Does this mean they don’t like the name?

[GemmaRuby]

When people have asked my baby’s name, most people say “ah that’s nice” etc.

A few people have instead said “what made you choose that name?” Or “is there a reason for the name?”, or “is it a family name?” (Without also saying it’s nice).

I really don’t mind if people don’t like it, but AIBU to think that a response like that means they don’t like the name?

For context it’s a very normal name at the lower end of the top 100.

Those would be my exact responses if I didn't like the name.

My daughter's name is around the 90s of the top 100 and I get a lot of the same questions. Particularly if it strikes people as an 'old person' name, they'd ask if it's a family name.

I think a lot of it is just making conversation (I often ask people where they got their baby names bc quite often they've obsessed over it), plus can be to do with the generation of the person asking - my MIL thinks all these old-fashioned names like Iris, Margo, Arthur etc etc are just dreadful. I've never asked what she thinks of my daughter's name because I don't care to know.

I say “Oh that’s lovely” when I’m thinking “What the actual…”
so it means nothing. If anything I’d wager the more interest shown, the more they like it. Saying it’s nice moves the conversation on

Our DD name was 100 in the list when she was born, I can’t remember any comments good or bad tbh!

My son has a very marmite name (which I realized when choosing it) and I get lots of "that's unusual", "oh I haven't heard that before" or "where did you get that from". It definitely means they don't like it. Anyone who does really likes it and says so!

One person did laugh when I told them!

My kids all have marmite names and I never expected everyone to like them. But I know when people don't like them because they tend to say 'that's unusual'. Or 'why did you choose that?' or they say nothing at all about the name. Whereas those that love it are genuine or enthusiastic.

I know names like Stanley are in the top 100, but I still find them a bit old fashioned and wouldn’t use them myself without a family connection. But I chose names that then rose up into the top 10, so what do I know? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Is it Albert by any chance?

I always say how lovely a name is when I get told a babies name, despite not liking it.

What's the name?

If l don't like it l say 'that's a but different ' in a nice way. I said that to Lucca. That's like a family name to me with Italian heritage.

My DD is named after a flower but it's more unusual. Many people thought it was after a relative. I would have given her my nan's name if DH had let me.

If it's Archie or Albert they are becoming a bit dated again!

To be honest I would say its unusual if it was a name I didn't like. But then its not my place to .
Don't worry what anyone thinks .

My daughter chose a name for my grandchild that I actually wasn’t keen on !! Now 22 months later I absolutely adore the name and the beautiful child she is !! It is now in the top 100!

A few people have instead said “what made you choose that name?” Or “is there a reason for the name?”, or “is it a family name?” (Without also saying it’s nice).

Sometimes, it's just drawing out the conversation. If the topic were you - an adult - they could ask any manner of things about your hobbies, job, family members, home, holidays, where you're from if you don't have a local accent; but it isn't about an adult - it's a baby who hasn't had chance to carve out personal points of interest yet. Once you're past asking about the baby's weight and sex (often not relevant to ask anyway when you know the name), you have very little to to go on.

Asking about how/why you chose their name is sometimes a way of just keeping the conversation going a little longer and showing interest in an (as yet) not very interesting person - it's kind of awkward if you only have:

"What's your baby's name?"
"Barry"
"Oh. Goodbye."

Bit against the grain here - If I don’t like the name I just do a sort of long ‘aww’ and change the subject - I wouldn’t ask more questions about it in case they realised I didn’t like it - I mean they probably already did realise as I’m bad at hiding things but I try 🤷🏼‍♀️ - and I do think it’s easy to talk about other baby things than names. I am more likely to ask questions if it was unusual but I did like it so I could know more about it.

Please tell us the name. IS it a family name?

If it was something big standard (Trevor/Gary) I'd mean 'poor child'

If it was unusual I'd ask where it was from -wouldn't mean I didn't like it.

If it's a grandad name and it's older people asking a question instead of giving some generic compliment, it's probably because they associate it with their youth and genuinely wonder if your baby is named after an older relative.

You can tell us the name - it's not outing if it's in the top 100.

I agree with PP that older people find the current trend for Mabel and Ruby and Albert and Stanley totally bizarre. Just as I think cycling shorts are for cycling only.

Big difference between 'what made you choose that?' and 'that's nice - what made you choose that?'

It probably sounds more old fashioned (if it’s a grandad name) or perhaps associated with famous person so they wonder.
Eg you live in Leicester and have just had baby Gary - it’s a reasonable enquiry if it’s after grandad Gary or you are a football fan.
Doesn’t necessarily mean hate it just it’s a bit unusual.

Grandad names - Alan, Brian, Graham, Ian, Mark aren’t that mainstream for babies so I’d probably think family connection or named after football manager etc.
I totally put my foot in it enquiring what TJ was short for. I knew older girl sibling had a traditional grandma style name so was expecting Thomas John etc but no it was just the letters. I wasn’t being intentionally rude.

My grandads names were Sydney and Richard
Dcs grandads names were Charles and Keith
It’s constantly evolving
I picked non family names for own DC and tried to go for timeless and not too out there - thankfully they are both happy !
I don’t like my own name - feel it dates me
Wish my parents had put more though into it

I wouldn't tell someone I didn't like a baby name, I wouldn't tell someone I liked it either, as I am not bothered what names are chosen for a child.

Please say it's not Albert or Wilfred! Those are really no no names to me.

My grandads names were Charlie and John.
My dcs grandads were Derek and Harold. Tbf is someone told me their kid was called Derek, it would give me pause!

I'd say "oh that's nice" if I liked, loved or loathed it.

I don't know why. There's nothing else we do it with other than babies.

Like when we say a baby's lovely even though it looks like an alien.

Is it Victor? My OH choice for our baby when it’s here, and if it’s a boy.. is Victor. I hated it when he first said it but it’s kind of growing on me