Would you use a name you love, knowing there may be rolled eyes?

[CarTroubles]

The name is Willow.

Not particularly controversial!

But I know all our families will be a bit......eye rolly. They'll think it's hippie hilariousness. Possibly think its too silly a name to lumber a child with.

They probably won't say anything much to our faces, maybe the occasional "Oh, that's........ unusual.....why Willow?" with a fixed glassy smile.

But I'm cringing at the imagined snorts of derision that will happen behind our backs. What adds to it is that we have a ugly surname that doesn't really go with it AT ALL. So I can just imagine them all going "Willow ThatSurname???? Really??"

We love love love the name. But I don't want people to laugh at us! DH doesn't give a fuck, lol. But I don't have his confidence!

Use it! You love it. And it's beautiful! Something very classic about it.

It's a beautiful name, who cares what other people think, they'll say something, get over it and that will be the baby's name. Other people can/will have their chance to name their baby, it's your baby, your choice and you may end up resenting them if you choose another name...also how would you feel if one of them used it in the future?!

Sod them, Willow is gorgeous! They'll get used to it, it's not as out there as it used to be.

When friends ask me for a baby name, I always recommend they try to imagine if years after that their baby boy/girl would love to be called by the name they want to pick. I don't know if such perspective is useful, but it can help in your situation I think. So will your child love to be called Willow ThatSurname?

Oh yes! My DD (6 weeks) has a name that is very uncommon. We've had a lot of 'lovely'...

I adore it. So I don't care!! Go for it is what I say!

Eye rolly people will always find something to roll their eyes at.

Go with Willow and don't give two hoots about any eyes that may roll.

Caveat: Unless the surname that doesn't fit is Trees or something.

yes, of course, I only ever cared what me and the baby's father (at a push :)) thought. Why would you expect to have similar tastes to older family members anyway was always my reasoning.

in short, yes I would use it (we are using it, that's our name too you have excellent taste!) I know what you mean about odd little looks, I've had a few, or references to the film 'willow' (I've not seen it), and I think my mother in law might hate it in favour of a more classical top ten name but sod them, it's your child and it's not that 'out-there' anyway. it's beautiful. so use the name you love. Btw we have a 'W' surname so our girl will be Willow W----, which makes me love it even more, even if we do get the occasional and oh so original 'ooh you could give her Olivia as a middle name and her initials will be wow!'

Will the combination of first and last name make life even slightly more difficult for your dd?

I honestly think that Willow ThatSurname will become so normal once she goes to school that nobody will notice. And its not a comical pairing or anything. Its just not one of those pretty surnames.

Its just with an ethereal name like that, maybe you should have a pretty surname too?

There was a Willow in the old St Trinians films, I couldn't get past that.

A friend of mine did an eye roll at the name Tabitha the other day

Not everyone will like your name choice, whether it's an unusual choice or not. Ignore and carry on

In that case go for it OP. Your surname is always going to be ugly so she may as well have a lovely first name.

Its more an old fashioned surname. Very salt of the earth. Sounds like someone who owns a factory. Like "where theres muck theres brass!" Not very airy and light!

Bloggs!

No offence to any peeps called Bloggs out there

Thankfully not that bad!

Oh yes....no offence...

Heres some contrite cake to all the Ms Bloggs reading....

We chose an unusual name for DS a year ago (old rather than yoonique if it makes a difference) and everyone has managed to keep their thoughts to themselves.

Whichever name you choose someone will roll their eyes.

FWIW I think Willow is a lovely name and not too 'out there' at all

Do it. we had the same problem and no one has said anything. Always get compliments on the name though.

I am positive there at people rolling their eyes at our DS's name, but to hell with them, I don't care, dp and I love his name and I am sure he will like it too, and the world needs more unusual names, not more to ten names.

Use willow if you love it. It's a lovely name.

I suspect there will be a definate age divide. I have told DH that hes going to be the one telling his very insular parents who live in a very traditional town. I know we have quite a few earth parent friends locally who will adore it. (We have moved to one of those hippyish towns, not Glastonbury but similar in atmosphere)

Although I have some rather yummy mummy cousins back home in my town who will definately think its stupid, and I should have gone with Anna/Emma/Laura etc.

I really hope once baby is here and named that I stop giving a fuck. Wish I had more courage!

Love, love, love Willow. Do it.

You need to stop worrying about what cousins will think. If you call her Emma they may well then say 'oh Emma..........that's a bit..........dull isn't it?'.