Do other adults decide whether children pick on other children over their name?

[LilQueenie]

We chose our baby names well before hormones took over and really thought it through. By this I mean a year before i conceived. There is one name which is highly unusual but the first girl is getting a fairly commonish name. However several of my partners co workers have said its not fair on her! Am I right in thinking that if an adult starts on about a name then its usually only then the children think its ok to bully a child? Shes not even born yet and I feel like telling them to fuck off. Willow Green is in our opinion a rather normal name. Opinions please.

I have to say I understand why you might be feeling precious about the name, but I can understand other people when they comment about it.

Willow Green is a name that will be commented on.

IMHO, if a person has a descriptive surname e.g Green or White, I would not not dare to give them a plant name or name that would combine to make life hard for them

Lily White
Jet Black

It reads more as a phrase, than a name.
Sorry if you don't agree, but you did ask for opinions.
BTW, some kids rarely need parental input to be vile about something.

Adults don't decide if kids will tease a name - they just warn you in advance.

Yes I feel Willow Green is one of those names that will feature in a future MN thread (along with Dwayne Pipe, Mary Christmas etc).

Sorry OP but you did ask. Green is clearly a completely usual surname, Willow an unusual but not unheard-of pretty first name; but the two together is a bad plan IMHO.

what I mean is if a child hears an adult comment on a name they are more likely to take the piss than if they had been left to find their own opinion.

Don't do it. She will not thank you for it.

Afraid not.

If a child is learning to read and making connections with words they are very likely to be of an age where they blurt it out without thinking when they themselves make the connection.

Adults will comment, usually in private, as by that time will have learned their little dears will repeat what they shouldn't and embarrass them if it's said in front of them.

No, I think there are some names which children are more than capable of deciding are ludicrous all by themselves.

too bad the name stays.

Young children are not going to make the connection but teenagers would.

Willow is nice

but putting it with Green doesn't work

so no it's not a normal name and judging by the way primary schools were and still are there may well be some comments from children, there will certainly be a sniggering in the classrooms

but it's your decision as to whether you saddle your child with a name like Richard when his surname's Head and then blame the adults for the dickhead comments

"Too bad" for who?

Only for you and your DD. Not for us.

The primary school playground will make its own commentary, regardless of what an adult says.

I think there is a complete difference between a rude sounding name though and ours. unfortunatley we cant change our surnames. Mine caused a lot of rhyming slang at school but I was confident enough to tell them where to go and I hope to instill the same confidence in my kids.

I wouldnt say too bad to me and dd either. All my children have a middle name to use if they prefer. No loss there but our choice will remain on the birth certificate.

Course you can change your surname!
Hyphenate them; or use whichever isn't Green (unless it's something worse, like Basket)

I think that kids do pick up on what their parents think, but if they have been at school with that kid for a while then they will not think the name is strange and pick on it for that reason. I think it has more to do with the child themselves if they are picked on or not and of cause the bully.

I remember being at school and kids whose name was taken the micky out of were names that ryhmed with something that the kids thought was rude.

I think willow green is a lovely name, not wierd at all. And I dont see how the child will be picked on because of it, especially if the child has a good personality.

I got an absolute pasting on MN when I mentioned DS's Christian name on here. He is now 8 and has never had the mickey taken at school or anywhere else. Maybe it will start later though.

I still adore his name, but upon reflection I think it does give the impression his parents are pretentious twats!

I choose a unusual name for dd one I wont post with her surname because it would identify her. However 9/10 of the children and adults say it is beautiful and really suits her. I was told she would be teased but that has not been the case.

I suggest going with a very neutral middle name, and with a surname like Green even some common names e.g Teresa could result in teasing.

Too bad for who then?

Not for us.

You say not for you.

Too bad for no-one in that case?

You're the one who said too bad.

her middle name is linda after myself and my mum. chosen to even things out as a boy would be named after my dad :)

that's cos Teresa Green sounds like Trees are Green

"too bad the name stays."

Yes, too bad for your (potential) DD. I hope to god you only have boys, unless you have an equally daft combo for those.

I didn't actually pick up on the Willow and Green connection until I read the next post.

I don't, therefore, think it is a big problem but it is not my daughter.