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!

[bigbuttons]

willow is a very common name at the moment, hardly unusual.

[Lancelottie]

Were you at my school, Judy? We had a Sidebottom, Rawbottom, Higginbotham and Cowperthwaite as well as the Braithwaites. And an Oddie, and a Smellie.

Willow Smellie is not a good name, OP, in case you were wondering.

[cdtaylornats]

Her nicknames at school will be "weeping" or "witch" if they still repeat Buffy.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Rawbottom?!?!?

I can't even...........why....................but....................no!

RAWBOTTOM?

[JinkxMonsoon]

I don't think children born in 2016 are going to be watching Buffy, somehow!

[Bigbiscuits]

I think Willow is beautiful name

[MitzyLeFrouf]

I wouldn't be so sure. Buffy fans are everywhere. They look like you and me but they have a Buffy soul.

[NashvilleQueen]

I think it's a gorgeous name. All ethereal and languid. But it does make me think of this and tho very old it's a real cult film

m.youtube.com/watch?v=mIac4nKaAy4

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Surely Rawbottom is the best reason ever for coming up with a brand new family name.

[Lancelottie]

Carefully pronounced ROH-bottom by our headmistress, should she ever have to mention it, Mitzy (outs self with abandon)

[Chinnygirl]

I like it!

[MitzyLeFrouf]

It sounds like the name of an S&M club.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

Unless your surname is Branch, Tree, Pattern or Warbler, I would go for it.

But be prepare to meet the occasional spaniel or red setter with the same name .

[CarTroubles]

Ugh, just remembered a convo with my SIL recently where she was utterly scathing about some kids in her kids nursery that were called Summer and Skye.

She's gonna be an eye roller for sure.

But thanks to you all, I'm in a hugely defiant and bolshy mood about it!

[Ilovewineandcrisps]

When I saw your title I was going to tell you my story and child's name, which we had the same reactions of! And then I read your post and realised it's the same name .

We had loads of snarky comments about it, and I nearly ended up changing her name because of it. However, I am so glad that we stuck to our guns as my Willow is a beautiful little imp, and she really suits her name!

[Marcipex]

I think it's pretty and no longer very unusual for girls.

I really don't like it for a boy though. I know one and everyone secretly says 'poor kid'.

[CarTroubles]

This is me right now....

[Scichic]

DD has an eye roll middle name because it is a Disney Princess. It is also the Norther Lights, which has significance to DH and me, and is the reason for the choice
Do with it as you want, as long as the initials don't make a silly word, and it'll sound ok for important things like if she becomes a lawyer etc xx

[CarTroubles]

It's supposedly a girl, don't worry!

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

I have had some dreadful reactions to my dc's names from my boring family, particularly my mother who refers to my eldest two by their middle names when talking to her friends! I find it funny tbh, and no one has said anything to the actual dc so I don't care. I love their names and so far so do they. Do it op, Willow isn't all that unusual anyway!

[awesomeness]

I didn't care to even ask my exs opinion on my youngests name, when he objected, I fake cried.

if you (and I SUPPOSE DH ;) ) love it, sod everyone else

[Mykidshaveunusualnames]

My DD3 is a Willow. Everyone loves it and we often get told how pretty it is. X

[NameChange30]

Willow is a lovely name! As long as your surname isn't Tree, Forest or Wood, it will be fine

Announce the name after she's born and FUCK 'EM.

Good luck with the birth and enjoy your baby girl!

[KERALA1]

Schlic our friends have used that as a first name I love it. The Dh said the child was probably going to be. very dull name then they announced this - great name.

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

Willow is a perfectly lovely name, absolutely gorgeous. Do it.

Our name for hopeful future DD2 is very very unusual. Guaranteed there will be so many raised eyebrows and rolled eyes it'll be ridiculous. We're still going to use it!