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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is Amelia really that bad?

209 replies

FleursDeFilles · 15/05/2024 02:02

We named our DC Amelia because it worked well with English speakers, DH's non-western background and also my heritage. We get lots of compliments for it too. But then the other day I read a thread on MN about naming a baby Amelia. And it sounds like it's a very overused name. I'm so sad. I really didn't realise it was so overdone and common right now.

YANBU - Amelia is a nice name
YABU - Amelia is a rubbish name

OP posts:
Mnetcurious · 15/05/2024 08:18

It’s incredibly popular. My child has six Amelias in the year group (large school). There are quite a few Emilias too which sounds pretty much exactly the same.

OutOfTea · 15/05/2024 08:19

Does it matter?

You gave your daughter that name because you like it. Does it really matter if other people like it too?

ToxicChristmas · 15/05/2024 08:21

I think its a nice name! It is very common where I am -tiny village school and we had four Amelias throughout the school years. I also know three outside of school. Who cares though if you like it!

Bubblybits · 15/05/2024 08:23

MN hates my daughter’s name 😂 Everyone has been really lovely about it in real life, and there are three of her name in her nursery (not same year group) so I can’t be the only one who loves it! You’ll never find a name that is universally loved.

Neighbours87 · 15/05/2024 08:27

It’s an absolutely beautiful name OP.

LightSpeeds · 15/05/2024 08:31

I love it 💕

Itsneverme · 15/05/2024 08:32

My sisters in their 40s are Amelia and Ava! Mum wanted something not popular it's eventually caught up but I think ita a beautiful name

LunaNorth · 15/05/2024 08:33

I can’t believe there are grown adults in the world that would type horrible comments about someone’s child’s name on a thread where the OP is already expressing doubts.

Do you feel better for telling OP her child’s name is whiny and means ‘having no limbs’?

FFS

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 15/05/2024 08:37

I should have said YANBU but it is popular the Uk. I'm still pleased we chose it for DD.

Itsmychristmasdress · 15/05/2024 08:41

Never heard my name being described as whiny. Wtf does that even mean? It's never been shortened to Amy for me either. It's only popular in the last ten years really. I like it op and I have only ever had compliments on my name.

TheKeatingFive · 15/05/2024 08:42

The MN baby name forum might be the most critical place on gods green earth. It's a lovely name, stop worrying about it.

Shelby2010 · 15/05/2024 08:43

It’s just down to luck whether it’s common in your area or social group. No Amelias in my DD’s year but 2 Xanthia’s and about 4 James.

Amelia is a lovely name & if you like it then it’s the best name for your DD.

RosieIGrant · 15/05/2024 08:43

Amelia is a lovely name. It is very popular but that’s to its credit, I think. It depends what you’re after as when we were naming our DD we didn’t want a super popular name but we still settled for one in the top 30.

MzHz · 15/05/2024 08:46

WilliamButt · 15/05/2024 07:49

I agree. I'd never met an Amelia until one started at my work last year and she must be about 30.

My daughter's name has been described on Mumsnet as 'meh', 'wishy-washy' and 'nothingy' and yet irl we've had loads of compliments. People are more likely to be brutally honest online.

I grew up with a very rare name and it sounds a bit dramatic but it shaped my life really negatively and I still have a complex about it and since when I hear it - which is increasingly often as it's become quite popular now. I'd have done anything to be a Katie or Sarah.

Show quote history

People are more likely to be brutally honest online

There seems to be a trend of people being contrary rude dickheads online. I think most of the utter twats on MN are posting things literally just to be rude. They don’t even believe the bilge they spew most of the time.

Tattletwat · 15/05/2024 08:46

It's a nice name but at the time it was very popular.

Why get sad about it, its her name now.

AuditAngel · 15/05/2024 08:50

DD2 has Amelia as a middle name for my great grandmother. It is very popular, which was why we didn’t want it for a first name.

In DD1’s mixed class of 30 at primary there was Amelia, Emilia and Amelie, out of about 15 girls,

BeardieWeirdie · 15/05/2024 08:50

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 15/05/2024 08:03

According to Mumsnet:

My name is frilly; my husband’s name is boring; my eldest’s name sounds like a sex act; my middle child’s name makes one think of a black man; and my youngest’s name is too “of the moment”.

We all get along just fine with our Mumsnet-proclaimed shit names. And so too will Amelia. Which is a lovely name. I know 3 - one of them is 39, one of them is 15 and one of them is 1. Therefore, it’s pretty classic!

YABU if you went for BJ! 😅

rogueone · 15/05/2024 08:51

I like the name but I do prefer Amelie

HairyToity · 15/05/2024 08:53

Amelia is a beautiful classic name. I personally prefer a normal name to an out there name.

Jinglesomeoftheway · 15/05/2024 08:57

OP, with all the respect in the world, why do you care what a load of strangers who you don't know online think??

It can't be changed, you like it, and you can either embrace it and choose to keep loving it, or let mumsnet potentially spoil it for you!

For what its worth, it's a beautiful name 😉

ABirdsEyeView · 15/05/2024 08:58

Not all opinions are going to be the same, so if you like the name, that's genuinely good enough. It really doesn't matter whether randoms on the internet like it too!
Popular names are popular for a reason - because they sound nice!
Now some people prefer more unusual names and that's fine too, but often kids like not standing out. As a parent you just have to choose what you like at the time and hope your child grows up to like it too.

tuvamoodyson · 15/05/2024 09:04

It’s a nice name but in no way uncommon…

LadyGodivas · 15/05/2024 09:05

I would take opinions on the name boards with a pinch of salt, there’s some very, erm..strong (batshit, weird, over the top) reactions/opinions on there sometimes!

Amelia is a lovely name. Very pretty and I think quite a classic name.
I also wouldn’t read too much into popular name polls - I’ve only ever met 2 Amelias, despite it being featured in the ‘top 10 girls names’ often, same with the name Olivia, I’ve only met a couple over the years.

Hoolahoophop · 15/05/2024 09:10

I've loved it ever since hearing a local news presenter signing off with the name when I was a teen. I dreamed of eventually having an Amelia who went by Milly. But DH vetoed it when we were choosing as Milly just made him think of the tragic death of Milly Dowler. Names rise and fall in popularity. But Amelia is I think a classic so it will never age in the same way some names do. There will just be notably more of less at any one time.

OneTC · 15/05/2024 09:11

I've never met one irl so it can't be that rinsed out.

It's also a great name regardless