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Baby names

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Original poster

Mother giving me grief over baby name!

68 replies

DitzyDonkey · 07/07/2014 19:06

I must start by stating that my dm is absolutely AMAZING in every way and I trust her opinion on everything Smile

Which is probably why I'm finding it so annoying that she doesn't like my choice of Kitty if I have a girl. (She likes all my boy choices btw).

She says she is surprised that I am going with something so plain after all the other lovely choices I have suggested over the three years of ttc with fertility problems. (The problem is that all of those lovely names just don't feel right). She says it is a nothing name, though she said this about my ds name but adores it now. She thinks it is an old ones name and nothing special.

I think that it is quirky and old fashioned but not batshit crazy which is what I am going for. Dh loves it as do I. Oh and btw the issue is nothing to do with putting something longer on the birth cert! Grin

I don't really know what I'm asking, I think I just want to vent!

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KERALA1 · 07/07/2014 22:34

Sorry your dm has a point but cutesy names for adult women a pet hate of mine ( poppy kitty, daisy, honey - shudder). Strong names needed for strong women!

SquidTableau · 07/07/2014 22:48

It is a gorgeous name! Though I think I prefer it better as a short form of something else - I have heard of Kitty being used as a nn for Tabitha though, that could be an option if you go for a longer name on the birth cert?

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 07/07/2014 22:56

My mum hated ds' name (and we didn't tell her until after he was born)

Every time someone asked his name she'd say ' it's xxxx, we don't like it but I suppose it's their choice'

Drove me batshit until I reminded her of her argument with my aunt over my name. Ds' name is quite popular and not weird at all btw!

I love Kitty :-)

Iswallowedawatermelon · 08/07/2014 00:16

Kitty is lovely.

Florence is Hmm

Tell her you've made up your mind and you don't like any others. If she still goes on about it tell her age had her turn t naming her own children. She might be your dm but she is being very rude about this.

HavantGuard · 08/07/2014 06:57

Kitty is a lovely nickname for a child. When they got older the pussy jokes would start.

MotherOfInsomniacToddlers · 08/07/2014 07:06

My mum didn't like my choice of name for either of my children. I didn't like her suggestions. We just have different taste. She got to name her children, I got to name mine. I just told her I was still using those names, as soon as they were born and registered she never said anything negative Grin

Nereida · 08/07/2014 11:41

I like Kitty, it's a family name for me. I'd say you should definitely use it.

fattycow · 08/07/2014 11:43

I know a very cute 8 year old named Kitty and she rocks!

Wishfulmakeupping · 08/07/2014 11:45

Kitty is lovely think Florence is a nothing name in compassion loads of Florence's around not met a single 'kitty' it's on my list if I have a dd2 but I would use Katherine on the birth certificate.
Some Family members didn't like my dd's name choice when I told them we were thinking of using if but now they like it but I wasn't going to be swayed anyway it was out decision not our family's :)

middlings · 08/07/2014 11:46

This baby isn't here yet, right? She'll love the baby. And therefore love the name! She'll get over it.

Have to tell you, we didn't tell anyone our baby names to avoid these conversations!!

Also, what's wrong with Catherine Grin. Perfectly good name not biased, nope, not a bit.

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 08/07/2014 11:46

Names are SUBJECTIVE.

'She says she is surprised that I am going with something so plain after all the other lovely choices I have suggested'

  • no no no. One person's plain is another one's crazy. ESPECIALLY when they're of a different generation.

Kitty isn't plain. To our generation, it's exactly as you describe it. To hers, different.

Never never never listen to anyone else's opinion on baby names. Never. Only yours matters, naming your child is YOUR chance to do it and if you bend to another person's opinion you will regret it.

'she said this about my ds name but adores it now'

  • and that's another reason you should not listen to her!!
BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 08/07/2014 11:47

I like Kitty, by the way.

Tell her it's going to be short for KittenFur Grin

FatewiththeLeadPiping · 08/07/2014 11:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

combust22 · 08/07/2014 11:56

Why discuss names with family members?

