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Original poster

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

108 replies

curiousgeorgie · 24/01/2013 19:58

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.

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SirBoobAlot · 25/01/2013 00:26

I only know of one Seraphina (through an old friend), she gets shortened to Phe.

Think it's really pretty.

FWIW my dad hated my DS's name when I was pregnant, very vocally. All that changed the second he arrived :)

Lollybrolly · 25/01/2013 00:48

I think its pretty.

Ignore and go with what you like.

Tell them you have changed your mind to Ermintrude - then they will appreciate your real choice when she is born and you announce you are changing back to Seraphina.

DessieLou · 25/01/2013 03:44

Oh ignore the rude buggers! I think serephins is a beautiful name and you will definately regret it if you don't use it. We stupidly told a couple of people our name choice if dd had been a boy and got negative reactions. It's annoying but we've had it picked out for about 5 years so nothing would persuade us not to use it if we do have a future son. Interestingly though I've seen it mentioned on here loads lately so it must be rising in popularity. With my luck there'll be a million Reubens by the time I get to use it! :-)

Greensleeves · 25/01/2013 04:17

I love it and would use Fifi as nn

your family have no manners. Ignore them.

anonymosity · 25/01/2013 05:15

I also think its lovely. I do think its a bad idea to run names past people though, you need to keep it to yourselves and make your own choices. Everyone else (in RL) can lump it.

Alligatorpie · 25/01/2013 05:43

I love it. I know 2 seraphina's - one is Sera, the other has never been shortened. But I love Fin as a nn.

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 25/01/2013 08:42

Thanks everyone... I shouldn't have said it to anyone. We weren't even going to tell anyone she was a girl but we were excited and DH thought our family would be too! Hmm

I will use it. I completely love it and as a lot of people have said, I'll regret it if I don't.

OP posts:
KatieMacc · 25/01/2013 08:45

We had the same thing; our daughter is called 'Imola' and yes, I know it's the name of a famous F1 circuit but it's also where we (my husband and I) took our very first road trip and where, 4 years later he proposed. And although some family members and friends raised eyebrows, stuff 'em! - It's not their call and I think Seraphina is a gorgeous name!
Enjoy! x

MidnightMasquerader · 25/01/2013 08:51

What the hell are you doing telling people your chosen name before your baby is born??! Grin

Look, the grandparents had their turn. It's simply not fair of them to try to influence your choice. It's not their place.

Seraphina is a nice name - it's your name and so if you love it, go for it.

JourneyThroughLife · 25/01/2013 08:54

It's a beautiful name, go ahead and use it. We used a very unusual name for our own daughter and never regretted it. Besides, once she's born and introduced to everyone, it'll be fine, everyone will just accept that's her name.... Not that it should be any of their business anyway!

2blessed · 25/01/2013 08:57

Lovely name OP, go for it!

bamboobutton · 25/01/2013 09:01

Seraphine was my top name for dd. I loved it but when dd was born she didn't look like a seraphine so spent days trying to decide which name she looked like (went for esme)

tell everyone you have taken all their"advice" and have gone for Bertha instead. Then when you go for seraphina they will sigh with relief.

Or you can tell them all to shove their advice up the arse they are talking out of.

HillBillySillyBilly · 25/01/2013 09:32

It's a beautiful name as almost everyone here has said. Go for it if you love it, and remember you will never ever ever find a name that is universally loved by everyone and if you did it would probably be uber popular and not unusual and precious like Seraphina.

ComradeJing · 25/01/2013 09:41

I'm getting a little Seraphina to sleep right now. The name suits her PERFECTLY even though she's a rough and tough little bruiser and my absolutely precious PFB

For nn she started as phi but, quite strangely, ended up as a nana as she started to point to herself and say, 'nana nana.'

I don't know any others and have only had very positive responses.

FriggFRIGGisPoorlySick · 25/01/2013 12:55

I love the name Seraphina,it's completely gorgeous .

Fwiw,my mother baulked at our name choice for DS,And my sister baulked at my name choice for DD.
I don't particually care for their opinion though,As I don't much like the names they picked for their DC...
And now the DC are here,and have grown into their names,no one ever mentions it.

TheFallenNinja · 25/01/2013 13:06

I think it's a grand name. I had the same with dd (Avery) there was much nose crinkling and humphing from friends and family, fortunately I'm known for cheerily telling people to wind their necks in and doing what I choose. :-)

There's always a desire in families to name newborns after some dead relic but I prefer my kids to blaze their own trail.

everlong · 25/01/2013 13:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Zavi · 25/01/2013 13:47

Sounds like a cross between terrapin and dolphin!

I quite like the name actually. Of course it will be shortened to ser'e by her friends though.

Zavi · 25/01/2013 13:52

Also, when you're out and about and you call out to your daughter "Seraphina!" heads will turn to look at YOU.

Fine if you like that kind of attention and it makes you think that people are thinking to themselves "what a lovely name". If you are in anyway paranoid though...

I would be just too embarrassed to call my daughter that name for that reason alone (i.e. needing to call out to her in public).

Kt8791 · 25/01/2013 13:55

I love this name. Was on my list but DH doesn't like it. I think it is very pretty, although the girl I knew called this got called Sarah.

Yfronts · 25/01/2013 14:00

It's stunning!!! I adore that name. Don't change it. They probably would have preferred you to call her something more usual like Ellie or Ruby. Just ignore and follow your heart, I bet you wouldn't like the names they have chosen for their children.

Yfronts · 25/01/2013 14:01

ps - only announce a name when the baby has arrived as otherwise people think you are asking their opinion.

ArbitraryUsername · 25/01/2013 14:06

On slytherin, the OP of that thread might have been joking but my idiot DH seriously suggested Slevin for DS2. And Ace.

amazingmumof6 · 25/01/2013 14:22

it's a nice name, not for me, but definitely not awful , actually reminds me of Sapphire.

there's was a French painter called Seraphine Louis, just tell people you adore her style - and also the maternity wear.......Grin

rude family doesn't get to hold baby - and if they ask what you want for baby tell them you want anything with that name printed/beaded /glitter written on! try to find that keyfob Granny!Grin

go for it and congrats on baby girl! (I waited 11 years to use my favourite name, first girl after 5 boys....)

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 25/01/2013 15:04

We were going to shorten it to Sephy to avoid 'Sarah' hopefully.

We have a Matilda already and call her Tilly - but everyone liked that! Wink

OP posts: