bobo

I salute you op, for continuing the name Brian

Its a dire name. Not surprised you are getting this reaction.

@Bagamoyo1
It's 41 years since The Life of Brian come out - I really don't think it has influenced people today.

It does have a bit of an old man association but if you look at it as a name in itself it's really lovely OP.

@BrumBoo

Really want to be balanced about this. But Brian? I mean, that's a difficult one, it's never been a nice name really, has it? Regardless, if that's what you insisted on calling him then they should respect that.

Brian though....

Exactly.

I’m always surprised when people choose unusual names (either old fashioned names, or made up names, or film star names) for their baby, then get arsey when eyebrows are raised.

I feel like saying come on, did you really expect everyone to say “Princess Hula Bula, lovely name” without any reaction at all?!

Good name, Brian. And no need for people here to be so unkind. If people laugh at the name, just say, "Yes, just as funny as ." (Whatever their name is) He'll grow up with the knowledge that it's a family name so has a special significance. Good for you.