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.

[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.

[ccsays]

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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.