So, (D)M has just told me she hates our proposed name for DC2.

[Spoutlet]

It is the only name that DH and I both agree on and I'm annoyed that she and F are being so negative about our choice. She launched into a rant about how the poor boy will be open to ridicule at school, it's a dogs name and they just don't like it. They'd prefer a name like Jack or Thomas. We probably shouldn't have mentioned it, but she asked and I knew they'd probably be a bit weird about it and would rather get their weirdness out of the way before DS arrives. The name is Otto, by the way. I did have a little reservation about using it, i.e. we have no German heritage, but I was starting to overcome this as we do really love the name. I'm now wavering! So, thoughts on Otto, please. Apologies for the mini rant!

Sometimes an 'old man's/woman's' name can be lovely on a baby - my DD is Nancy and when she was born the only people I ever met with the name were over 70.

If you've no connection with Germany surely then the majority of people who meet Otto won't have preconceptions about the name!

Your baby your choice. Don't tell in future!

Actually tell her he's going to be called Gaylord Hubert and you wont waver.

then when you call him Otto it'll be a lovely name!

Don't change for her.

I think if you back down over something as personal and important as your baby's name your mum is going to think she's got a say in everything. If you do change your mind I would make it clear that it was yours and your DH's choice to, not hers. Pick a name you love!

My neice has a German name. No kids ask her if there is a German connection, because they don't see it like that. If adults ask her she just says "No, mum and dad just liked the name". I don't get why that would be a problem?

If you'd said Aldolf Lucifer Geronimo Skywalker, I could understand.

DSD's friend has a very Welsh name. The sort of name that only makes sense in Welsh IYSWIM. She is forever being asked about it, and gets sick of explaining it when she is in England. That's when I would see a problem, not over something simple like a bit German-y sounding name.

'Actually tell her he's going to be called Gaylord Hubert and you wont waver.

then when you call him Otto it'll be a lovely name!'

But why feel the need to discuss it with anyone else but between you and your partner?? If I was asked (which I was with both my pregnancies) I just said 'oh we're still milling it over, and not sure what he/she will be called'. I was just very vague about it. And so I moved on to another topic not related to pregnancy/naming. It's easy to do and avoids you having to go down that awkward route of conversation when you're really not that sure what name you want to give your child.

Pregnancy is stressful enough for some women without worrying over people's opinions of names you're considering. Do yourselves a favour and keep schtum next time, honestly!! :)

Don't kid yourself that if you keep quiet about the name until the baby is born, that everyone will say nice things about it.

When my ds3 was born, my father's opening words to me (before even "congratulations"!) were: "can you change the name?" as though ds had been born with the name written on a label round his neck and we had not chosen it ourselves already!

Needlesstosay, I did not change the name. I don't think my parents like it to this day, but who cares? I love it and many children have told ds he has a "cool" name which is high praise indeed!

FWIW I like Otto and would use it myself.

But by not saying anything before the baby is born, means there's less worry during the pregnancy. That was my train of thought. You've less to get stressed about!

You cannot stop anyone saying negative things after your baby arrives, there will always be someone who doesn't care much for the name you choose.

Umpteen years ago my older sister was pregnant with the second grandchild and made the mistake of telling our DM some of the names she had in mind, including Bruno. Oh, the drama! Tears on the 'phone etc.

3 years ago I had the fifth grandchild and refused to discuss names at all, thanks to DM's ridiculous antics previously. She kept trying to winkle our ideas out of me and DH, and sounding me out with suggestions, including Bruno. Ha!

Otto is fine, it isn't daft, he isn't going to suffer. This is all silly drama because your mother is surprised, doesn't immediately like it and to a degree, probably wants to control your choice. You MUST pick something you and your DH truly like.

Imagine how your teeth will grind if you give in to the hand-wringing and in 15 years time when cousin Whoever is having a baby your mother says 'Otto's quite nice...'

Just tell her she doesn't get a say in it. The end!

I always assume that my mum is going to hate whatever decision on anything I've ever made, so when it came to MY children's names, I told her once the decision was made and it was a done deal.

(I didn't even take her wedding dress shopping and just showed her my dress the night before the wedding, when I knew she daren't say anything negative about it! - but I'm sure that's a whole different issue!!)

Love Otto. Go for it.

Once told DMIL we were considering "Reuben" and she reacted like I'd said "Hitler".... seriously! Even though she was advocating Ruby for a girl

Never shared a potetential baby name with anyone other than DH, a good friend with similar taste and MN since -that's why I love this baord so much!!

Otto is a great name, ignore you folks

Tell her you've changed your mind and DS will be called Fitzroy Dweezle (son of a rock singer).

That will give her something to moan about.

Otto is a lovely name, go for it.

I would go for it, they will come to like it. Your choice not theirs.

Otto is a brilliant name. I'd use it!

I have asked one trusted and my equally trusted SIL about Caspar with our surname, SoupDragon, and they both agree with me that it's a bit 'hissy', iyswim?

Don't worry, guys, DM's opinion on this will not colour our decision; I rarely take her advice as we have such diverging tastes and opinions on everything . It just annoyed me that she was so bloomin' rude about it! I think she was also being a mouthpiece for DF, who tutted and shook his head when I mentioned ages ago - he'll probably tell people that the baby is called Jack, if we go with Otto! I think they weren't keen on DD's name, but kept (mostly) quiet about it because they'd have been insulting DH's DGM!

I really dislike Otto, sorry. But then I've spent some time in Germany where it is indeed a VERY uncool, unfashionable name, not helped by the well known comedian Otto (and his Ottifant) and the large mail order company Otto.

I find Jack too dull and overused, on the other hand.

I do like Caspar or how about Cassian, Quentin, Sebastian or Caspian?

I quite like it but it is my dogs name I am afraid

I don't like it and I think it lends itself to all sorts of nicknames-however it is your choice. The mistake is to tell people in advance.

my ds4 has a german name and no one ever mentions the german connection, same with ds2. ds3 has a welsh name and dd has a cornish name, we have no connections with wales or germany, tho we do have some cornish ancestory. but tbh we just chose names we liked and we mentioned lots of names in the run up to their births but never had their actual names till afterwards and then said them when they were a done deal! yes we still got told if they werent liked, but not much they could do about it, other than catsbum face etc and they have learnt to like them :)

oh and ds1 has a greek name! again no greek connections, it also means 'gift from god' and we arent religious either. my mil thought it was too posh a name! but is happy with it now.

Well seeing that you asked about it I hve to say I know more dogs than children called Otto.
Personally I don't like it and wouldn't dream of calling any son of mine that.
BUT it is your choice.
I do agree with below!

"I also think that children are very accepting of names."
Not when I was growing up they weren't

5madthings - I'm assuming you named him Theodore and not Theodoros, so not really a "Greek name" but its English version.

Not read whole thread but love the name.

Our dps hated ds1's name when we told them, we used it anyway and when ds2 and ds3 came along no one knew their names until they were introduced.

Otto is unusual but lovely and what you and your dp like is all that matters.