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.

Perhaps teach your children not to bully in school.

Little Jesse will get called a big jessie, but
your MIL has had her chance to name children.

My 13 year old cousin is a Jesse. He was never bullied or anything. There were kids with much weirder names in school, and calling someone a Jessie as an insult isn't much of a thing these days. Maybe rethink if you're in Scotland where it's more common as an insult, otherwise just go for it. Your MIL will get the hang of it if she has no choice.

Great name op.

I know a 7 year old Jesse, lovely, outgoing lad. Has never been bullied because of his name.

Names are not like how they were when most of us were at school…Matthew, Simon, Paul, Daniel, etc. Names are very diverse theses days - thankfully!
The majority of kids won’t bat an eyelid. You need to give children more credit.

Ps Mil didn’t like our dd name at first ( we didn’t tell anyone the name till she was born though) Dh promptly told her ‘well you better get used to it, as that’s her name’

Like I always say name does not and will not increase the risk of bullying. Bullies will find something to bully about. Having a name that sounds unisex but isn’t, is hardly going to cause someone to be bullied. Also, these days, what will all the gender stuff going on, I VERY much doubt that the whole ‘that’s a girls/boys name!’ comments will be made, especially by the younger generation. It’s just not acceptable these days.

Also, I always see this comment on MN but in my 30 odd years of life I have literally NEVER heard anyone call anyone a ‘big Jessie’. If I tried to say this to someone in my hometown I’d either get weird looks or sniggers. It’s just not a thing that people say anymore - it might be a regional thing, but every time it’s mentioned on MN posters come along to insist that they’ve never heard it being said either. So unless we all live in the same town, it’s just not a popular or common insult anymore.

@Mummysharkdoodoodoodoodoodoo , I know a Jesse and he hates his name because he was called a 'big jessie'. I'm in the south-east.

I don’t like the name at all I'm
afraid.

My children were never bullies. Wide leap there 😂. But despite that, there are, and sadly always will be bullies.

I love it.

Jesse is a great name. And it's a boy's name.

Jesse Armstrong, the creator of Succession, for example.

I'm with your Mil. I look at it as a girl's name. Even worse when you shorten it.

That’s what I’d associate it with too and I don’t think it’s just a Scottish term.

Has your MIL honestly never heard of Jesse James or the Brad Pitt film based on his life? Or Jesse in the Bible? Or the character in Breaking Bad?

I would be a bit perplexed if someone told me they had genuinely never ever heard of Jesse as a male name. As you said, it's in the top 100 for boys.

I suspect she has heard of it but she just doesn't like it.

I wouldn't because I've only ever heard of it in the context of the insult 'big jessie' (northwest england). However I think that's pretty regional (and also old fashioned)

Jesse is obviously male written down but when O hear it I assume Jessie as my age makes me think short for Jessica.

I really like it. Makes me think of an American or Aussie which is definitely cool.

Lovely name. Who cares what others think.
If you're unsure double barrel it like
Jesse-James

I know many with double barrelled names but parents only tend to use the first part eg.
Lily-Beth is lily
Luna-Rose is Luna
Gracie-Jo is Gracie
David-John is Davey
Stephen-Thomas is Steve
Tyrion-Craig is Tyrion
Jemima-Maria is Jaimee

I adore the name Jesse for a boy, and clearly think it is a generational thing because of its rising popularity. I'm glad I didn't chose it in the end because there are lots of Jesse's in my son's school, one in each class in his year. I have moved it since Free Willy, and I imagine the same with all the other 30 something parents having babies now 😂. Grandparents are the last to become accustomed to currently on trend names well in the top 50, always been the way as they don't spend as much time with young children. I really wouldn't take their opinion into account. You could show them Dark Greener website and its statistics to prove it is a very popular boy's name.

Send them this. It shows the exact number of bits Vs girls.

Love the name. I also wanted this for our baby but DP hated it. People will comment on all names you choose so go with what you both love!

Dreadful name for a boy.

So do I and I'm from the North west

I'd assume a Jesse was a boy

But I can hear my dad's voice saying (relative) was a right Jesse for being scared of rats. (I know)

It’s a lovely name, I’ve met only one (older, American). I wouldn’t give in just because your MIL is being silly about it, I think it’s a well-known boys name.

I know a Jesse in his 40s, I've know him for years and never given his name a second thought other than how cool it is