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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby's name

102 replies

Cookiemonster2022 · 09/02/2022 00:25

Hi,
We were looking for a Indian and English name and settled on Neil for our newborn. We went to see some English friends and a lady laughed on this name for our baby. I don't understand what's so bad about Neil as a name. Now I am annoyed and thinking of changing his name. DH thinks this is unreasonable as there can't be a perfect name and people will always have opinions. I am not sure if I should look for other name or just get on with it. Also, his birth has been registered and passport done with Neil. AIBU to think so much about it ?

OP posts:
scorpiogirly · 09/02/2022 00:26

Sorry but I can't imagine a baby being called Neil. Just my opinion.

Accidentgirlfriend · 09/02/2022 00:28

Baby Neil ….

Have you been watching Gavin and Stacey !
On a serious note it is a middle aged mans name which hasn’t made a return yet .

SleepingStandingUp · 09/02/2022 00:28

It's old fashioned but not yet cool.

However she's a cow to laugh.

I know a 6 yo one and at first iiwas a bit... Surprised! But now it's just his name.

Kids don't think anything of it cos there's so much variety, they don't carry the same associations we do as adults.

Keep the name.

Junction5aOnTheM4 · 09/02/2022 00:31

It's not much used now but I quite like it. Miles better than Michael, Matthew, Mark, Robert, Stephen - but also totally ordinary, can't take the piss out of the name Neil.

Chiloquin · 09/02/2022 00:32

It's not a cute name. It's old fashioned. I'd hate to be called Neil Confused

Jacaranda75 · 09/02/2022 00:32

I can't believe she laughed! How rude!

Anyway OP, if you are intent on changing it, how about Nilesh? With Neil for short? It's Gujarati for Lord Krishna.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 09/02/2022 00:33

I think the name is fine!

DramaAlpaca · 09/02/2022 00:33

Well, actually I really like Neil. I know a teenage one and it suits him. Ignore any rude remarks and keep the name.

ladydimitrescu · 09/02/2022 00:35

He will be called Neil the baby by anyone who's ever watched Gavin and Stacey.
It's not one of these trendy names making a comeback 😬 I know a baby Colin, it's along those lines.

ChrimboGateauxCatto · 09/02/2022 00:36

Neil Neil orange peel anyone? (from the young ones bbc tv comedy of the 70s and 80s)

CatNameChange101 · 09/02/2022 00:37

I don’t get this ridiculous attitude to ‘old fashioned’ names. I’m more annoyed by the idiotic and misspelled ones.

Cottagepieandpeas · 09/02/2022 00:37

If you like it and it means something to you, of course you should keep it. I know some lovely Neils and I’m fairly sure they were babies once.

SkankingMopoke · 09/02/2022 01:01

It's rather dated and yet to make a comeback, but it isn't terrible and he's almost guaranteed to be the only only in the local school system class. It is a lot of hassle to change it now, and you both must have liked it, so I'd say stuck with it.

Are you Indian? It is really hard to pick names from a culture you haven't been raised in, as you may not know the many connotations or expectations that come with it. There was a really interesting thread a while back (last year I think) about French names that are currently popular in the UK. French MNers gave a description of who a typical person with that name would be (eg elderly/city worker/arty/country bumpkin), and many were at odds with the pretty and fashionable names our British ears hear and associate with it.

IJoinedJustForThisThread · 09/02/2022 01:06

@ladydimitrescu

He will be called Neil the baby by anyone who's ever watched Gavin and Stacey. It's not one of these trendy names making a comeback 😬 I know a baby Colin, it's along those lines.
I also met a baby Colin recently, and was somewhat surprised - hope it didn’t show
Luredbyapomegranate · 09/02/2022 01:08

It’s old fashioned - Neils would be in their mid 40s to early 60s, so it’s a while until it will come back into fashion again. It was never a cool name really.

She should not have laughed, but yes people will find it a slightly odd name. If that’s going to bother you then change it.

DropYourSword · 09/02/2022 01:12

I think Neil is a much better choice than some of the absolute gubbins frequently suggested on baby names threads!

Your DH is right - you'll never find a "perfect" name and some people can't resist giving you their negative opinion on it.

Ignore. If you like it, that's all that counts!

yorkshireteaspoonie · 09/02/2022 03:00

It's a totally normal standard British boys name that will see him through life no problem. I much prefer it to some of the more popular type names at the moment like 'barnaby' it's like a whole generation of kids TV presenters have been born.

alisoninwonderland · 09/02/2022 03:38

Oh my goodness why are people so rude on here!!!!! It's a perfectly good name! That person (and several posters on here) were really rude to you - please ignore them and just enjoy your lovely baby Flowers
For what it's worth I love the name Neil!

ouch321 · 09/02/2022 03:48

I think the name is fine. Not objectionable in any way.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 09/02/2022 03:54

Neil is the guy from accounts.
But at least he will stand out, unlike the 10 Tobys in year 7.

Luckyelephant1 · 09/02/2022 04:20

I agree with your DH. Neil is perfectly pleasant, and it's a well known Indian name too. I wouldn't change it if you like it just because it's not currently 'trendy' like Arthur, Alfie or whatever which will probably sound dated soon anyway.

Also if any friend laughed at my decision for a name I'd be reconsidering the friendship rather than the name (unless it was genuinely some sort of ludicrous celeb type name!)

ofwarren · 09/02/2022 04:29

Nothing wrong with the name Neil, she was being a cow.
Use it if you like it.

Knutface · 09/02/2022 05:47

There are worse names, it’s just because it is a name associated with 40 + year old men. I really like Arran/Arun as a crossover name.

Mabelface · 09/02/2022 05:52

There's lots of baby names I've disliked over the years until I meet

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 09/02/2022 05:53

My first boyfriend was called Neil so I feel biased towards hating the name. He’d be about 28 by now though so not an old man.

Objectively, it’s fine as names go. If you like it, keep it.

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