To call my baby (DD) ‘Ocean’

[Thedeepdeepsea]

I’m pregnant. DH has said he “can’t think” of any names for DD. I’ve thought of a few and really like ‘Ocean’ but DH is saying it’s an “embarrassing” name but he hasn’t suggest any names himself for DD

This reminds me a few years ago there was a kid called "Sea-Ocean" in my sons class. Ocean on its own is nice though, I like nature type names.

Ocean was ranked by percentage of use and in 2020 it was at 439 for girls in England and Wales. Whilst not a name I would choose it is definitely showing a percentage of use.

Our opinions don’t matter though only yours and your husbands do.

Am I being a snob or do names like ocean, lake, river etc seem to come from certain socio-economic sections of society? Sorry if that offends but it’s merely an observation based on my experience

Perhaps. The Oceans in my family were Gypsies (both self defined and according to the census) . The name died out in my family line after the first World War when their war records gave my great grandfather and his brothers "respectability". My great grandfather married a farmer's daughter whose brothers had all died on the Somme. They got the farm and gave their daughters flower names instead. Same principle but somehow more acceptable.

Am I being a snob or do names like ocean, lake, river etc seem to come from certain socio-economic sections of society? Sorry if that offends but it’s merely an observation based on my experience

l posted earlier about my experience of teaching children with ‘unusual’ names.

This was in a wealthy leafy suburb with the highest number of graduates outside London. So l assume you’re talking about the affluent educated when you refer to ‘certain socio-economic sections of society?’

Nope. It's chavvy.

Hello, I'm Ocean, I'll be operating on you today." No thanks.

Isn't there a doctor (embarrassing bodies) called Pixie ?

@Tealpoppy are you sure that your friend thinks it's funny that you've taken it upon yourself to call them some random name rather than their actual name? Unless they've said that they prefer you call them Beryl, I'd say it's immature and disrespectful at best. If it were me, I'd find it rude and arrogant.

@BatterseaBadger
shes a little girl (aged about 10)
her dad thinks it’s funny and so does she
we all know her name and it’s an in joke between us
nothing embarrassing or immature about it
id stop in a heartbeat if she asked me to-its just a joke and they have a sense of humour

Call her Marina.

Same approximate meaning, but an actual, recognisable name she can use professionally.

Or Morgan, which is is also sea-related in meaning.

Even Dylan, which is sea-related, would be better, though it is traditionally a boy’s name. I’d prefer a recognisable-as-a-(boy’s)-name to Ocean.

I'd have thought 'nature names' were mostly the domain of middle class, 'arty' or 'lentil knitter' types, to roll out a few more stereotypes.

I know an Ocean. Nice man. Nice name. Good job. No jibes about the name.

Sorry OP, it's a horrible name. Don't inflict that on your child.

I like it. My DC is River, it is not their birth name but one they chose for themselves and is now used by everyone including the teachers.

Yeah, middle class and arty describes the catchment totally!

now I’ve heard everything

I’ve been thinking about this and I think it’s because flowers are essentially universally considered to be positive/beautiful (so make sense as a pretty name), whereas the ocean is not. I can see that some people might idealise it if they are thinking snorkelling in the Maldives or something but I think danger - storms, greyness, unpredictability, lifeboats, shipwrecks and horrifying deep sea creatures!

Lilies are often associated with death, but Lily is popular. Rose is very popular and it has a second meaning - got up.
Lots of names have weird meanings or negative connotations but we accept them because they've been normalised as names.

We must be the same kind of age as Tony Mortimer naming his daughter that was exactly what came to my mind too! 😂

I absolutely love it!

1. I think you both need to like it. Just because he hasn't come up with alternatives (altho he could make the effort to start looking at lists, and engaging) isn't reason for him to agree. You will find one you both like.

1. If he comes round, then if you're worried, just choose a second (perhaps more 'traditional' or popular name) and use them either way round as first and middle name. Even if that other name becomes the middle one, they can use it as their 'known by' name as an adult if they don't like ocean. Lots of people at work do this.

I know someone called this !! She’s on the admin team at my dc hospital and she’s so lovely when she calls and I actually thought when I got an email and saw her name how lovely it was !

I have a girl called Ocean in my class. It's definitely nothing out of the ordinary and no-one has raised an eyebrow at it.

Can't remember where I read it, but this thread has been mentioned in the news today 😂
Could you compromise and have Ocean as a middle name?

I have to admit, I would roll my eyes internally at that name. So would most people I'd imagine.

An Ocean should be able to cope with a few rollers.