Bigmouth

[Picknickers]

So bigmouth OH told both our families our shortlist today at a BBQ. He's in the doghouse. The reaction was terrible especially to Vera which was my favourite. I know it's easy to say our baby our choice but the flak we got was so bad it's put us both off. I'm really upset. Would you honestly pick a name both families really hated ( my mum said it was like calling the baby Edna) and where do we go from here? I'm so mad I can't sleep and have just trawler another 5 name sites!

Violet is also cool

I love Vera and know a gorgeous baby called it. Your family will get used to your choice. Look how quickly people got used to Elsie, Florence and Mabel when they used to be considered old lady names.

I would just use the name you like. Its nothing to do with anyone else. They had their chance to name their own children, now its your turn.

Your baby, your choice, seriously, call your daughter whatever you like.

I'd text your mum and say 'I hadn't even considered Edna but I love it! Thanks! By the way, names go in and out of fashion so of course you're going to hate our choices - I'm afraid that's Grandparenting Lesson Number 1, sorry if that's a shock to you! Edna's definitely on the shortlist, see you soon x'

And Vera, like Barbara, is now super cool.

I could put money on Vera being the next coveted old lady name in a couple of years as Florence, Ivy, Violet etc have all become recently.

It’s a real gem of a name. Easy to spell and say and has a lovely meaning: truth or faith.

Once the baby has the name it’s suddenly much more appealing than it was when you’re just bandying ideas around hypothetically. I definitely wouldn’t be put off op

I wouldn’t give a stuff what my family said - However I wouldn’t name a child Vera anyway because it’s awful. Both sides of the family loved the names we chose and that was certainly a plus.

Meant to say once the baby has the name I’m sure your family will find it much more appealing than they did when it was just hypothetical

Violet has always been a beautiful classic name as have other flowers such as Lily and Rose.

Vera has a very strong working class old lady association.

Vera is so cool! It's one of my favourite baby names :)

Maybe some simple didn't want you to use it (so they could)?

Please don't let their opinions influence you. It isn't their baby.

Also, how dare they?! It's just not their business. (Well, unless you wanted to call your child bigmouth... I was hoping this thread was about a surname and not about someone to use this as a given name when I saw the title...)

Viola, Violet, Venetia, Valentina, Varina, Vianna...

Veronica, Virginia (probably too much teasing), Violetta, Vittoria, Vivienne and Victoire are also nice imo.

strong working class association...

1. Is that bad?
2. These things seem to be a bit cyclical. "Scullery maid" names had their revival as well, didn't they?

I think 19 century scullery maid - Daisy, Flora, Milly etc is more distant, Vera has a strong class association in living memory - cf Vera Duckworth.

Prefer names that are classless myself.

Vera sounds like a beautiful name. I probably would be mad at my OH if he gave away the shortlist too! Much nicer to keep it a private surprise once baby has arrived.

Not so sure Tatiana, plenty of people are using Nora without being phased by Nora Batty for example

I hate Nora too. And Edna.

I can sort of understand your parents generation not liking the name Vera because to them it is probably a name they associate with their own parents generation and therefore seems terribly old fashioned

A bit like how we will feel when our DC are fully grown and debating whether to name their precious first born Michelle or Dawn

Agree with Tatiana for once
Vera is not cool or lovely. It's harsh sounding and not feminine at all.

Well I wouldn’t listen to me anyway, I can’t even spell fazed correctly in the right context

Verity with Vera for short.

Please don't let family put you off your favourite choice of name.
It's a perfectly nice name and will no doubt have a revival. The Duckworth thing will be irrelevant to her peers and you'll regret not using a name you love.

I like Vera. But then I'm also the weirdo who likes Mabel and Marjorie...

I say stay with it if you love it and maybe troll them in the mean time. Tell them all you've changed your mind and based on their advice you're going for something hyper-modern for your DD. Say, Haxton or Brogue... then call her Vera when she arrives. They'll get used to it.

I love Vera