Completely negative real life reaction to baby name....

[curiousgeorgie]

I've posted about this name before on here and usually get a good to mixed reaction.

I desperately wanted a girl just so I could use it, and found out we were indeed having a girl and couldn't believe my luck that I get to use my favourite baby name.

But telling both sets of parents the gender and saying the name, my mum said.. "no, really? That's awful" and I just let it go.

But today DH's parents and a few friends and our siblings have all been really negative about it with DH's brother even saying "Please don't call your baby that."

I truly love it so much, is it really so bad??

Its Seraphina.

[rrreow]

Gosh how rude of people to be saying that to you. I think it's a lovely name. Unusual, but not so much so that it'd be weird.

[mathanxiety]

My mum wanted me to call all of my DDs Stacey or Roberta. She laughed in disbelief when I reminded her of this.
Parents are weird.

Don't mind what your rellies say and next time remember the cardinal rule -- only introduce the name when the baby is in your arms.

[lamprey42]

My mum had a similar reaction to my boy twin's name. I think something like 'You can't call him that it's awful'. My sister also told me both twin's names were horrid so I retorted that when she had her own kids she could call them what she liked. I think that unless it is a name with particularly nasty associations for someone it is none of their business. My mum is fine about it now - if you like Seraphina go with it and they'll get used to it.

[AbsintheMinded]

I love this name too. Don't mind anyone else. They aren't the parents so don't get a say.

I gave my children pretty standard names and there are still relatives and friends who spell them wrong and my own mother hasn't bothered trying to pronounce one of their names correctly.
I'm glad I gave them the named I love

[DevonLodger]

We have a Serafina. We are catholic and wanted a pretty but unusual saint's name. Everyone comments on what a beautiful name it is. We call her Sefi as a nick name which I think is sweet. Stick to what you want. They probably have never heard of it before but will grow to love it I'm sure.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

I read a book with this name in it when I was at primary school and it stuck with me for years. Never known anyone in rl with it, it's beautiful. Possible diminutives too. Honestly when your family reacted they were being honest to the point of rudeness, if you said it was your favourite what do they hope to gain by rubbishing it? They can get used to it before she arrives can't they.

[ccsays]

I think it's beautiful. Makes me think of Serafina Pekkala from the His Dark Materials trilogy.

[takethatlady]

Whether or not your family would choose the name or not, it's a perfectly lovely, well-established name.

Plus, there are loads of lovely nicknames for it, as people have said: Sera, Sara, Saphy/Saffie, Fina, Fee, Fifi, Fin, etc. So she'll have plenty of choice about what she's called as she grows up.

Don't worry about family: once they see the name on your gorgeous girl they'll love it. I think names can sound weird in the abstract, but it's rare you meet a person and baulk at their name - it just suits them, in the end. Especially as your lovely little baby is going to be SO gorgeous. She'll be so beautiful she'll remind them how beautiful her name is, and I bet they'll love it in no time.

[HoneyandRum]

I love Seraphina and wanted to use it but my husband got his car towed outside an Italian restaurant called Seraphina's and wouldn't use it!!! People don't like names for daft reasons so don't let others change your mind, once the baby's older it will be fine. She will probably be called Phina for short.

We have a Raphaela and I think the British relies thought that was OTT but now we live in Germany and she had another Raphaela in her year at primary school spelt the same way! We also lived in the states and you heard it there too. Her nicknames are Rara and Raffa (German nickname).

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I think it's lovely.

Also think Sephy and Fee are more likely nicknames than Sarah.

[TomArchersSausage]

It's lovely. Honestly I think so. Feminine, uncommon but certainly not in a not in an 'out there' way.

I can't believe people who are part of your family turing up and being so blimmin mean to you. Really your issue is with them. They all sound horrendous Although its true it's best not to mention names until the baby is here.

A name becomes 'owned' by the baby as they grow to fill it and means that person to others when they think of it, rather than just a name standing alone which it probably is atm.

[lollypopsicle]

It maddens me that people seem to think it's ok to rubbish a name you have chosen before the baby is born. I stopped telling anyone our real contenders for this very reason! Once they are born, everyone just accepts the name (at least to your face, anyway )

Screw anyone else! Call your baby the name you love and everyone else can and will get over it.

[Graceparkhill]

I think it is a lovely lyrical name. Ignore all other opinions and go with your choice. In my experience once the baby is born you won't be short of unwanted opinions from all and sundry so do something decisive while you still can.

[Jo124]

I'm always amazed how forthright people are in their opinions about all sorts of things - passers by in the street 'that's going to be a huge baby!' - thanks! and total strangers in the park 'your dog's really fat' - she's got a heart condition you ignoramus so mind your own business! We have decided on our baby's name and she's not born yet, and generally I don't mind telling people - but I made the mistake of telling my GCSE class what it was going to be (after weeks of them yelling at me 'call it Becky!' (from Becky) 'call it Kelly!' (from Kelly)...etc). Their reaction? 'Gross! that's a fat girl's name!!!' - well really what did I expect? :) The name was my lovely great Aunt's and I love it :) I say pick something that means something to you and that sounds nice with the other names and let everyone else think what they like!! (Having said that another teacher I was talking to once claimed to have had a boy in her class called Tequila Sunrise Brown...I may draw the line there.)

[Mockingcurl]

It's a beautiful name. Stick to your guns or you will regret it all your life.
My mil made a big fuss about not liking my youngest sons name. We ignored her and she just came across as rude and ignorant.

[Blottedcopybook]

This is quite timely because I was getting really ratty at the attitudes on the Matthew/Finlay thread.

I don't know why people feel the need to be so rude about someone's name! I'm really sorry that your family have been so thoughtlessly unkind - DH and I had a bit of that with DC4 - but honestly I'd be responding, "Oh! Did you mean to be so hurtful/rude when you said that?"

If you and DH like it, that's all that matters! x

[thegreylady]

I think it is very pretty indeed.
My dn gets very negative reactions to her ds name [Ezekiel nn Zeke] but she just ignores them.

[mystiquesonya]

I think it's lovely. If we all liked the same names we'd all be called the same thing. What a boring world! We're individuals and if you and partner like the name, it doesn't matter what your family think. As others have said, the name and the baby will become 'one' anyway and they'll love both.

[sweetkitty]

amazingmumof6 - yes I knew that lovely meaning unlike DD3s that means house of sorrow or house of song depending on which website you visit.

[amazingmumof6]

sweetkitty as you probably know Talia means "Heaven's dew" - that is beautiful!

[IrnBruTheNoo]

Would recommend waiting until the baby's born, then announcing the name. That way you won't have to endure all the comments, negative or otherwise.

[pumpkinsweetieMasPudding]

Stick with what you want, stuff everyone else!

[MikeOxardInTheSnow]

If you don't like Sarah for short then I wouldn't use a 4 syllable name beginning with a Sarah sound! Saying that though, call baby what you want. Tell everyone you're not sure what you're calling her, so as to avoid a discussion you don't need to have, and then call her what you want when she is born. I think Seraphina and Sarah are really lovely names anyway.

[StephaniePowers]

We had negative reactions to one of our names as well - tough, he was called what he was called and everyone loves it now.

Seraphina is a gorgeous name, as someone said even if people don't love it, it's not one of those comedy names or spelled insanely or just daft. I like it a lot. (Not that that matters!).
Ditto Talia. I know a Thalia and I think it's gorgeous (as is she).

[sweetkitty]

Her name is Talia (tah-Lee-ah)