Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wish I hadn't called my daughter Ruby?

211 replies

gonenative · 27/02/2010 23:23

When me and DH chose her name 6 years ago, we didn't know any Rubys (or any kids for that matter!) and liked the feisty sound of it. We actually thought we were being pretty original.

It was the MOST popular girl's name in 2007, 2nd in 2008, and there are 4 others in her year at school.

Am I being unreasonable to wish I'd called her something a bit less, well, common?

She has two lovely middle names and to my shame I've even asked her if she fancies being called one of these instead.

I know I'm being an awful snob, and I do still like the name but what do you all think?

OP posts:
Grandmar · 15/01/2011 13:03

Gorgeous name with her own song

saintknickerless · 15/01/2011 13:27

YABU Ruby is a lovely name and my daughter has 2 lovely friends called Ruby.
The reason it is popular is because it's a lovely sounding name. I wouldn't pass your negativity on to your dd by asking her if she wants to be called another name. If she decides that for herself then fair enough.
I have quite an unusual name and there's a lot to be said for having a 'common' name that doesn't make you stand out - esp in school.

Adversecamber · 15/01/2011 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuzzLightBeer · 15/01/2011 17:15

zombie thread just means risen from the dead

miacat · 16/01/2011 05:56

LOL-Sorry, i think i am responsible for resurrecting this thread! I found it linked to the RUBY page in the 'find a name' bit. 4 weeks to go now and i have LOVED the name Ruby for years, just worried now it's 'common'.

I am new here and now i feel like i've been told off! :o

humanheart · 16/01/2011 10:06

nah! you haven't been told off (at least I'M not telling you off!)

can't see what is wrong with a resurrected thread myself

salsmum · 16/01/2011 10:22

I've been the only June throughout school a name I really don't like...and I now work with another June Grin but I work in elderly care where everyone called Margaret has changed their name to either their middle name or nickname Margaret being a v. popular name from 'their' time.

salsmum · 16/01/2011 10:24

sori I meant to mention that not 1 of them has called themselves Maggie Confusedare there any mums out their who hate their names or is it just me? are you brave enough to tell us your name you hate?.

theevildead2 · 16/01/2011 10:50

My name (nottheevildead2!) was so unusual growing up that I never met a child with my name.

It's now in the top 10 girls names. So in 30 years time I will be the old lady when the weirdly young name! Names come in and out of fashion and as has been mentioned before when your dd is an adult she will have an adult peer group of all ages so she may well be the only Ruby.

cupofteaplease · 16/01/2011 10:57

I know exactly how you feel OP because I have an Evie. I chose this name as a child when I used to watch the House of Elliot and the sisters were called Beatrice and Evangeline, Evie for short. I made the decision then that when I had a baby, I would call her Evie. I had no idea that every other girl would be caleed Evie too and it has really taken the shine off the name for me. I wish I'd called her by her middle name.

For dd2 I was careful to choose a name that wouldn't be as popular, without being too, 'out there'.

borderslass · 16/01/2011 11:04

I wished we hadn't called our youngest what we did as unbeknown to us there was a parody of a song with her name in at the time by Roy Chubby Brown and when she was younger some of her older cousins teased her mercilessly by singing it to her.
We have since found out though that it is a family name on all sides, my great grandmother on my mums side, great aunt on my dads side,DH's grandmother on his mums side and DH's mothers middle name.
When she was born I didn't know any children with the name but there's still not many that I know.

ShowOfHands · 16/01/2011 11:07

miacat, you're not being told off Smile

And there's nowt wrong with resurrecting a thread really but as you can see people start replying to and sympathising with the op and it's a year later, she's probably not reading and has dealt with it by now.

loolooskiptotheloo · 16/01/2011 11:53

in DDs nursery there are two phoenix's (and one is a boy and one's a girl!) and i think that is VERY unusual!

Deciduousblonde · 16/01/2011 12:56

Miacat, if I had my way I would call my expected DD Ruby..I love it, even though it's deemed popular.

Unfortunately DH doesn't like it :(

cupofteaplease, I sympathise as I have an Evie too. There weren't many of them 15 years ago!

miacat · 16/01/2011 13:38

Awww :) I feel better now haha

I love Evie. My immediate assumption was that it came from Charlie and Lola. We love Charlie and Lola in this house. I think that started broadcasting about 6 years ago now? Not sure if Evie was in the books...how about Soren (as in Lorenson). That could catch on!

Ava, i'd think of Ava Gardner. Classic enough to never be common, like Elizabeth, i think.

We were originally going to call her Elsie. No one has ressurected that yet! :D

MsSparkle · 16/01/2011 13:45

I liked the name Ruby for my dd when i was pregnant in 2006. My dh said no to the name Ruby though because at the time you had Ruby in Eastenders and we would forever have people saying "did you name her after her in Eastenders?"

So we went with a different name.

Bogeyface · 16/01/2011 13:47

As someone who has the most popular name of her generation (it was number one for donkeys years and is still in the top ten now!) I can sympathise.

But it is a nice name and tbh its a bit late now so embrace your good taste :)

musicmadness · 16/01/2011 15:00

TBH I don't see the big fuss about having a name that is popular. My favourite girls name is Emily and it has been for years. I can't see what difference it makes if other people like it to.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 16/01/2011 15:04

Blame the Keiser Chiefs! :)

You are being a bit silly though; imagine changing your daughter's name at this stage.

You do sound a bit snobby but in my experience, those who self-proclaim their own snobbishness haven't a hope of being accepted by the genuine ones. Wink

Deciduousblonde · 16/01/2011 15:05

A name is usually popular because it's lovely :)

wizardora · 16/01/2011 15:08

YANBU, I can see why it would annoy you but it is a lovely name which is why so many people chose it! Maybe you could give her a nickname?! My name is Chloe, I used to be the only one I knew then all of a sudden people started calling their DD's Chloe left right & centre. It doesn't bother me though as I was named it before it was popular and so was your Ruby Wink

princessx2 · 16/01/2011 15:09

My dd1 has a very traditional name and there are four in her year - not unexpected given that it has been in the top 10 for many years.

My sisters wanted me to call DD2 Ruby. I love the name but it didn't sit well with our surname. I called her an equally traditional but less common name and consequently was asked if she was named after an actress or a character in a film as if that was the only reason for choosing it!! There has been a trend locally for this name since she was born, so I am expecting her to be one of several in class in years to come!

I also wanted to call both of mine Grace and Isabella (but DH didn't like them) so it would have happened whatever I would have called them.

Ruby is a great name - I wouldn't change it!

wizardora · 16/01/2011 15:13

Elsie is lovely btw, we thought of that for DS but obviously he turned out to be a boy!

Guadalupe · 16/01/2011 15:17

I don't think there's anything wrong with an old thread.

It just made me laugh when I was reading through nodding and mentally composing my post when I came across myself saying exactly what I was about to say again. Like an imposter Grin

maighdlin · 16/01/2011 15:21

my mum named her two dogs ruby and murray (both boys Hmm) murray died so now its just ruby. when DD was born there was a girl in the ward who named her DD ruby and because my mum is doting and used to the name ruby she called my DD ruby all the time for about 2 weeks. i really like the name ruby and it would have been on my list if my mum hadn't of named her dog it.

i don't think yabu. i would hate for my DD to be one of five Xs in a class. i don't think that will happen but there is a character on CBEEBIES with her name so it may become popular.