It's a private thing between the parents of the new baby. No matter what name you choose there will always be family members who don't like it.

combust22 · 08/07/2014 11:58

I also like it- but that doesn't really matter. It's what you and OH think.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 08/07/2014 12:12

Sorry - Personally I don't like it. The association with Hello Kitty would do it for me and in the wrong school she'd just be called Pussy.

Kit is short for Christopher usually isn't it? I wonder why Kitty is not short for Christabel or Christine/Christina ?

I would register her as Katherine or Cate, and Kitty for short. That way, she has alternatives if she wants to use them or chooses a career/has a personality that Kitty doesn't "fit" with.

Alternatives are Kaitlyn/Caitlyn/Caitlin
Katerina
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_(given_name) None of these say role model names to me.

Your baby, your choice though Smile

middlings · 08/07/2014 12:23

TreadSoftly is it our nationality that makes us obsessed with role model names?! Grin

I wouldn't countenance any names for the DDs that wouldn't work as Prime Minister, Taoiseach, President, CEO, Supreme Court Judge or Attorney General!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 08/07/2014 13:18

Probably Middlings Grin

Personally I like names for girls that predispose someone who has never met them before to view them in a positive light. Why create a glass ceiling for your child in the womb. I have the same opinion around names with non trad spellings or the Kai/Wayne/Princess "is it chavvy?" arguments on MN all the time.

It's really sexist I know but when I hear the name "Honey" [as a given name] I don't think capable professional, I think airhead. Very unfair but I know that I am not alone in this because I work with someone who is a huge surprise amounting to shock to everyone in our organisation when they meet her. She is clearly going to be hugely sucessful and is doing a great job of breaking down people's preconceptions for the next "Honey" that comes their way.

Kitty to me just says Kitten. Young, childish, playful, sweet, pliable, fluffy. It's one thing to have a nickname at home where peope who know you would laugh at anyone describing you as a fluffy airhead, but in the real adult world, it will result in discrimination and preconceptions unless the Kitty Dukakis is elected the next USA President. Handy in some careers if you want to be frequently underestimated but a huge handicap in others. Sucessful women with names like that usually end up just using an initial or their middle names in those circumstances because it is incredibly frustrating.

All that said - it's your baby and this is only my opinion. You've asked for it so you've gotten it. I don't think you asked your Mum so you can either point her to the link or tell her to butt out. Smile

KERALA1 · 08/07/2014 13:31

Totally agree with tread. They are only curly haired toddlers for a few years. I toyed with some names for dd1 that I now cringe about and am so glad I didn't use. She is already a thoughtful careful bookish 8 year old and one of those cutsie names would have been totally wrong for her.

gymboywalton · 08/07/2014 13:33

i agree with your mum
it's awful

it' just makes me think of hello kitty

curiousgeorgie · 08/07/2014 13:36

I loved a certain name and everyone hated it... (Especially my mum!) and I wavered on choosing it...

I'm so glad I stuck to my guns. She suits it completely and everyone else has got over it.

I think Kitty is lovely by the way Smile

imip · 08/07/2014 13:42

It's yours and dh's choice, not your dms. She has has our turn. Don't compromise name choice, it matters nought what others think!

I may be slightly biased of course as kitty is a family name, my grandmother and two aunts on both sides. I personally don't see the point of a long form name on the birth cert. I dislike the name Catherine, but that's my personal choice. It may not be yours.

Btw, I also have a kitty Smile. She is 2.5 and sitting across from me, chatting, and drawing pictures. I see the name suiting her as a young lady as well! Good luck!

drLu · 08/07/2014 14:51

Kitty is gorgeous!! I don't tell anyone the name options (other than you lot!!!) family get far too involved.

Yorkshirelassreturns · 08/07/2014 15:18

I think it depends on your relationship with your mum. My mum hated my favourite names and it totally put me off it- in hindsight she was completely right as it is a fad name and I actually don't like the sound of it anymore! I think kitty is a cutesy nn but I would definitely choose a longer name to give her more options. It's not a 40 year olds name...

KERALA1 · 08/07/2014 15:43

If you trust her opinion on other stuff listen to her. I was going to call my dd some real horrors before coming to my senses at 37 weeks. Not sure I agree with ignoring what others think. It's not you that has to live with the name and if your dm has your best interests at heart and is generally sensible and hates it....would give me pause for thought anyway