Are you honest when commenting on names in real life?

[Abrakatabra]

Has it ever happened to you to think "what an awful name, poor kid" and then say to the parents "aww lovely name"?

@Abrakatabra

Has it ever happened to you to think "what an awful name, poor kid" and then say to the parents "aww lovely name"?

I wish people in my family kept their negative opinions to themselves, but maybe the mistake was on me for sharing, or even saying I was considering a name as a "maybe".

Luckily I went with my gut anyway, but to be fair every name was met with an "ugh, really?" reaction from one person in my life. Which is just shitty.

I would always just say lovely name or what I usually do in life is think of at least one thing about something that I consider a genuine positive. It's not fair to be in people's business with your negativity over something so personal.

I am always polite in real life and would say it's a lovely name.

I'm much more likely to be honest on MN threads

A friend named their child something totally not to my taste, when I told other separate friends the name they all looked a bit shocked too (its a legitimate name not something made up)

I've always been complimentary to my friends face but yeah, I think its awful

I’d just make a generic polite comment even if I hated it. Not everyone is the same, I’ve been asked why I called DD her name and not something else or of I’ve made it up (it’s a fairly normal name, typically top 20 or 30 fodder)

"See, you can't even come onto an anonymous Internet thread about names without insulting someone! There will be people who read this who've named their DC those names. Can you not, for 5 minutes, resist putting the boot in? AIBU is that way ➡️"

Someone unknown to me saying they don't like the names I've chosen is not hurtful. My 2 dc names, and my name, have had hundreds of negative comments on MN over the years. You really need to get real about your expectations in life if you honestly expect everyone (even anonymous strangers on the internet) to love your choice of name just like you do.

It depends.
Eg- colleague/acquaintance, no. Don't care. One coworkers kid was 2 before I found out what their name was, because I honestly had no interest!
Best friend/sister choosing a name I don't like - not my business at all.
Best friend/sister choosing a name like Drew Peacock or Ivor Hardcock= would have to comment. But only once.

I would never be honest if I didn’t like the name. I would be polite.

I did however tell my best friend that the name she was thinking of whilst pregnant sounded like a dogs name and she should definitely go for the other name she was considering.

I like almost all names! I have my own favourites but I really just love seeing variety. I like it when someone chooses something that surprises me. I’m disappointed if the choice is a boring one but that doesn’t mean I don’t like the name.

I would never tell someone I didn’t like their baby name choice but if there were unpleasant associations then I might mention them, depending on our relationship

I would never say a name was lovely if I didn't like it, I'd say something nice about the baby though

I make a generic comment if the person is introducing their baby and not seeking opinions.

For example, the last three babies I've come across have names which are currently super popular and I also don't like. In my head I thought "not another one!" but in real life I said "how sweet! How did you choose it?"

If the baby wasn't born yet and they specifically asked my opinion, yes I'd be honest.

If I don’t like the name I just talk about how beautiful the child is etc, I’m effusive when I do like the name. But I think you can tell when people like/dislike your choices and imagine most can read my reaction too. This is why I’d never share potential names with anyone but DH!

All the time.

Only ever let someone know you don't like the name in person if they have asked you beforehand

That’s why this forum exists, because people generally really aren’t that rude.

I have a dear friend whose daughter is called Tippi.

I have inwardly cringed many times, while falsely smiling and saying ‘Haze/Angel/SighAnne, how lovely’.

I remember when my cousins were born one month apart. I told my schoolfriend the name of cousin 1. She said "At least it's not as bad as..." You guessed it. The name of cousin 2

Surely no one would actually tell someone that their child’s name is awful? Apart from the baby’s grannies . My mother criticised every potential dog name I considered. She reins it in for everyone else’s choices though.

I always say nice even if I think grim

It always makes me laugh here where I see a marmite name and people say we get so many compliments on it! I think hmmmm yes but how many are genuine

On a different note I really like both Beau and Dylan - both names of boys at our school!

I never comment if I don’t like the name, there’s always something else one can say. Plus I know it’s so subjective often that my opinion might often be a bit irrational as I’ve met X who put me off the name for example

I just wouldn’t comment if I didn’t like it or ask something like ‘how did you decide the name?’ To appear interested but not commit to liking it.

Although thinking about it there aren’t really many names I hate, plenty I wouldn’t pick for my own child but that I’m happy for someone else to love

I just wouldn't comment if I didn't like the name. It would be rude to - unless of course they asked what you thought of the name then every right to say awful.

But I certainly don't lie, ever.

In real life i say ooooh lovely! And in real life it's more about the baby than the name, but on a board it's more about the name.

I like almost all names! I have my own favourites but I really just love seeing variety. I like it when someone chooses something that surprises me. I’m disappointed if the choice is a boring one but that doesn’t mean I don’t like the name.

Yes I agree.

Thankfully we all have different tastes and the more variety of names the better imo.

If it's a name I don't like I don't comment on whether I like it or not. I divert the conversation back to the baby as I wouldn't want to lie or hurt someone.

It's been tough recently because the names are getting worse just now. We've had a Wren, August, Felix, Alba and Milo over the last 18 months. 😩