To tell her?

[AmandaHuggenkizz]

NC for this.

My friend has just had a baby. She announced the name to our friend group on WhatsApp. It’s very unusual. Personally, I don’t like it.
To be honest, I more than don’t like it and think it’s a ridiculous thing to call a child.

We all congratulated her and said he’s gorgeous (which he is!) etc but none of us have passed comment on the name.

She’s messaged me separately asking if the name is a bit much.

AIBU to tell her the truth, gently?

@OVienna

I'd be tempted to say: "Because you asked me, it sounds like you are having concerns. Do you want to talk about it?" Then basically remind her she's got six weeks to think about it!

Aww this is so diplomatic and sweet . Do this OP!

My nephew is called Cape its not my business what my sil and dbro name their child.

I’ve gone back to say it’s not one I’ve heard before and think it’s unusual but looking forward to meeting the baby to see how much it suits him. Also said I’m surprised her husband agreed to it and didn’t want a little Harold or Philip

@Footloosefancyfree

My nephew is called Cape its not my business what my sil and dbro name their child.

Please tell me their surname is Kennedy.

I quite like it. I know a baby girl with the name Navy and it's really grown on me. I do think that the very unusual name + hyphen + androgynous Lee does make it come across as more of a girls' name though. I think it would be really nice without the hyphen.

AmandaHuggenkizz

No it's not.

That's not a ridiculous name at all, it's kinda cute. Weird but cute

Really, unless you think your friend and her DH are genuinely asking your advice and leaning towards that they definitely regret it now, I'd stay out of it because how can you be sure and really it could go so wrong if you did express a strong opinion. As I said I quite like the name, it's inventive, wouldn't call my DD it and there won't be another Navy-Lee in the class.

You could say "it's an unusual name, never heard it before, but friend you & DH are her parents have chosen her name, are you worried for a reason?" And I'd leave it there.

They went outside the box of baby names .
I'd be welcoming little Navy-Lee and getting on board, her parents will change her name /on birth certificate if they want to if they are rethinking.

Big apologies DS, boy, not girl

So tricksie when it's out of the box name, to work out gender (not a bad thing 🤣)

Either way, my comment still stands. Get on board as a friend , say anything you do politely and carefully if you find it very unusual, and be the good friend

She MUST be having doubts if she's asked your opinion, so I would give it, but be careful because if she keeps it she'll always know you don't like it! Just be kind x

I can’t believe so many of you know baby Navys.

Have literally never heard of anyone using it before.

Oh god, just twigged he’ll be called “baby Navy”.

She’s messaged me separately asking if the name is a bit much.

She asked you, which means she wants your opinion. If I asked someone their opinion in the way she has, it would be because I had genuine misgivings and wanted someone else's honest view on it.

Telling her it's absolutely fine and great, is dishonest, and deprives her of the opportunity to change it if that's what she feels is right in the end. Then if she regrets the name in 1/3/5/16 years time, you will hold some responsibility for that.

She's asked you for a reason. Be honest, but in a kind way.

I'd be tempted to say: "Because you asked me, it sounds like you are having concerns. Do you want to talk about it?" Then basically remind her she's got six weeks to think about it!

Yep, that. But I'd add in that it wouldn't be my choice. And point out navel-y.

Having said that, I can't help but think it works soooo much cuter as a girls name! It's so unusual.

I'm now regretting not calling my girls Lilac-blue,
Rosie-Ella, Or some other fabulous combo!

They just have such normal Irish names 🤣 and each has another girl in their class with same name!

I think you'll all get used to it. It's not like she called the baby Crapbag or something offensive. I wouldn't say you don't like it as she will get upset.

What springs to mind...

"In the navy, you can sail the seven sea's"

I’ve gone back to say it’s not one I’ve heard before and think it’s unusual but looking forward to meeting the baby to see how much it suits him. Also said I’m surprised her husband agreed to it and didn’t want a little Harold or Philip

Great response!

I’ve never heard the name Navy before but I quite like it but it reminds me too much of Blue-Ivey Beyoncé’s daughter.

I think it’s pretty grim - hyphenated names often have the effect of infantilising a child, plus, Navy Lee sounds like a nickname. “You know, not Syphilis Lee, Navy Lee.”

That said I wouldn’t tell her that. You can be honest but nice and just say it wouldn’t be your choice, but if she likes it then it’s fine.

If she seems to be having misgivings (which it sounds like she is) she could always call him Lee and have Navy for a middle name.

I actually like the name. But if you think it's out there and as she asked your opinion, give it (gently).

There must be a backstory- has she explained where they got the idea from?

Navy is better than Lee.

I would assume that was a girl’s name.

A silly made up girl’s name, but a girl’s name.

Please ask her the reasoning behind the name, I'm intrigued!

I recently met a mum with a 2 week old baby boy called . . . .Colt !
His mum is horsey.

Maybe ask her why she chose that name and go from there.

That is incredibly incredibly stupid. I’m not sure how you answer that question diplomatically though. A very close friend of mine named both her girls names I would never, ever use or contemplate, completely different tone to my children’s names. When she asked me I said “I think we have very different naming styles, but what’s important is that you and DH like it...” and we are still friends many years later, so I assume that it worked to a certain extent as an answer.

God, poor old Navy-Lee. That little guy is going to be requesting that everyone calls him Lee as soon as he can, isn’t he?