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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I be honest with friend?

82 replies

Absc · 15/01/2024 22:11

Friend hasn’t registered their baby yet and they decided to call him Bailey.

the grandma and their other child who is a lot older have already said they hate the name. To be honest I don’t like it as well they asked my view and just said not sure. Taken them four weeks to go with any name.

I know it’s a parents choice do I say anything

OP posts:
rainbow616 · 15/01/2024 22:12

I would just stay out of it to be honest. If they ask your opinion again, then be honest, but it's totally up to them x

Nicknacky · 15/01/2024 22:12

What’s wrong with Bailey? Mind your own business

IDontLoveTheWayYouLie · 15/01/2024 22:14

Well good job the baby doesn't belong to anyone moaning then really.

pasturesgreen · 15/01/2024 22:14

No, you don't say anything. Bailey is fine.

Thehamsterthatcametotea · 15/01/2024 22:14

Bailey is nice! If they had decided to call him Turnip it still wouldn’t be any of your business.

EvilElsa · 15/01/2024 22:14

No, just leave it. They obviously like it, it's not the most horrifying name ever (it won't raise any eyebrows) and you will just cause a rift.

Namemchangeforthispostonly101 · 15/01/2024 22:15

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, so we've agreed to take this down now.

ThomasinaLivesHere · 15/01/2024 22:15

What outcome do you see by being honest? If anything your first response would surely have been read as you didn’t like it so what do you expect them to do?

SullysBabyMama · 15/01/2024 22:16

Definitely do not share your opinion over Bailey!
Much worse names out there!

MonsteraMama · 15/01/2024 22:20

I mean if a grandparent and sibling have expressed they don't like it and the parents are still going with it, I'm genuinely not sure why you think your opinion will matter more to them.

I don't like Bailey either, it's a dog's name, but if one of my friends told me they had their hearts set on it for their baby I'd say "how lovely" and continue on with my day. Because honestly unless they're calling their kid something truly heinous like Chlamydia it's seriously no one else's business.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 15/01/2024 22:20

Bailey is a completely unremarkable and normal name, I have two friends with sons called Bailey, one 8yo and one in his 20s now. It might not be to your taste and that’s fine, it happens to me all the time that friends/ relatives announce a name for a baby which I would never choose myself, but I’d never say anything. Bailey is not a wildly out there name, if she was calling her child Balonz or Cabbage maybe it would be time to say something but she’s choosing a normal name, even if not to your taste, so certainly no reason to express how you feel about it and upset your friend.

upwardsonwards · 15/01/2024 22:22

I remember we bought our first car, already paid for and DH’s family were telling us how we should have chosen another car and another colour. They were not even asked for their opinion. I found it very rude, very intrusive and frankly lacking any self awareness.

When your friend asks about the name, you can chose any number of truths to tell her (if you are so focussed on the truth tell her, you haven’t heard it much, it is not one you have come across before, she must be thrilled they have finally settled on a name, oh he is so gorgeous, he will definitely grow into that name loads of options for telling the truth) but your negative opinion on her baby’s name should not be one of them.

LightSwerve · 15/01/2024 22:23

There is nothing wrong with Bailey, it's a fine enough name. MYOB on all names unless it is actually offensive.

Hairspray123 · 15/01/2024 22:23

Keep your opinions to yourself! If it was a ridiculous name then fair enough I understand your need for comment, but its a normal name. Theres nothing worse than wanting a name and people being negative about it.

With DS its took us ages to register and people really got on my Tits feeling they needed to have an input.

The child always becomes the name anyway, if you like the child you will like the name, its just basic associations with things eg I dont like xyz name as I knew someone with that name and they were horrid.

ComtesseDeSpair · 15/01/2024 22:25

If it’s taken them four weeks to decide on then either they really love it and haven’t found anything they like even nearly as much, or they’ve really struggled to agree on any names. Say nothing. It’s a perfectly ordinary name with no offensive connotations, whether people who aren’t the parents personally like it is neither here nor there.

Maddy70 · 15/01/2024 22:25

Bailey is a lovely name. Wtf does it have to do with anyone else?

LakeTiticaca · 15/01/2024 22:31

Say nothing if you value your friendship. Its not a ridiculous name by any stretch of the imagination. Its perfectly fine, unlike the names some children are saddled with!!

Metallicant · 15/01/2024 22:57

Say nothing.

RampantIvy · 15/01/2024 23:02

Say nothing, but remind them they only have two weeks left to register the baby.

DarkForces · 15/01/2024 23:04

Your friend is looking for your support, not your judgement. Just tell her it's a gorgeous name for a gorgeous baby. She gave birth a few weeks ago. That's what she needs from you

HouthiAndTheBlowJob · 15/01/2024 23:06

You can dislike a name without disliking the person with the name.

StockpotSoup · 16/01/2024 01:02

Tell her to call him Amarula Cream instead.

BobbyBiscuits · 16/01/2024 02:58

I like the name. It's their choice, no way should you say anything! Even if it was utterly awful, which it isn't.

JanglingJack · 16/01/2024 03:08

I don't particularly like the name, but it's not your baby.

People were weird about my daughters name, but now it's growing in popularity 🤬 and no, it's not Nevaeh 🤣 (I had to think about spelling that!)

Outthedoor24 · 16/01/2024 03:49

It me its an animal name known dog and a horse with it. Horse had a sibling called Guinness.

But it must be an actual name or where did Bailies Irish Cream come from?

If they haven't actually registered the name they are possibly still not 100% sure of it. It does sound like they've called their baby after a drink.