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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

it would seem the mn masses hate my dd name!

80 replies

itsallgravy · 09/10/2011 22:06

DD is called Layla (mn Violet)

Upon browsing some baby name theads i noticed a lot if people state they 'hate' the name and 'can't imagine a grown woman going for a job interview' and think 'chav' when they hear it

This makes me very sad and worried about people's perceptions of me for calling our daughter this. Stupid I know. But I'm now already worrying if other children's parents at primary school will deem her too 'chavvy' to invite home for tea!

The reason we named DD Layla is because it's a hugely popular name in the Arabic/Muslim world. Dh is an Arab and as I'm british we thought it would be a name that crosses languages and cultures well.

Obviously I shouldnt worry what others think and I love the name on dd. But I can't help now feeling as though I have saddled her with a 'chavvy' name despite the cultural reasons.

(disclaimer - I hate having to use the term chav but I'm using the direct quotes from mners previously describing the name!)

OP posts:

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BluddyMoFo · 09/10/2011 22:07

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BluddyMoFo · 09/10/2011 22:08

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helpmabob · 09/10/2011 22:08

Its a beautiful name. You cannot get a sense of a name's popularity from a few threads and it shouldn't matter anyway. Have the courage of your convictions and don't worry about what others think.

rushofbloodtothefeet · 09/10/2011 22:09

MN is not representative of the wider society (despite what politicians seem to think)

Layla Violet is a perfectly lovely name!

33goingon64 · 09/10/2011 22:10

I like it! I honestly don't think it's chavvy at all. HTH!

RitaMorgan · 09/10/2011 22:10

It's a less usual spelling maybe (usually Leila or Laila I think?) but it's a classic name and not at all chavvy. Chavvy to me is more made-up or very trendy.

It's a lovely name, especially for a half Arabic child.

TheMonster · 09/10/2011 22:11

Don't worry about what people think. As rushofblood says, Layla Violet is lovely.

TheSecondComing · 09/10/2011 22:13

This reply has been deleted

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GlaikitFizzogOnaNeepyLantern · 09/10/2011 22:15

You'll find very rarely on here that a name get the thumbs up from everyone, the usual opinions get rolled out, chavvy, common, very popular, in the top 10, but with that there are usually people who love the name too.

Also, if a name has any kind of celeb associated with it, that will be rolled out as a negative too.

You can be sure no one will every tell you to your face your daughters name is chavvy (it isn;t by the way), the "worst thing" I could say is about the song Layla, but its a cool song so not a negative :o

Take what you read here with a pinch of salt!

exoticfruits · 09/10/2011 22:15

I don't like it but people don't like my choice. Ignore them all-you like it which is all that matters.

exoticfruits · 09/10/2011 22:17

You also have to bear in mind that people speak freely on here.I have a friend who has just had twin boys-I hate the choice of names but I shan't let them know!

othersideofchannel · 09/10/2011 22:19

Thankfully we all have different tastes. Would't life be dull if we all chose the same names? Many people won't like my dc's names, but equally I wouldn't choose their names either .

Sure, we can now all tell you how lovely the name Layla is (whether we mean it or not) but imo it is better for you to accept that names are very subjective and you will not and should not please others - your baby, your name.

And I also hope that we teach our children to be less 'judgemental' based on names (as many mumsnetters seem to be - my ds's name has been described as 'posh' - we are not in the slightest and I hope they don't judge him based on his name).

Original poster

itsallgravy · 09/10/2011 22:19

Wow very quick responses there!

Thank you!

I know I'm being stupid and shouldnt care what other people think, especially people willing to judge others on the basis of a name.

It just surprised me to read so many negative comments for what I consider to be a lovely arabic name.

Dh is a non practicing British born Muslim but it was important to him to use an Arabic name, yet that appeared equally as English. I have never even come across the name being used by non Muslims in rl and certainly would not have deemed it 'chavvy' if I had!

We are currently ttc number 2 and are mulling over names that appear to be more 'classic' but equally as Arabic.... Or so we thought! Maybe I should run a search on mn for them too

OP posts:

Original poster

itsallgravy · 09/10/2011 22:22

Classically excepted in england I should add.... Think Sophia, Jacob etc

OP posts:

Grumpla · 09/10/2011 22:25

For a start, I think calling any thing / name "chavvy" betrays a certain lack of class in the caller anyhoo, and I certainly wouldn't want MY child mixing with THOSE SORTS OF PEOPLE anyway! Harrumph.

Secondly, I like the name Layla.

poppydaisy · 09/10/2011 22:26

I wouldn't choose Layla myself, but then you'd probably not like my name choices either.

Who cares - life would be boring if we all loved and chose the same few names .

NotAnotherNewNappy · 09/10/2011 22:28

I think it's lovely. I have searched on both my DD's names and have read good but also lots of unfavourable comments on both. The bad ones stay with you as the hurt is so personal!

Layla is not chav at all.

I feel sorry for anybody on here whose DD have a hyphenated or surname as first name.

babycham42 · 09/10/2011 22:29

Layla immediately reminds me of classic Eric Clapton so beautiful.

Double adore Violet.

Layla Violet. Perfect.

JIRkids · 09/10/2011 22:30

I love the name Layla and have never heard anyone say it is chavvy. It was on my name list.

NotAnotherNewNappy · 09/10/2011 22:30

Also, you cannot achieve anything unique or even unusual by consensus. If you want a name that everyone will like, pick one from the top ten!

mamaduckbone · 09/10/2011 22:31

I know a grown up and very successful Layla who is of half arab heritage and it suits her perfectly beautifully, as it will your daughter. My friend's mum taught a child called Essence Chardonnay (smell of wine ) - now if anything's chavvy.....

ChippingIn · 09/10/2011 22:35

I wouldn't chose it myself - I don't particularly care for it, but you probably wouldn't like my choices either - it really doesn't matter does it :)

I definitely wouldn't say it's chavvy though. It is a fairly common (as in not unusual) name around here in the South East with non muslims.

Choose a name that fits your criteria that you like - do not consult MN!! No matter what you choose there will be people who love it and people who hate it and those inbetween - you will end up with no names left if you try to find one that gets MN approval

tabulahrasa · 09/10/2011 22:39

I think it's the difference between using a name that's from an obvious heritage that's nothing to do with either parent or using a name that's linked to the child's heritage - with the first you kind of go where it just makes sense.

Not that I think layla's really one that I'd question.

tabulahrasa · 09/10/2011 22:40

Makes sense with the second I mean, lol

lollystix · 09/10/2011 22:43

It had never occurred to me' it was chavvy - I know two laylas and neither of their parents are chavvy in the least.

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