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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

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

229 replies

CarTroubles · 16/09/2016 09:26

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!

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Ilovewillow · 16/09/2016 13:22

Obviously from my user name I love it! My daughter is a Willow and she is 8 so it wasn't as common back then but I don't think anyone I told felt it was a controversial name. I think it's just a pretty name and we used it after the tree rather than any TV/Film reference. My mum was a bit "what you mean after the tree?", she loves it now and no one can imagine her as anything other than a Willow. Use a name you love and unless as someone else said your surname is tree or wisp I wouldn't worry!

rogueantimatter · 16/09/2016 13:22

There's the name 'Rowan' (presumably as in rowan tree) in Scotland. So why not Willow.

I think it sounds lovely. Very soft and flowing.

And it's practical - no alternative spellings and easy to pronounce.

And when she's tiny you can give her variants of it as pet names which will be incredibly cute. I'm thinking Lolo. Wowo. Illy. Yesss. Definitly go for it. You're lucky to have a name you both love. DH and I couldn't agree on any names Grin

PageStillNotFound404 · 16/09/2016 13:23

Another one signing in to say Willow is a beautiful name, and so long as your surname isn't Tree, Branch or Leaf then I'd go for it.

Eden and Amber are also lovely names, I obviously have similar tastes to many MNers on this thread!

DoinItFine · 16/09/2016 13:26

Willow is lovely and not really very eye rolly.

It's the name of a tree, which is a standard inspiration for names.

It's easy to say and spell.

It's quite unusual, but unlikely to flummox anyone.

Go for it.

DoinItFine · 16/09/2016 13:27

Or if your surname is Thewisp.

Then it's out too.

MrsMerchant · 16/09/2016 13:29

Unless your surname is also Willow, go for it!! We named our son after a library and people eye roll. Sod em.

hoddtastic · 16/09/2016 13:30

i like Willow, I know 3 under the age of 4 in a square mile of the big city I live in. It might be about to become VERY POPULAR (now Ava/Eva and all the 'ending in Belle/Bella' names have reached saturation point)

CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger · 16/09/2016 13:31

Dcous called her DD Willow - my mum and her sister (Dcous' mum) were very derogatory abut it - I told them it was a LOVELY name and didn't know what they were on about. Because it IS.

Toyslayer · 16/09/2016 13:32

I work in genealogy, and the amount of William Williams I see is unreal. Name her whatever the hell you want, I used to be (surname) Wilson and I loved the name Willow and didn't use it because family members put me off. Stuff what they think! Xx

Silverstarchild · 16/09/2016 13:33

Use it because its YOUR decision. I named our child something different!!! I got all the looks and the "ohhh thats unusual" Even had a lecture from my dad about it. Told him fuck off (have that kind of relationship with him 😬) 2 and a half years later... i couldnt imagine having called him anything else!! The name was important to us, I wouldn't give any thought as to what others think!!!
Im due in a week with DC2 and have picked another "odd" name 😂😂😂!!!
Good luck with the new baby

Fluffsnuts · 16/09/2016 13:35

My son has an eye-roll name. It's not made up, in fact it's as old as the hills but uncommon. My dad laughed and my sister told me she was embarrassed to tell people his name. I have no regrets.

FWIW, since my son was born, I've met 3 younger babies with his name. I seem to have started a trend!

BettyCrystal · 16/09/2016 13:35

I know a couple who gave their new kid a rather cool, very unusual name. I think it's great, family not so much... They also don't know how to spell it correctly (family, not parents).

LeaveMyWingsBehindMe · 16/09/2016 13:36

I've always loved Willow. I toyed with using it for DC1, 24 years ago. Now back then it would have been a bit of a stretch as I'd never heard it used before but these days I don't think it's totally unheard of.

It's not weird or too hippy or out there. It's very pretty with an ethereal timeless quality to it.

polkadotdelight · 16/09/2016 13:37

People get used to names. My dad hated DS name (it is not common and has had a few derogatory comments on here) but he is used to it now and doesn't bat an eyelid.

ShiroiKoibito · 16/09/2016 13:39

i think you should spell it like Weelleaux, really give them something to worry about

DarkBlueEyes · 16/09/2016 13:41

Utterly love that name. Unless your surname is Tree, then go for it! And don't tell them until the baby is born and it's a done deal.

JustChangedForThis · 16/09/2016 13:46

NC

I think it is a lovely name but I am biased as my eldest (14) is called Willow. I have only had one person sneer at the name when she was born, everyone else even now that it is getting more popular comments on what a lovely name she has.

If you like it use it, don't let others put you off Smile

OliviaStabler · 16/09/2016 13:59

I could be way off the mark but if you are that worried why don't you call her Wilhelmina and shorten it to Willow?

I'd call her Willow and they can bitch in private all they want. I'd be hard on anyone who said anything to my face though Grin

TrampyCat · 16/09/2016 14:06

I think after the initial opinion they won't really give it much thought like your worrying about.

DodiGilbert · 16/09/2016 14:07

I called my 2nd daughter Robyn. Even this gets a lot of "how unusual...why Robyn?" Etc type crap. Not like I called her something really 'out there', like...North. Or insert Jamie OlIver type names here...or anything. Not that I give a crap what they're called. It's just a bit "different"!
Go with what you want. Someone, somewhere wil have a problem with it but stuff 'em. If you like it, you like it! (P.S I teach a girl called Willow and she is a lovely, LOVELY girl. Just thought I'd mention that Smile).

JudyCoolibar · 16/09/2016 14:09

Get rid of the ugly surname? (Is it Sidebottom?) If people are going to roll their eyes anyway, you might as well get all the eye-rolling over in one go.

Badders123 · 16/09/2016 14:10

I think it's pretty
And anyone who mocks a child's name is a twat.

mydietstartsmonday · 16/09/2016 14:14

I think Willow is vey pretty

Original poster
CarTroubles · 16/09/2016 14:16

Lol, Sidebottom and Braithwaite and Bloggs..... Our real surname is starting to sound pretty innocuous now! Grin

OP posts:
JulieTwo · 16/09/2016 14:17

Go for it. If you love it then she will too.
I've a really common forename and a very unusual middle name which was going to be my first name until grandma stepped in and put her foot down. There were at least 6 Julies in my year at high school and I so wished my parents had called me by my middle name instead.
So I guess you could do the opposite and give her a middle name that you think is not so eye-rolly ... just in case she wants to swap later.