Is my girls name choice really as bad as people are making out!?

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I’m starting to get paranoid. Me and dh are due a baby girl early next year and have decided on the name Theodora. It’s a name we both love and feel suits our family.
We like that it’s the name of a character in The Haunting of Hill House. We also have a Lydia after the character in beetlejuice .

However when I’ve been asked about names all but two people have pulled faces and one family member said it was a ridiculous name.
I don’t really understand what’s ridiculous about it so thought I’d ask here. Is it really that bad?

I love it.

It’s not ridiculous - it’s not my taste but I wouldn’t raise an eyebrow over anyone calling their child it

Everyone always has an opinion (usually unwanted) my view is if you love the names then thats all that matters

It's fine.

It's not dreadful. I'd call her Thea for short, though, if it was me.

It's not my style but there's nothing wrong with it. It goes beautifully with Lydia. If you both love it, go for it.

It is a lovely name. I agree Thea is lovely as a shortened version. The Theas I have taught have all been bright little buttons with bags of personality.

I like it

The way around this is just not telling people your name choice before the baby arrives.
Once you've named the baby people tend to keep their opinions to themselves.

I like it.

I wouldn't tell people names before the baby is born. Everyone has an opinion on random names, because they're not attached to anything... They'll feel totally differently when they meet little Theodora, and she becomes the connection they have to the name.

I like it. You can also call her Teddy or Dora. It’s cute

I love it. I'd personally go with Dora for short if it was me.

It's fine

Beautiful name. I like Dora or Dory and Thea too

I think it's a lovely name.

Love both names, never associated either with those programmes. I did think of Robbie Williams though!

Its lovely

It's beautiful and was on my list but I had the same reaction from anyone we told! That it was awful apparently.

The poor decision you've made is in telling people the name before your DD has been born. Theodora is fine.

I’m not keen but I’m sure some people aren’t keen on my children’s names. I think if you like it it’s nothing to do with anyone else but I do think you are best not to tel people names in advance as at that stage people think they can say what they think.

It's a great name that will suit her at all stages of life and has lots of shortening options if she wants to use one

I like it! Goes perfect with Lydia!
You never tell people babies name before they've arrived

Fabulous name.

It's lovely. I was expecting a weird name, but it's perfect;not too popular but a proper name

Theodora is currently quite popular and not at all unusual so your family members etc are showing how out of date they are!
Don’t mention the name again until after DD is born and don’t tell any more people.
Congratulations on finding a name you both love. If you read MN you’ll see that this is quite an achievement.
Enjoy your pregnancy and wee Theodora