To tell my friend that I’m not keen on her baby name?

[AllHailKingLouis]

Friend told me today she has chosen the name Susan for her baby. I don’t like it personally but automatically said “oh, that’s nice”.

she’s just WhatsApp me asking if I really liked the name as she got the feeling that I didn’t (oops, I’m a shit liar).

would I be unreasonable to admit that I don’t? Or should I carry on lying about it? (Which I can do easier via WhatsApp!)

That’s just a long winded way of saying “no”.

How about saying it's a classic name, personally I prefer (for instance) Suzanna but it's your baby

Agreed, and I would like to chime in with: even if you don't like a name now, that doesn't mean you won't come to like it when you get to know the person behind the name.

I remember when I found out the name my mum had chosen for my younger brother. I hated it but that all changed after the birth. All these years later, whenever I hear that name, I now associate it with all of his best qualities.

Voicing your disdain for a name is wholly unnecessary, you stand to gain nothing except possibly damaging your friendship. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. Should you be fortunate enough to be a part of this little girl's life and one day come to love her, you will feel foolish for ever disliking her name.

You know your friend best, if she wants reassurance or an honest appraisal and would be annoyed if you are fibbing.

"It's fine but I guess I like some others better. Not relevant since not my turn to name a baby lol. What else were you thinking of?" is as good as any honest response.

In general, lying is bad. But this is one of the few times that it would be acceptable to blatantly lie. She's your mate, and that's the name she's chosen for her kid. Only the biggest twat would think it OK to give their honest opinion. Don't be that person.

I love the name suzie! Continue to lie. She loves it let her use it

If the baby's not here yet and she's twigged you're not keen then I'd be honest but try to keep it breezy & point out that it's her choice and it doesn't matter what others think.

SUSAN tho!! If she has another will she call it Karen? Or Brenda? Is she giving birth to a fully formed dinner lady?

Don’t bloody lie! She has asked your opinion, I’m sure she can take it. My sister sent me this emoji when I told her the name I was using…. 😂 did I care, not a jot. I didn’t like her son’s name and told her but I actually love it now.

I’m sure your friend can handle the fact that people have different tastes.

And Susan is an odd choice so doubt you’ll be the only person with a slightly perplexed reaction.

I suspect she doesn't really want your honest opinion-more for you to be supportive of her choice-she is probably hot and tired and fed up.

Now is not the time to play devil's advocate it's not like it is Balonz
It's a bit like someone saying "do you like this dress" when generally they want reassurance because you are already in the taxi on the way out

Because what really matters is that she likes it and does not matter even a little bit if you do so I would be nice and def don't tell her you dislike her baby name!!!!

"Yes its terrific, I'm sure Susan will enjoy spending her lunch breaks with Janet, Patricia and Maureen, the other dinner ladies".

Suzi I love. Suzanne is cool.
Susie. Suzannah.
Susan is too old without being cute.
Some names make returns because they're pretty and cute. Some don't.

If she's already chosen the baby's name then there's no point making her feel bad about it.
If she was asking your opinion before she picked it, that would have been the time to say you didn't like it.
Now, just say you were a bit surprised but it's grown on you and there are so many cool Susans / Sues/ Suzies. Fwiw like a PP every Susan I've met has been badass and fab.

I'd say "I wouldn't have chosen it myself but I'm sure it'll suit baby just fine if you love it"

Do people honestly say things like “It’s not what I would choose, but … etc. etc.” and imagine they are being polite/diplomatic or as one pp put it, “subtle”?

Amazing.

Suzi is the name for period where I'm from, just like Aunt Flo. I could never think of Suzi any other way.

That’s not subtle. It’s saying you do not like it.

Are you South African 😁

(I’m not, but my friend is)

If this was my friend I'd say something like "I would never have thought of that, it has retro cool to it now doesn't it? I bet it really suits your baby" or similar. I wouldn't say "It's not a name I'd choose" as that sounds like "I loathe it" rather than "there are too many I like more".

It's kind of dreadful choosing your baby's name as you know there will loads thinking "What! That poor baby..." and all you want to do is choose something that won't make terrible nicknames, sound awful shouted across a playground or clash with the surname or have people say "I used to have a hamster/cockatiel/shebunkin called that." Or say "That's an old woman/old man name".

Ikr?

Say something like "you caught me by surprise". No need to comment on the name at all.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

So maybe you could have just told your friend a white lie & said it's a great name?!?!

This.

and what is wrong with Susan? <ahem>

The problem is that we know it as a name from the seventies, which is a little too early for the traditional come back as yet. We associate it with women around 50. (along with Helen and Sarah and Tracy and Sharon and Caroline)

current babies are getting called by names of people I know/knew as old people, but the parents will not remember as they are too young.

There were four Susan's in my primary school class ( mid 60's) Obviously they were little children then and it was considered a very pretty name. Our grandmothers were called Edith, Florence, Lily ,Dorothy etc. They were the ones considered old lady names . Now I have every single one of those names in my class at school.
Names come and go and compared to some of the ridiculous names I've met in my teaching career Susan is lovely.

I did the same when my colleague called her baby Nell. And when I met twins called Ronnie and Reggie.