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Baby names

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

Original poster

Negative comments make me regret daughter’s name.

220 replies

evelynsmummy44 · 21/03/2019 11:43

I know people are going to say not to worry but it’s something that I think about regularly. My daughter is three and her name is Evelyn. She has never, ever been called Evie (not even once) and her name was picked for sentimental reasons. When we named her I had never been on a site like this and having never met another little Evelyn I didn’t know it was popular (still haven’t met another one in our area!) however I get really sad that it is pretty much always called boring or horrible on this site. I very rarely see anything positive about it and it makes me regret not calling her Eliza. I’m not sure how to learn to love my daughter’s name again (maybe just come off this site? But I love looking at it for inspiration for baby number two) anyone been/felt similar about their child’s name?

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EngagedAgain · 21/03/2019 15:49

Imagine how boring (and confusing) it would be if everyone had the same name.

Ginger1982 · 21/03/2019 15:59

Love Evelyn but agree depends on how you pronounce it. I would say Ev-e-lyn not Eev-lyn so Evie wouldn't be an obvious nickname for me.

Sparkly124 · 21/03/2019 16:01

I don't like Evelyn, but that shouldn't affect your decision. How boring the world would be if we all liked the same things!

TrixieFranklin · 21/03/2019 16:11

I think it's rather sweet

cranstonmanor · 21/03/2019 16:39

I think it's a lovely name! I'm not from the UK though so don't know about boring or used much. It just has a lovely sound to me.

MillennialFalcon · 21/03/2019 17:10

It's a nice name. When I read the title I was worried it would be something really out there and made up not a perfectly normal name! Try not to take the opinions of total strangers to heart, you are the one who has to use the name every day. And at the end of the day no name is going to be to everybody's taste. You like it and that's what matters.

MillennialFalcon · 21/03/2019 17:11

I mean it's not like the name is "Squire Sebastian Senator"
metro.co.uk/2018/12/11/mum-goes-glorious-rant-cancels-baby-shower-people-made-fun-babys-name-8233260/?ito=cbshare

Original poster
evelynsmummy44 · 21/03/2019 17:31

Thank you to those who were supportive of my post. Hormones make you feel really emotional about strange stuff and this is something that has been bothering me for a while.

To those who said I was immature etc, I don’t want to change it-however Eliza was my first choice and posts slating Evelyn reinforce the feeling that I may have made the wrong choice. I am obviously not going to change my daughter’s name based on Mumsnet. I was asking if anyone else had similar feelings (that they had made the wrong choice) and how they moved past it.

OP posts:
Original poster
evelynsmummy44 · 21/03/2019 17:32

Thank you for all the kind comments people have made❤️

OP posts:
LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 21/03/2019 17:34

Just wandered by to say that I think it’s a lovely name. I’ve worked with a couple of Evelyns and they were both lovely, elegant and graceful ladies. It’s a nice name.

happierever · 21/03/2019 17:45

Ha you will get loads of people slagging off Eliza too. People have different opinions on names or we would all call our kids the same thing. I see my kids names slated all the time. Latest was this week. I don't give a shit

MrsRhubarb · 21/03/2019 18:17

I think it's a lovely name, I know that it is one my Dsis is hoping no-one she knows uses before she has children!

FairfaxAikman · 21/03/2019 18:18

Much prefer Evelyn to Eliza.

DS's names was panned as boring on MN. Doesn't make us love it or him any less. He totally suits his name.

CookPassBabtridge · 21/03/2019 19:17

Christ don't listen to negative people on here, I've never met such pompous judgemental snobs. My little one is Alfie (yes on the birth certificate too) and I love it, but I might as well be the anti-christ on here Grin

ilovecheese1 · 21/03/2019 20:33

I think it may have been my thread where you most recently sort Evelyn being slated... it’s on our list & didn’t get a great response which surprised me actually. Evelyn is lovely, eve, Evie they’re all nice names. IMO there are far far worse on here, but that’s the beauty of opinions we all have a different one! Do not regret your choice OP, it’s a beautiful name!

MikeUniformMike · 21/03/2019 21:13

I don't like it, but I like Eve and Evie. You might not like my DCs' names. We probably don't even know each other, so why should my opinion matter to you? It doesn't. You chose the name because you like it.

DramaAlpaca · 21/03/2019 22:14

I really like Evelyn, I much prefer it to Eliza.

aliceandkids77 · 23/03/2019 12:12

I think its a gorgeous name, was a strong contendor for my DD1’s name x

mummyzombie · 23/03/2019 13:38

I've just posted the thread about changing my son's name at 6 months... so I feel you!!!

Evelyn was one of our names for girls. It's really beautiful.

We went with an unusual name for our son and we get odd comments about that too... so you literally cannot win!

I have no doubt someone would / will say something about Eliza if you ever use that for another child, because there is always someone insensitive and socially retarded enough to blurt something out about any name.

I think our feelings are a normal reaction to loving our babies so much! Guess we just have to ride it out :) It's a lovely name.

Donnadon346 · 23/03/2019 13:49

I think Evelyn is a beautiful name OP

Masai71 · 23/03/2019 13:53

It's a gorgeous timeless name OP

frankiefirstyear · 23/03/2019 14:00

I like Evelyn. I had an issue with my daughters name. It's quite old fashioned and I use the full name and not a common shortened version. Her dad basically wouldn't allow her middle name to be her first name (which I wanted) and I also wanted the true version of that too. For example her name is (isn't!) Dorothy Jess and I wanted to use Dorothy and Jessica but Jessica first. He just wouldn't allow it. We split up not long after she was born and it was took a long time to even admit my issue. The best thing I done was confuse in friends and once I'd admitted it (I felt terrible guilt) I felt loads better. My friends were extremely supportive and told me all their family who get called totally different names etc. Evelyn is a classic name and it's lovely. I like Evie too but ikwym about shortening it, I prefer full names so I'd stick with it as it is and ignore any negative comments or try to scroll past threads you think will upset you 💐

Cbeebiesrehab · 23/03/2019 14:15

My daughter is called Evelyn (but we call her Effie) she has also never been called Evie. Yes, it’s more popular than I would like too but it’s a beautiful name with a variety of good nicknames, will look good on a CV and will grow with her. Try not to dwell on the opinions on MN-there are VERY few names that are universally liked hereFlowers

maxinespalour · 23/03/2019 14:17

Op my dd is called Lily and that is a much hated name on here these days!!
Evelyn is a beautiful, classic name. I only know 1 and she is a sweetheart!

tiredandpregnant · 23/03/2019 14:24

My DD is due next month and it's the name we have chosen for her.... coincidentally our second choice was Eliza!

Anyway we've had some truly terrible reactions and some 'call her ... instead' which I find so rude. Or 'I personally prefer ...'

I've started to change the subject or just ignore. But it is horrible. Especially when it's your mum and sisters doing the criticising!