To tell them their baby name options aren’t great?

[Ellase]

I can be fairly confident DS and DIL don’t use Mumsnet so I’m prepared to take a risk and post this.

DS and his wife are expecting their first baby, all very exciting, a little girl. Tonight they came over and we were chatting names and they told me what their two front runners are, and well they aren’t inherently awful, but they are diminutives that aren’t well established as names in their own right (so we aren’t talking Milly or Rosie which are now fully fledged names). I asked if they were planning to use a longer name too and was told absolutely not. This worries as I feel their child won’t much appreciate having a name that is not well established, sounds a bit off (I don’t know how to explain better than that), and could easily have a longer name that would provide more optionality however they choose to live their life.

Should I cautiously mention it or just bite my tongue? We have a very positive relationship generally and they tend to be open to advice.

I think they're both cute names, I’ve heard much worse. Please don’t say anything.

Not keen on Tiggi. It’s cute for a baby but then an adult woman…not sure.

LOVE Gigi. (Think it’s became popular from Gigi Hadid, although her given name is Jelena).

OP, I’m afraid you’re going to have to reluctantly bite your tongue. But I’m sure you’ll fall in love with that baby girl as soon as you lay eyes on her despite whatever her name will be.

They are both fine. Naming fashions change, you get to name your own kids and that's it. Do not say anything. The name will grow on you and the baby will be adorable and you won't ever think twice about it again!

I'm not sure them names would lead to any piss taking. They're not that out there and people are more creative with naming babies these days. I've just done my DS's Xmas cards who is in reception. There are a couple of names on there that are new to me and not one name is repeated or even similar.

Both could be a lifetime of piss-taking.

Gigi would end up being "gee gees" as in the horses, which could then lead to her being nicknamed "horsey" or "donkey".

Or even worse... Some older male leering at 13 year old her "gis a ride little horsey".

While Tiggi could be: Tiggi > Tigger > Piglet > Piggy.

Or worse: Tiggi > Tigger > Pussy cat > pussy > [insert any vulgar reference to female genitals]

OP, if you were going to say anything, you might be better off gently reminding the parents that children and teenagers can be nasty, cruel and spiteful, and the playground can be a brutal place. Get them to consider how any name they choose could be used by school bullies.

Gigi contours up images of the old French film. Very chic. Tiggi is dreadful. It’s not a name. Parents should be banned from doing that to their kids.

Me too.

Clearly no tennis fans here. Gigi Fernandez or Gigi Salmon are the first people I think of when I hear the name. I like it, personally.

To me, "Tiggy" is an upper-class woman who goes skiing. Her real name is something very different, such as Elizabeth, and Tiggy does not appear anywhere on her birth certificate. She got her nickname because when she was tiny, the family had a foreign au pair who struggled to pronounce Elizabeth, which her mother found frightfully amusing.

I think Gigi sounds better if you're French. It wouldn't be my choice, but I wouldn't comment on it either. Chacun à son goût, as I believe they say.

If the baby turns out to be a Tiggy, hopefully she'll also have a conventional middle name she can use in formal situations if she wants.

Look, I have a client and her 18 year old daughter is named Genocide. I kid you not. The child was not born in the UK, so maybe that’s how no one officially told her it was a bad idea.
I’m hoping someone on here will come out and tell me that’s it’s a common name in XYZ. I doubt it.
So whatever name your brother and sil have chosen is fine.

This is why I never told anyone our name ideas until we were certain, I didn't want to hear other people's opinions. Plus they may change their minds completely when baby actually arrives. I would keep your thoughts to yourself.

Gigi is going to be fine but I’d have thought more typical to be a nickname for a Georgina. Tiggi is pretty bad and definitely feels like a nickname.

Isn’t Tiggy short for Henrietta? The one I know is

Quite some mental leaps here - you must be exhausted!

I was put off a name I liked by a friend (nothing as awful as Tiggi or Gigi) - later I wished I'd used it. You have to let them choose.

They might not use Mumsnet but you'd better hope they don't Google those names and find this thread.

I mean, I wouldn’t use the names, but they’re not terrible honestly.
not my taste but neither would be out of place or stand out amongst the current baby/child names (I have children ranging from 0-10)

The Gigi in the Collette story was short for Gilberte. There are plenty of other things it could be short for though; Regina, Georgina, Giselle or Giovanna for example.

I’ve known two Tiggys. One was a Tiger Lily and one was Antigone so obviously quite different vibes!

It is absolutely nothing to do with you and none of your business in the slightest. Who do you think you are? The third parent? Awful. And FYI, Gigi is a beautiful name that’s becoming more and more popular.

I guess I can see what you mean if it was something like 'Tillie' which does make me cringe. But of course don't say anything!

Say NOTHING.

I quite like them! But then I also like Mimi, Coco and Vivi too!

They are awful. Poor child, I would point out how silly they are and that the adult the child will become won't appreciate it.

This made me really laugh!!
Interesting leap from tigger to pig.

I don’t think children are capable of such creative bullying tbh.
By this logic all women are at risk of the pussy bullying talk. I’m not sure a name is what makes that sort of bullying more or less likely tbh!!!!

There are a few Gigi’s at DC’s school. I have no idea if they’re shortened. It’s absolutely fine as a name and I’ve never heard anyone like it to the horse geegees. Tiggi is more unique, but it’s not horrific. Could be a lot worse.