Jesse. Help convince me!

[sayanythingelse]

After 2 girls, we're having a boy. I've always loved the name Jesse and DH and I agreed on it as the name. However, MIL refuses to see it as anything but a girls name. She sent us a card saying

"to DH, sayanythingelse, DD and bump (Jessie)".

When we pointed out it's spelt Jesse, she said "I know, like Jessie J, the singer" and awkwardly laughed like she still didn't get it.

It's happened a few times with her and I know the name is currently in the top 100, so it's just her being dim but it's totally putting me off it. Help convince me that it's a nice name and I'm not setting my son up for a life of being called Jessica.

I love the name Jesse but to be honest I would only use it if I lived in America.. people in the U.K. just don’t seem to get it as a boys names :(

I know its a boy name, when written down.
But, especially combined with female sibling names, it sounds like it should be a girls name.

But there are lots of unisex names and people cope. If you like it, go for it.

Does she know Jesse was the father of King David in the Bible? Would this fact persuade her it's a boys name?

I know a lovely 5 year old Jesse and an equally lovely 1.5 year old one. It’s becoming more common and people will adjust. I love the name.

I bloody love it and wouldn't give a hoot to what other people thought! People had stuff to say about both of my kids names and it all got ignored. They aren't even out there names but sometimes people just cannot help sticking their 2 pence in. Jesse is a great name!

Jesse is great. I know 2 of different ages. Neither have American backgrounds

I love Jesse, it’s a great name! And like you say, it’s top 100 now so it won’t be strange amongst his peers. I’ve come across two recently at baby groups. The older generation often have different views on names, but trends change! If you love it, go for it.

Firstly, it’s a great name and secondly, it has nothing to do with your MIL what you call your child. Sounds as though she’s being very obtuse, you don’t need to convince her! If you & DH love it then go for it.

I like it, but I still hear the name used in a mean way. I’d be concerned about how it might be used .

Nowt to do with your mil

however where I live in Scotland a Jessiie is a wuss or a scaredy-cat so that would put me off.

I love Jesse and it was my number 1 name if we had a boy but DH categorically said no because he saw it as a girly name. 😔

Your MIL sounds awful though and if you and your DH like it, then go for it. Just blatantly correct her spelling every time and look confused when she says Jessie J. Maybe do the stereotypically MN ‘did you mean to be so rude?’

I know a Jesse who it now 29, have known him since he was 5 and is a wonderful, lovely person.

And agree your MiL is being extremely rude! Ignore her.

It's a lovely name but I do think that it's a lot to saddle a child with, sadly. There will be quite a few people like your MIL, and after he goes to school and in adulthood, he will be the one who will have to deal with it, not you.

I know a male Jesse aged 53 and a female Jesse aged 17 so have always assumed it’s a unisex name. Can’t say I like it that much as I also associate it with being spineless and a bit wet and it was always used in a negative way when I was at school but that was years ago and things change. I guess what I’m really saying is that if you love it, that’s all that matters.

I know a 4yo Jesse. I'm in Ireland. Lovely name.

Most people over 45 will automatically think of Uncle Jesse from the Dukes of Hazzard.

Or Jesse James obviously.

Son2 had a Jesse and a Jessie in his class and everyone was fine with it.

Yes it's a boy's name and your mother in law will know both of these so she's being ridiculous.

Personally, I wouldn't choose it if I already had two girls, although I'm not really sure why, but go for it if you love it.

Jesse is a gorgeous biblical name. It has a strong history and it gentle and cool and classic all at once. It was a boys name long before it was a girls name. Your MIL is rude. Jesse is lovely.

My mother could never spell 2 of my children's names. She also spend her life insisting my brothers name had an H at the end despite his birth certificate saying different. My dad and brother were wrong. Even when shown said birth certificate she continued claiming she had wanted it with the h at the end.

People learned to roll their eyes at her antics and went on with it

I absolutely love it and the Jesses I know are fabulous!

In fact if I ever had another I would consider it actually (I'm not having another!)

I don't think Jessie/Jessica is a particularly popular girl's name currently? The only thing that I would associate the boy's name of Jesse is the character in Breaking Bad. It's an 'old' show now though so probably won't be relevant by the time baby Jesses are in school.

We have one in the family, it is a great name.

It is another Victorian name slowly making a comeback - biblical origin of course. Don't forget the very successful pharmacy business founded by Jesse Boot!

I personally wouldn’t. It’s spelled differently, yes, but pronounced the same. Would you want a name that extends the possibility of bullying?

Reminds me of the song (but I see that's spelt 'Jessie' - never realised that.

Or Breaking Bad.

Oops wiki tells me Jesse was the son of the founder John...but was v successful at growing the business ;-)