Calling a child Dolly?

[ImJustMadAboutSaffron]

Someone I know has called their new baby this and I can't stand it. Of course they're entitled to call their children what they like and it's none of my business. Just before someone tells me that.

I don't like it because it sounds babyish and not a real name. It's more like a nickname. It makes me think of an old lady or a Barbie doll, not a person.

What would you (posters in general, not just you chillipenguin - do if your friends, family members etc asked what you thought of the new baby's name and you hated it? What would you say, what's the polite thing to do? You can't tell them you can't stand the name, can you?

Seriously OP?

What would you (posters in general, not just you chillipenguin - do if your friends, family members etc asked what you thought of the new baby's name and you hated
People tend not to ask once the child has already been named and many don't ask before because they don't want or need everyone's opinion. But if they did ask I would say it's nice and it suits them .

How very silly.

I didn't say it was a friend, or someone I have anything to do with in the first place to the extent they would require 'ghosting'.

And why would someone tell someone they can't stand their child's name? How is that necessary? I am sure there are people you know whose names you don't like, are you going to tell them so? Of course not.

Your response to a discussion about anonymous preferences is weird.

Dolly used to be short for Dorothy.
I have heard worse!

You are being very unreasonable. I personally like Dolly as a name.

The only person who can pull it off is Dolly Parton.

Other than that it's a silly name.

It’s horrible

Do you have children OP?

...?

Yes I couldn't have called my DD Willow in case she inherited my 'big bones'

Why is that relevant?

*I didn't say it was a friend, or someone I have anything to do with in the first place to the extent they would require 'ghosting'.

And why would someone tell someone they can't stand their child's name? How is that necessary? I am sure there are people you know whose names you don't like, are you going to tell them so? Of course not.

Your response to a discussion about anonymous preferences is weird.*

Hmm, not so weird in response to your question asking "what should I say" tbh.

I agree. A lot of people seem to forget that they are naming a future adult when they name a baby girl, and a twee name won't cut it when they're 30.

I agree. A lot of people seem to forget that they are naming a future adult when they name a baby girl, and a twee name won't cut it when they're 30

Well it seems times have changed. Because there will be a lot of cutely named 30 yr olds in the future.

I generally think it is a bad idea to put only the diminutive on the birth certificate, even if that is what you intend to call them. So register them as Edward or Dorothy and then crack on and call them Teddie or Dolly if you wish. But the child then has some leeway when they are older to revert to their official name or some other diminutive of it if they wish.

BTW I think Dorothy is a lovely name Dolly less so but either is fine.

It used to be really popular, and like many old names is making a come back. That's the way these things go.

Names like Jack, William, Harry, Samuel, George etc were considered very old fashioned when I was a child and I knew no-one at school with these names. Yet they all became super popular.

It makes me think of an old lady they would have been babies once too you know, with the same name!

I don't particularly like Dolly because it reminds me of the cloned sheep but I know a little Dolly and she is adorable so now associate the name with her.

Absolutely this! Love Dolly!

I agree.

I had an aunt called Dolly, so it’s not an unusual name to me.

and a twee name won't cut it when they're 30

Why not? The only reason it would be a problem is if they were being judged by their name rather than qualifications/potential/experience. And if they are, it's the discriminatory party who is very much in the wrong.

The problem there is people's preconceptions of "cutesy" names. If people worked on their own conscious or unconscious bias it wouldn't be a problem.

Aw, I like it a lot actually

I agree. It's the prejudice that needs dealing with

Oh dear. It’s my name.

It's fab @SisterAgatha ; it sounds warm and friendly!