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Baby names

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

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Original poster

People's negative comments

31 replies

Apple35 · 14/09/2020 17:58

Hi there

I chose Matilda for my baby girl. I love the name and most people have been positive about the name too.
But had two people this week who have said it is an old lady's name and one saying that some babies can suit names but don't suit them as adults.
Yes, there are some names I don't like but keep my mouth shut. So far I have just ignored the comments or laughed them off but would u say something?

OP posts:

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wuickquestion · 14/09/2020 18:04

My DD has a old ladies name . I really don't care what people think. Matilda is lovely, if we all liked the same names that would be terrible as everyone would be called the same thing.

I don't ask people's opinion and if they offer if like oh that's my Gran's name I say oh lovely or we love it!

If you haven't had your baby then don't tell people or say you have picked something, but don't want to reveal it until she's born. Or even better deflect the question by saying oh we are still deciding and ask them what names they like.

Original poster

Apple35 · 14/09/2020 18:28

@wuickquestion Had her already. Back from matty leave. Her first name is Matilda and middle name is Rose.

OP posts:

Whatsyourflava · 14/09/2020 18:29

That's so rude
Matilda is such a gorgeous name by the way

FluffMagnet · 14/09/2020 18:32

Jesus what is wrong with people?! For what it's worth I think Matilda is lovely, but regardless it is her name and has been for some time if you're back from Mat Leave. You wouldn't go up to someone and randomly declare you hate their name, so how can these people think it's acceptable to do the same to the parents? Rude and I would tell them the same.

Guardsman18 · 14/09/2020 18:37

Beautiful name and I know a lovely young woman called it. Sometimes a Tilly which suited her as a little girl.

toastofthetown · 14/09/2020 18:48

I'd just ignore them. It's a weird comment to make about the name Matilda, which has been in the top 100 for the last 14 years and looks like it hit its peak popularity a couple of years ago. Don't worry about it; she'll be in good company and Matilda is a lovely name.

frogswimming · 14/09/2020 18:54

How very rude!

Use the old favourite "did you mean to be so rude?"

It's a lovely name by the way. Perhaps they're really jealous of your excellent taste.

janetmendoza · 14/09/2020 19:06

Its a cool name - she will enjoy it

BuffaloCauliflower · 14/09/2020 19:07

Matilda’s a lovely name! What’s wrong with people?

itsjakeandamy · 14/09/2020 21:41

Ignore them. They obviously just don't know any young children. Matilda is a very popular name (for good reason. It's lovely).
I've mentioned this before but I remember my mum telling me (whilst I was pregnant with our eldest. I'm sure she was fishing) that her friend's daughter had just had a baby called Ruby May and her friend had cried for a day because it was so horrible and old fashioned. Within a few months I had met about fifty ----thousand Ruby Mays.

BackforGood · 14/09/2020 22:37

Well, overwhelmingly - because names go round in cycles - huge numbers of babies have "old lady names", because they come back into fashion.
My Grandmother was horrified at my name (in the 1960s) as it was a name that her Aunts, Great Aunts and Grandparents and their peers had been called. I've never been in any group of people of a similar age without there being someone else with my name.

Virtually every baby born over the last 10 years or so that I know, has been given an "old lady" or "old man" name to my ears. Give it another 20 years and people will start having the names of my peers again, and I'll be a bit when I first hear them as I'll think of people being 'middle aged' as I'll still perceive myself at that point .

People aren't meaning to be rude, they just don't always think, before saying something outloud.

EriAndo · 15/09/2020 00:27

I like it. Very common in Australia too not an old lady name there!
Nn Tilly is cute too.

ThighthighOfthigh · 15/09/2020 00:28

I remember someone called Pauline saying my son's name was old fashioned. It's Max and I love it.

FizzingWhizzbee123 · 15/09/2020 17:41

I love Matilda. If we’d had a girl, we would have called her that. Matilda is pretty high up the names list, somewhere in the top 20 I think so it’s obviously popular. People like that are just rude. Either ignore or say you don’t think much of their name either!

TigerQuoll · 16/09/2020 01:22

My niece is Matilda, called Tilly. I love it.

LUZON · 16/09/2020 01:28

I think you should tell people who are being rude that they are rude. I'd be polite about it but I would tell them that some people might be really offended and upset if they rude about a babies name and that anyone who has any social awareness would know that.

You tell them calmly and in a matter of fact way.

Why brush it off and let them get away with it. It might genuinely really upset someone else.

SeanCailleach · 16/09/2020 07:15

Tell them they are out of date. Matilda is trending. But even if it wasn't, you might have named your dd for a favourite grandma. I love Mattie for a nn. Tilly also.

WilsonandNoodles · 16/09/2020 07:36

I don't know any old ladies called Matilda but I do know of plenty of under 16s.
One of my sons has a very old man name. We have had plenty of comments from the older generation but I point out he will be an old man one day! People think my other son has a 'modern' name but it's actually really old fashioned just pre the oldies of today!

pinkpinecone · 16/09/2020 07:42

Ignore them, they are just being thoughtless. Matilda is a lovely name and has great nn's Tilly and Mattie. Not everyone will like your child's name as names are so subjective. I've had people turn their nose up at my child's name on occasion and I just think they're either rude or ignorant and I really don't care.

VenusClapTrap · 16/09/2020 08:14

Good grief. It’s hugely popular. Have these people been living under a rock? Dd has three close friends called Matilda Rose (primary school).

netsybetsy · 16/09/2020 10:39

It's very pretty. Isn't there a movie of that name? Ignore the rude people giving you their opinion that wasn't asked for.

Edenember · 16/09/2020 12:44

I would just say something like, well luckily she’s not your child so.... sometimes people need reminded that they aren’t centre of the universe.

Whattodo1610 · 16/09/2020 12:51

Oh Matilda is lovely!

I would either say “oh that’s a bit rude” .... or “it’s a good job we all don’t like the same things in life, where would we be?” Or if you’re REALLY brave “oh I was going to call her .. but I don’t really like it after all” 🤣

Then smile sweetly and enjoy your beautiful, gorgeous Matilda!

micc · 16/09/2020 15:51

Ugh I hate people.
I have had some negative comments about my daughters name, her name is Clementine. Again, she gets the 'granny' comments or I had someone say its child abuse for me to call her that! Let's just say he wasnt very favorable and I told him where to shove it Haha. Matilda is such a lovely name, my cousins daughter is called that name, she is known as Tilly. Maybe Tilda as she gets older :)

Honestly people have opinions, whatever, I just wish people would keep their mouths shut! Just smile and nod if you dont like it! I dont like a lot of names but I have never said anything negative about their choice, because its theirs. Honestly if people can say something negative about a name so inoffensive like Matilda there is literally no hope for them Haha.

Thefaceofboe · 18/09/2020 22:30

Love the name Matilda!! There’s a few nickname options too

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