My friends say my husband and I have chosen 'cruel' names

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My husband and I are expecting our first child together in early June this year and we're both a mixture of nerves and excitement. We are both fans of traditional names and so have decided on Arthur for a boy or Edith for a girl (we've decided to wait until the actual birth to find out the gender). I think these names are really sweet and could work for both a child and adult. Both our families have said they love the names, however when I mentioned it to my friends they started laughing and told me it was cruel to name our child something so old fashioned as they'll be ridiculed at school. My husband and I don't see where they're coming from but I was just wondering if anyone had any opinions on this?

My husband's Nan was Edith. She mostly went by Edi. She was the loveliest lady, so I associate the name with warmth & kindness

Those people sound vile. Cute names and they'll fit right in with what I hear parents yelling in the park today!

Both names are actually quite popular nowadays so I'd be astonished if anyone ridiculed them. I like them both, especially Arthur.

Lovely names and shouldn’t cause them any issues at school (do your friends have school age children, as they seem a bit out of touch with the variety of names right now).

Gina for a baby girl?
sorr

sorry I meant to start a new thread (I’m new to mumsnet)

I see hundreds of under 5's through my work each week, and Arthur is very popular and normal. Haven't come across an Edith recently, but loads of similar names (Edie, Eve, Elody, Eden, Evelyn, Eva etc) they certainly won't be picked on. Take no notice of people who aren't around young children.

There's a few Arthurs and Ediths in my kids' schools. The names of our grandparents are back in fashion. I love those names. We considered Edith for DD2.

I was watching a programme the other day, her kids were Theon and Tyrion! Of all the GoT makes they could have gone for 🤣

Tyrion is a uncommon Welsh name but there’s not excuse for putting it with Theon!

@SemperIdem ,The uncommon Welsh name is Tirion not Tyrion. Tyrion would be pronounced differently and isn't a word.

Tirion means gentle e.g. Iesu tirion (gentle Jesus)

Beautiful names
Time to get new friends or tell them to fuck off and you'll name your children whatever you want

Arthur is very popular for kids in KS1. I haven't met an Edith but it's not too out there at all.

Fab names! Don't listen to them.

Stop telling people the names, end of

People will always judge but not if you don't give them fodder

Really lovely, cool but sensible names. Your friend is horrible to criticise.

Hi Darling! I LOVE Edith! It reminds me of the word Education, and so creates a subconscious impression of intelligence within your child! 👧

There both quite nice names but I think your friend is looking out for your child because you don’t hear many Arthurs or Ediths much anymore because some kids get names they used quite a lot years ago and start joking over it. Maybe it wasn’t her taste or wanted to protect your child?

@YourLocal , Arthur is very popular as a baby boy's name now.
Babies called Arthur in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)
Ethel isn't popular but 'granny names' and vowelly names with 'th' in (Edith, Thea, Martha etc) are.

I think your friend is looking out for your child
I think the friend is unaware of current baby name trends.

They sound like horrible friends, OP. I really like Arthur for a boy but we’re having a girl so can’t use it. I would ignore them and crack on, at least old fashioned names aren’t silly.

Apologies. OP said Edith not Ethel.
Babies called Edith in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)

Your friends are a bit clueless...

I actually DID have a great aunt Edith because I'm quite old, and about ten years ago I suddenly thought 'woah great name' and of course it's v popular. Same for Joan which is another awesome comeback. I think perhaps your friends don't listen to Radio 1? There's at least one DJ who's Edith isn't there.

This baby was born and named last year.
Old thread.

They're both popular (and lovely!) names and nobody will bat an eyelid. There are numerous Arthurs and Ediths at my kids' school.

😂😂😂

I would really like to know what the OP named their child and how they are getting on.