Eldest ds in tears about new dd's name....

[luckywinner]

I have just had a baby girl three weeks early. We didn't really choose any names before, just a short list. Ds (7) and dd (5) have been v excited about new baby. This afternoon they both came to see me in the hospital and were seriously lovely with her. Ds kissed her lots and lots. Dd just wanted to dress and undress her!

Dh took them home then came back to me and we decided on our name for new dd - (Elizabeth) Tess. When dh went home and told them her name my ds sobbed and sobbed and said he didn't like the name. Dh called me in hospital and I spoke to ds who cried again and said he didn't like name. I asked him what he did like. His answer was Felicity, Darrell or alicia (we've been reading mallory towers!), or Cecily. Now he was going to be Cecily if he was a girl. I love the name but a friend of ours has since called their child Cecily and I am just not sure about it any more. And part of me says 'tough, you are 6, you don't get to decide'. And I love the name Tess. Someone come and tell me what to do/say. I am exhausted, just given birth, am tired and emotional!

I love Tess but a bit biased as I have a Tess too but full name is Teresa although never used it. rhymes with so many great things, we have tess the pest, tess the mess, tess the best etc. Your DS will get used to it and learn to love it. DD1 didn't like the name of DD2 at first and insisted on calling her Princess Shiny..gets very embarrassed if we mention it now.

My ds1 wanted to call ds2 grandma.

Lol, this is you, isn't it, OP? Fess up.

Ds wanted to call dd spiderman.

Dear God, there isn't an enshrined in law list of approved nicknames which will get you hoofed into a maximum security penitentiary if you dare to deviate from it - although you'd scarce believe it if you read this thread.

Elizabeth nn Tess is lovely and sounds like they "go together" to me.

Mine too, she wanted Snow White and was outraged to be overruled.

FarFarAway - Princess Shiny, I love it!

Your post really resonated - My children are 6 and 4 1/2 and we're waiting for their new sibling to arrive. My DS (also my eldest, aged 6) doesn't like any of our choices, and I am a bit worried about his reaction! You do have to stick to your guns, though. 6yo boys are v emotional, ime!

As for the nickname thing - Tess is a perfect nn for Elisabeth! My daughter is Betty short for Beatrice for exactly the same reason.

Enjoy your newbie and congratulations x

Hi all, sorry haven't been back on thread. We are still in hospital due to a few complications. But she is now officially Tess, nn for Elisabeth, and dh and I love it. And whoever mentioned the build-a-bear idea is brill. Once I feel strong enough we will be off to Westfield to buy a multitude of tacky outfits and bear.

I did hang off on coming back on this thread though as I was quite taken aback by the nickname police. Are you all mother-in-laws in training?

Everyone else, you have made me giggle with your stories, what a shame I didn't think of Bacon or Diarrohea

Lovely name.

My mum named her youngest sister, and was 7 at the time. She didn't like her parents choice (Lucy). Mum refused to use the name, as she thought it was so old-fashioned (1960s), and before they registered their daughter, they changed it for my mum's choice - Alison. It's still talked about.

Tess as a short for Elizabeth makes just as much sense, if not more, as Peggy for Margaret or Polly for Mary, which are both 'accepted' nicknames. The etymology looks pretty clear (Elizabeth - Beth - Bess - Tess) so how about giving the OP a break?

OP, for what it's worth I completely agree with others who've said that your DS will get over it! But my brother and I had 'special' names for each other that we still use occasionally, so maybe that's an idea?

It also makes complete sense to me and is very pretty. Congratulations!

I think Elizabeth with the nn Tess is lovely. Congrats OP! :)