Should peoples opinions put me off this name?

[LittleSugaPlum]

Im 27 weeks pregnant with first child. I once met a small child called "Devon" she is female. And the name really stuck in my head.

When i got pregnant, if the baby was a girl Devon was one of my choices.

At 20week scan found out we were having a girl.

However nobody in the family likes the name Devon. My mother hates it, and mother in law does.

My side of the family have mentioned that its not really an appropriate name.
One of them said thats a place not a name! Everybody has said they havent heard a child called that before (i have only heard of it once).

Now i ve been wondering whether to use the name Devon or not, i think peoples reactions have sort of put me off it.

Mentioned this to DH who said "you cant change her name now!" lol

I like it.

Not an appropriate name-what does that even mean??

It´s not offensive or derogatory, is it?

i think they meant it wasnt an appropriate name as it was the name of a place perhaps?

The name is rare where we live, and i live in cheshire.
I believe its also rare in lancashire.

I do like afew others:

Savannah
Ami-Leigh (but this is out the question as DH already has a daughter with the same middle name the name which is also double barrelled).
Brielle
Renee

They won´t like Savannah either then, will they?

I think Devon is the nicest of your list of that helps?

I think Devon is the best of your list.

I think it's a pretty name. The only person I've ever heard with it is Devon Aoki, who is an American model, and female, and played one of the very beautiful (but scary!) women in Sin City. I've never heard it used as a name in this country, but I don't see any reason why not!

I like Devon, actually. Just seen your post of 16.07. No to all of them!

Seriously, if you want unusual do go for Sarah/Claire/Louise etc. I know of NO small children called any of those. I know a fair number of children with 'silly' names and people will make assumptions. I just typed out the assumptions I think they will make and they were so horrible I deleted them. Do you want those assumptions to follow your daughter through life? This is why your family are sad.

I think Savannah, Amy and Renee are all ok FWIW.

I had a friend called Devon when I was at school.
The boys used to say Devon knows how they make it so creamy - from the Ambrosia Devon custard advert. They don't show that advert anymore so you won't have that problem. I actually like the name and kids will find any excuse for a bit of teasing anyway be it name or looks.

Anyone mentioned Midnight Caller yet? Jack Killian's boss/love interest was called Devon King. I do think it's a girl's name, and I like it.

If you love that name, then stick to your guns. If you and your DH (and a random selection of Mumsnetters) like it so much then it's obviously 'the' name.

Devon was also the name of Michael Knights boss in Knightrider. Although I loved Midnight Caller I automatically thought of Knightrider.

If you lived in the US I think you could get away with Devon, not here though :(.

I know a girl called Devyn, I always thought that was a pretty name.

It's, in theory, a pretty name. But for me, a place name at least should have some association with it. I cringe a little when people have Savannahs etc when they haven't been anywhere near it. So picking a place which you could easily have gone to in the UK and choosing it as a name seems wrong (to me - I am totally aware that others may disagree).

I thought about calling my DDs middle name Devon as she was born there and I loved living there. But...I also know that Devon tends to be called Dee-von where I'm from in N America and it's would definitely raise eyebrows in my family because of it.

Out of the list I like Ami the best, but it seems a bit unimaginitive to think that Leigh is the only hyphenation you could go for. How about Rose/May all the usual ones that are around at the moment?

And if you are going to pick Devon, at least just pop down there for a quick weekend so you can say it inspired you when people go ! It's a lovely place for a long weekend away camping.

I know an 18 year old girl Devon and she is lovely and I think her name is equally lovely.

Rule 1 = Don't tell DP or DPIL or anyone else except MN'ers of course favourite baby names. Ever.

Devon is a lovely pretty feminine name, it's hardly outlandish, and is by far the best of your list so far - all the rest are in a lower class altogether! Devon Elizabeth is lovely - definitely stick with your instincts. And learn from this for next time - do not EVER tell anyone your name choices before the birth. EVER!

I quite like it

I'd judt like to say the people who think you have no control over nicknames are wrong, ime.

I am a primary teacher, all children in my school are called by the name their parents want them to be called, whether that is a full name or a nick name.

No kids make up their own nicknames for their friends without their consent. No one calls ELizabeth Liz or beth, no one called Josephine Jo, no one calls Frederick or William or Thomas or David or ISabella or Samantha or Alexander by any nicknames at all. They are all called by their full name.

It might change in secondary, but I think the child has more control over than than not.

and Devon is a lovely name!

I never knew Savannah was a place!

when i did the nursery, i had canvas blocks made that spell out D E V O N in girly colours (custom made) so i guess if we changed her name that would be £50 down the drain! lol

And your right my family dont like Savannah either, i believe its very common in the Jewish religion.

I also thought of Knight Rider at first, but thinking about it, I like it! Pretty but also quite strong. Especially like it with Elizabeth: makes Devon into more of a name than a place iykwim

If you're going to call a child something that isn't a traditional name it's a good idea to google it first.

I like Devon best out of the names you've listed.

People will almost certainly be nicer about the name once the baby's born and you say 'Here is Devon'.

I'd be tempted to go with an earlier poster's suggestion and tell your family that as they don't like Devon, you've decided to call your baby Skegness or Seven or suchlike.

I know a Devin (pronounced Dev-un, not De-von) here in the States. I think it's quite a pretty name.

It is pretty bad TBH. If you're getting negative reactions now then she will throughout her life. Do consider that.

How are you pronouncing Ami-leigh? If it's the same as Amelie then you could use that and remove the 'leigh' issue. And Savannah means plateau. It's a geographical feature, and presumably that's where they got the name for the city from, but it was around a long time before it was ever built.

Devon is nice. I think of a male cricketer from the 90s when I hear it, but I think it's a unisex name.