AIBU to be angry about comments on my granddaughters' names?

[Ellenay]

So, I have 5 grandchildren, this weekend I’m looking after all of them, my daughter and her husband are away to a wedding in France and my son and his wife have booked a little spa weekend.

I popped in to see some of my friends with them as I don’t often have the children and my friends like seeing them.

One of my friends had some other friends I’ve not met before over but we joined them. After introducing the children and then being sent to the kitchen to get a lollipop, one of these friends said oh don’t all the girls have little showgirl names, I must have looked a bit shocked as someone else then jumped in and said oh she doesn’t mean p*rnstar just very moulin rouge.

I just said I thought their names were lovely and moved on but now I’m back home I’m furious, I’m furious I didn’t give her a piece of my mind.

AIBU to think this is an absurd thing to say about children’s names?!

It is now today's earworm.

OP I can see why you felt annoyed. I imagine your friend's friend's comment came across as patronising and superior ("Showgirls, tinkly kaugh"). Hope you can smile and shrug it off now you've had time to reflect. She behaved poorly in a.social situation. She might be kicking herself now. But for you, her opinion doesn't matter. You'll probably never have to meet her again.

Sorry, tinkly LAUGH, not kaugh which sounds like a RP cough!

My son’s girlfriend is called Lola. I always think about the Barry Manilow song. 😁

I love those names, OP. I wouldn’t necessarily think someone who said was being unkind. It depends on their view of showgirls I suppose. Showgirls are glam, beautiful and stand out. I‘m sorry you took offence. Try and think it was not meant in a bitchy way.

It’s not very nice to have any negative type of comment on the choice of your child’s/grandchild’s name. I’m here for gorgeous showgirl names…. Lola, Kitty, Tahlula xx

I think these are lovely names. I have no idea what is meant by 'showgirl name' but to mention pornstars while talking about your grandchildren is just horrible. I too would be really upset by this.

For what it’s worth, I think they’re fabulous names! And I’d also be annoyed at someone making unnecessary and un-invited comments on their names - it’s not their place.

It's not an insult, but names have connotations.

That person was commenting on the connotations. Which everyone who hears the names will think of.

Your granddaughters will hear this kind of comment for the rest of their lives. You can't prevent that.

Maybe your friend ‘s friend meant her comment in a more positive way, meaning that she found the names “glamorous” which in fact is kind of true.

First, aren't you brilliant and amazing having all five girls so your son and partner could go away? Bravo to you!
Secondly, F that snobby old bat and her snipey comments.

There is nothing wrong with their names. Children today will not make connections to old Barry Manilow songs or anything back in the day. I work with children amd hear those names often ...they are very popular. Don't give some of the unkind posters on here a second thought

🎯

I think though OP this was a friend of a friend? Just move on: who cares what she thinks.

Yes exactly, Lola and Ruby are popular names these days and Roxy is hardly unheard of.

The Manilow/Kinks/Police connotations will mean nothing to young people.

Your 3 Granddaughter's names are lovely & I wouldn't take offence by this persons comment. She probably didn't mean it nasty, just that they reminded her of characters in films or Theatre productions.

Money doesn’t equal class, as you well know.

OP, your granddaughters names are lovely, please ignore that woman, even if she meant it kindly, most of us probably know showgirl can be interpreted in many ways, so would just say glamorous etc if that is what we meant.

FWIW, the only Roxy I know is incredibly posh/upper-class, multiple family homes, international Swiss boarding school type milieu, but then I do think fear about how a name is perceived is much more common in the aspirational middle class, and true middle class, than at either end, once you are sufficiently posh you can get away with anything (I am very much not posh or upper class so this is just my guess).
The Roxy I know is lovely, though I will say, a bit wild, which does seem to fit the name!

They are showgirl names but so what? If your daughter likes them and you do. That’s great.

You have chosen to give the term ‘ showgirl’ negative connotations by reacting angrily when someone pointed out they have a showgirl vibe.

If someone says very young girls have 'showgirls' names it does have negative connotations. It sounds like mockery.

I've no idea why people have such poor social skills. This stuff is obvious.

I dont like the names but I dont think it was meant to be rude, lots of names sound a bit silly to older people. I have 2 DGDs I like their names but my youngest DS has told me the names for his future kids and I hate them both but not my choice and wouldnt say anything.

Kind of feeling sorry for you're friend now.

Your

YABU to take any notice whatsoever of the opinion of someone you’ve never met before and quite possibly won’t come into contact with again.

They’re all showgirl names.

Her name was Lola
Roxy Hart from Chicago
Ruby Keeler the original chorus girl

i don’t think the comment is an insult, it’s a statement of fact.

if they were Ariel, Belle and Aurora someone would say “all Princess names”.

Lola she was a show girl…Roxy is a ‘sexy’ character name.

If you give your kids names associated in pulp culture with strippers or sex workers then some people are obvs going to wonder why on earth you would!