Giving up your favourite name... how?

[WhereHaveTheyGone12]

My absolute all time favourite boys name is Otis. I love it.

It’s a real name, it’s uncommon and I just think it sounds lovely and dare I say, cool.

DH does not like it at all. So we’ve agreed some other boy names such as Alistair/Alexander.

But I keep coming back to Otis, I’m just sad to let it go.

I’ve been suggesting it to my sister who isn’t even pregnant and doesn’t intend to have children

I had the same problem south the name Delia. DH hates it.

I've just spent a lot of time finding other names and working out what kind of thing resonates with both of us. I've also had to speak very sternly with myself every time I've come back to Delia. It's not helpful to keep dwelling on it.

It's taken 5 months but we finally have a shortlist of 4 girls' names that we both like and actually, I've grown to love them as much as Delia.

It's tough, but you can do it!

I had 100% free choice for a girls name and DH had the same for a boys name

Would that be an option?

I used it for our dog seeing as I was vetoed for using it for our DS.
Not the same, but at least I say it a lot.

Once baby is here and named something else you soon won't even be able to imagine him beigg an otis!

You need to agree between you on the name. How about Otis as a middle name? Would your DH agree to that?

We’ve already agreed on a girls name - it’s one we’ve both loved for a long time so picking one each isn’t really an option.

He wouldn’t settle for a middle man either as he really doesn’t like it I keep mentioning it to him but he’s having none of it.

Middle name not man. We’re not inviting a third person into this

Otis is a form of the original name Otto. Would that be possible? (I think it's nicer than Otis, anyway.)

How long until you're due?

When I was expecting, I was set on the name Bear and DP wasn't having any of it.

By the time I was due, we'd found a few we both loved and now I don't regret his name for a second and I'm secretly happy DP didn't allow the name Bear!

Maybe there's some that will grow on you that you didn't previously like or maybe you'll go off Otis?

Do you have any others that you both like?

I know two babies called Otis and, I'm sorry OP, anyone of the 29-35 age bracket who watched CBBC growing up (aka many of your child's future teachers) will immediately associate your child with an Aardvark puppet. Seriously. Every time I see these babies I think ”Aardvark”.

Does that help? :D

I didn't get to name dd any of my top 5 names, and only sneaked a name I like in in the end as it's a shortening of a longer name I could take or leave at the time. Naming her was soooo hard!

But now she's 10mo I adore her long name and short name. They just grow into their names and own them and you can't imagine them being anything else.

I know a baby Otis and have heard of a few. It could be getting a bit of a popularity burst. Otto is nicer and rarer?

Otis makes me only think of this

As well as being a cartoon aardvark, Otis is also a manufacturer of lifts.

Just trying to put you off a bit more

The other names you mentioned are great names but nothing like Otis in my head. I’d much more mainstream. Perhaps you are compromising too much??

Btw I much prefer both of them to Otis!

I’ve honestly only heard Otis used for dogs so along with the ardvaark thing that may honestly be a good call on your DH’s part.

I've had to give up my ride-or-die names as DP hates them, but on the other hand I've also vetoed his favourite names. I feel very wistful about not having a child with the name I always imagined for them, but on the other hand this is my REAL child, not a fantasy one.

DP and I have chosen her name together, and we're embarking on this amazing project of bringing her up as a unit. I feel really good about that. Having a baby isn't entirely like I imagined it would be in many respects - I don't think I had any clear idea of what it would be like at all, apart from some idealised vision - but this thing we have is real and it's ours. I don't know if that makes you feel better, OP, but it helps me to see it that way. The name we've chosen (I'm 28 weeks rn) isn't one I'd really thought about before, but it feels really right nevertheless.

Such wise words @ladycarlotta

Thanks for all the advice. To be honest I think we will probably go for Alistair - but we’ve still got a while to change our minds. Plus it could be a girl, making this whole thing pointless.

I think you’re right ladycarlotta this is going to be a real child and once it’s here, I suppose I won’t imagine them being anything else but the name we do pick.

It just stings a bit to let one go!

Ever since I was little I wanted to have a baby clothes called crystal, but then bf said it was a stripper name......it's now ruined it for me so it was easy to let go of hahahaha

I know 4 dogs called Otis!

Also I really like Otis! Not keen on Otto as thatwbas the name of the guy who drives the school bus in the Simpsons hahah

That's such a good name OP, I'm not surprised you're having a hard time letting it go. DH and I agreed on a name for DS1, it was my favourite name so I was happy but when DS1 arrived the name just didn't suit him at all! So we changed it to a name which suited him which wasn't even on our radar when I was pregnant.

You might find that the baby doesn't suit Otis; or you might find that your DH agrees that he does suit it. Find some alternatives but you'll most likely settle on one when you see the baby rather than before (although I know some people know beforehand).

I loved Otis too for a boy! My husband said it reminds him of lifts 🤭 I honestly had never even thought of that. Anyway even now he points out the Otis stickers in lifts when we’re in town and it has totally put me off the name 😂😂😂 hope that’s helpful in putting you off too ha ha

If it being uncommon is important, it doesn't look like it will be for long:
names.darkgreener.com/#otis