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Baby names

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

Being told you can’t use certain names

51 replies

Ohgawd2020 · 19/01/2021 21:00

My sister in law has told my husband that she doesn’t want us to use certain names. About five in total. I feel really prickly about this but husband is defending sister. Should I be feeling prickly about this?

OP posts:
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daisypond · 19/01/2021 21:02

What’s the reason she doesn’t want you to use certain names? Unless they are the names of her children who have sadly died, use whatever names you like.

CoffeeRunner · 19/01/2021 21:07

Is she trying to “reserve” names for her own future babies? If so, why does she think she gets first pick? And why five times?

As PP rightly says, if they happen to the names of her own lost DCs then you should absolutely respect her wishes.

Otherwise. No.

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 19/01/2021 21:08

Well she can ask, but you can ignore the request if they are names you had already said you like. If they aren't names you have even considered, I would steer clear, only because if you use one it could be seen as a spiteful decision even if it wasn't.

Ohgawd2020 · 19/01/2021 21:11

For context, she is single, has never had children and isn’t planning on it anytime soon. Like the names herself apparently.

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ParisJeTAime · 19/01/2021 21:12

Haha what?! Weird. I think my sister sort of did this, but honestly it sailed right over me. It's as if she never said it.

heyyyduggee · 19/01/2021 21:12

No you are not unreasonable.
I had a major fall out with a close cousin AFTER the birth of my daughter because I had chosen 'her' name. She had apparently told me but I didn't remember.
We're 7 years on and she still has no children and isn't close to having any either. So the thought of not picking a name you love on the basis that someone may use it in the future is in my opinion- wrong.
Now if I had another and someone I knew said I couldn't use a name that I wanted to I wouldn't pay any attention to it.

CutsOffCorners · 19/01/2021 21:13

Are they names you would actually seriously be considering using? If so, ignore her and carry on.

If not, laugh and tell her they are so dated/ugly that she's welcome to keep them Grin

Santaiscovidfree · 19/01/2021 21:14

Personally I would use all 5
..

ParisJeTAime · 19/01/2021 21:14

Ooooooh ours was because she hated the names! They were all fine names that we had no intention of using.

If she's reserving names, that is quite odd, BUT, I know I have considered names and then decided against them because childless friends had always said they were their favourites...so maybe not that weird. But 5 is too much.

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 19/01/2021 21:15

My child would be called all 5 of those names out of pure spite 🤣🤣

Babyfg · 19/01/2021 21:19

I had a girls name when I was pregnant and my cousin told me I couldn't use it because her boyfriends sister (who was like 35) had that name and she would think I named the baby after her. I had met this girl like twice ever, I doubt she'd have even recognised me in the street. We had a boy but I'd have definitely have used the name. It's so ridiculous isn't it. Like no one owns a name 🙄

And youre definitely not bu. I'd use all five out of spite!

ParisJeTAime · 19/01/2021 21:28

I am still not over DH deciding we couldn't use a number of baby names because people like his BIL's sister had children with the same name. Our dcs have met them a couple of times and I haven't seen them in years! Very annoying.

Use the names you love.

Luckingfovely · 19/01/2021 21:30

This is just laughable Grin I'm with pp for using all five!

JohnBarron · 19/01/2021 21:33

You should have looked horrified and said ‘God no, those names are awful!’ Grin

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/01/2021 22:03

Ha! I would have secretly loved to to do this (one of the last in my huge family to try for kids) as there's a few names I absolutely love; but you just can't - surely basic manners dictate that it's CF behaviour to make demands like this?

To an extent, it's first come, first served with names imo - but if it's a very popular/common name (or there are strong family reasons for using a name, eg. a beloved deceased Grandparent), then equally no-one should be surprised if you use the name another family member has already used too.

LetItGoGo · 19/01/2021 22:04

No way.

yvanka · 19/01/2021 22:06

Do you like any of the names? I'd ignore her if so, though obviously it is your DH's choice too and if he's (weirdly) on his sister's side then there isn't much you can do.

LetItGoGo · 19/01/2021 22:06

As in no way should he be paying heed.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 19/01/2021 22:08

@Santaiscovidfree

Personally I would use all 5 ..
This!
Firebird83 · 19/01/2021 22:10

Would you actually consider any of the names?

Ohgawd2020 · 19/01/2021 22:53

Awkwardly enough, yes

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itwillbehormones · 19/01/2021 22:55

That's just odd, I'd ignore it totally

Terracottasaur · 19/01/2021 22:55

Ignore her. She’s being a dick.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/01/2021 22:56

So is she bagsying them for her possible children, or she doesn't want your children to use the names of the babies she never had iyswim?

Girlyracer · 19/01/2021 22:57

Stuff that, if I loved one I'd be using it on purpose. Even better, first name and 4 middle names.