Baby Names - why are some people so rude?

[Metrobaby]

OK a bit of a rant here. My ds was nameless when he was born, but now 3 weeks on dh and I finally compromised on a name - Isaac.

Now I know whatever name you pick there will always be people who like it, and other people who don't. However, I am really surprised by some people's reactions to the name we chose. I've had some that have laughed, someone who asked if I was serious, someone who said 'oh dear', MIL who decided she's going to call him Ben (one of our considered alternatives) regardless, and my family who keep coming up with alternatives.

It just makes me fume - especially as I don't think the name we chose is that unusual. If people don't like the name why can't they keep their opinions to themselves? Or am I odd in that I would never dream of telling anyone that their baby's name was not nice?

I think I could do with one of Twinkie's famous put down lines ...

[arabella2]

why are you going on holiday with her, she sounds horrid and a bit dim!

[Blu]

Ummm, Twinkie, are you really going on holiday with this woman who is either cataclysmically rude beyond all explanation, OR jealous beyond reason that you are pregnant? Either way, I think something needs to be said or you're going to have a miserable time, aren't you?

[Blu]

And I hope you will be doing whatever you want with your belly on your holiday, which after all is to make YOU feel happy, relaxed and rested.

[Janh]

Twinkie, is this the one who fancies DP and has always made you feel not good enough? Why are you going on holiday with her???? Yes, please do push her off a cliff!

[Janh]

Sorry, meant to say tried to make you feel not good enough.

[Twinkie]

Will be waggling my huge belly in her face (she says the stretch marks make her feel sick - I have a very faint few so obviously not mine but her own she is thinking about!!) - we have to go to a wedding with her - have no choice I am afraid and yes she is terribly jealous that DP and I are in love and are happy and are having a little boy (her DH got very excited and there was much back slapping when they found out it was a boy (although DP would have preferred a girl I think!!)) and I am going to rub her face into it as much as I can - I am even going to be as rude to her as she is to me - which I never am and blame my hormones whilst secretly relishing the fact that I am excused from being tactful!!

She even had the cheek to say that my DD has a common name (all of you know her name and know it is not common!!) and she has said that I should feel lucky that DP chose me cause he is such a good catch (whereas I am such a bag of old shit obviously!!) and DP only enjoys the chase and then leaves women (he has had 5 girlfriends and is in his early 30s!!) - oh I could go on and on but believe me girls just my hapiness pisses her off more than anything so I am relishing in being fat and happy and very lovey dovey to DP!!!

Oh and she was once fat and not just fat but terribly obese - which I keep in the back of my mind just to cheer me up - ha ha ha!!

[SoupDragon]

marialuisa, that is a fantastic link! What a great article

[Janh]

doesn't she look like her dad though, poor lass?

[Twinkie]

Yes their daughter is quite masculine looking!!

(I know I am a complete bitch but this woman has given me good reason to be really believe me!!)

[marialuisa]

TBH I think Fifi Trixibelle is perhaps the most unfortuante. I'm sure she's a lovely girl, but I doubt there's anyone less Fifi Trixibelle-like!

DD has named her new doll Shark-Gazelle (sister to Service and Maxine) so she's obviously decided that unique names are the way forward!

[Blu]

Does your (wonderful) DP recognise how abominable she is?

[Twinkie]

He says she is just being over protective of him cause she has known him for so long but after my going mad last time she was rude to me I think he is realising just what she is like - is is over 6 foot and 13 stone and she is about 5 foot 2 so I can't see why she needs to be protective of him at all - I do think she has realised she oicked the wrong man (although she did not have a choice of picking DP!!) and is jealous!!

[Janh]

Service, ml? Where did that come from?

(Shark-Gazelle obv perfectly normal...!)

Another good Telegraph piece, following on from Apple - name-napping - we've had a thread about that too, haven't we?

[Twinkie]

Did no one see the Baby Tales where the little girl wanted to call her little brother Bacon - PMSL at the aone - she was about 2 and deadly serious!!

[marialuisa]

JanH, I honestly have no idea. I think she just heard the word and liked it. Maxine is for Maxine from "Letterland".

[Kayleigh]

Metrobaby, I have just found this thread and cannot believe your MIL. I can't even write what I would tell her to do for fear of being banished from Mumsnet for my bad language. How dare she !!!!

I think you have chosen a lovely name. And I think whatever name you had chosen would have been lovely, because that is what you and your dh wanted.

[Davros]

I live in an area with a large Jewish community and my DH is Jewish but I'm not. Isaac is not an unusal name around here, nor are Saul, Jacob etc. My MIL would have been DELIGHTED if we'd chosen an old biblical name but as our children's parents (us) are mixed then so are their names and I didn't want to delight my MIL!!! I think because of where we live we are more conscious of the Jewish connection but these are all perfectly acceptable, old and traditional names. I think my main objection would be anything biblical as I am seriously non-religious.
I've got a friend whose DD is called Giverny (Monet's home) which I think is soooo pretentious but I actually really like and she gets called Givvy which I also think is lovely. Its easier to get away with something "made up" with a girl and I think this is MUCH better than Apple who is going to have to live with a lot of fruit jokes.....

[ReallyHip]

I was given an relatively uncommon name (for the time) AND a middle name that people always think is funny to ridicule. Not only that my initial and last name together spell a word which people also find hilarious. My reaction to this? Spell it every time loudly, clearly and enunciating every last syllable and smile inanely at those who mock!

[Ghosty]

ReallyHip ...

[Metrobaby]

thanks everyone for all your kind words. Isaac is now officially registered. MIL is showing her disapproval I think by refusing to call him his name but refers to him as 'baby' now and hinted that she wouldn't be coming to his christening in a couple of months! Oh well ....

[Janh]

And wouldn't that spoil it for everybody else! (Ohdearwhatapitystillnevermind )

Well done, metrobaby - it is a great name!

[Blu]

Congratulations, little Isaac, your parents have chosen a lovely name....but your granny is barking!

[SoupDragon]

Start referring to her as "mother in law" each time she calls him "baby"

[ReallyHip]

or, start calling her the grandma, nana, granny, nan, nanny or which ever of those she hates (most mothes and mothers in law tend to have a preference!)

Good for you for sticking to your guns. Isaac is your baby not hers!

[arabella2]

My MIL hasn't liked either of the two names we have chosen for ds and dd - it's not a nice feeling but hey, who cares. Julian for the boy she thought sounded too much like Julia, and Georgia for the girl she said was too long and difficult to say but in reality she must have thought it sounded too much like George . I was quite affronted that she could express dislike over something so personal to us but at least she didn't say she would call them by another name (though she does in fact call them bubby for quite a long time (all the grandchildren)).