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?

They are both fairly common names, I know 3 Arthurs and 2 Ediths so I think your 'friends' are just talking crap!

Your names are totally fine. I'm not personally overkeen on them but they are very acceptable names.

I don't understand the reaction to Arthur at all, it is very common now and in the camp of revived old man names.

Edith is possibly getting into that camp for girls now, but I don't think it's quite there. I haven't met any little Ediths. To me it sounds a bit dowdy, like I would expect a dowdy character to be called Edith, or Ethel. It doesn't mean it won't work on your child though, and if you love it do it. It definitely isn't 'cruel'.

Similar sorts of names that initially I thought -no not keen on, which are now more common are Tabitha, Mabel, Peggy, Martha

Both names are fairly common at the moment and won't be seen as old fashioned within their generation. They may seem old fashioned to some older people because they are names their grandparents might have had, but they are coming back into fashion and are perfectly normal names- better than being called Luna or Romeo

I love them.

They're lovely names, your friends on the other hand....

Your friends are opinionated twats, both names are elegant.

Names have typically a 90 year cycle, they come in and out of fashion. Parents often want recognisable but not overused names, and often go back over the family tree to find an "old" name with some meaning to them. Once the old name gets popular again, it becomes less unusual and feels less inspired and eventually becomes less fashionable again.

Both your name choices are great.

Lovely names, and lots of traditional names making a comeback (I work in a NICU) so they won't seem out of place

Both lovely names

My goddaughter has children called Archie and Edith. A relative has a little girl called Mabel. They are not names I would use, but luckily we’re all different and there is definitely nothing wrong with them. You need new friends, these ones aren’t very nice!

Your friends attitudes are weird and old fashioned. Both names are lovely and a bit trendy.

Arthur and Edith are really quite normal names at the moment!

Do your friends even have children?

Arthur is a popular name and was my boy option (only had girls)

Edith is ok, i know a few Edies

They are both really nice. I especially love Edith.

What nasty friends!

I wouldn’t want friends like that. They should spend less energy judging and more teaching their children to be kind.

Personally I think it’s ridiculous when people give their children made-up names with hyphens and capital letters in the middle. But I would never tell them that irl.

My niece has given her son an unusual name, and I confess to a bit of an eye roll when I heard it (there was no-one there to see it). But you get used to it. Now it’s just his name.

What has your friend named her children? (I'm thinking Moon Unit is in with a shout.)

They are lovely names and it is great to see them coming back!

Your friends are clearly out of touch and missed the memo about "Nana" and "Grandad" names being all the rage these days! Ada, Doris, Betty, Frank, Albert, Evelyn- the nurseries of North London are bursting at the seams with them!

Ignore them.

And Edie and Artie are fun nicknames too.

I was expecting something really unusual from your thread title but those are both lovely classic names. I know lots of little girls called Edith as it became popular after downton Abbey came out.

Literally very nice, normal names these days. Like being called Matthew and Rebecca when I was a kid. Only problem is they are unlikely to be the only one in their class, if that is something that bothers you.

My 7yo's best pal is Arthur and in his class there's an Edie, an Edith, an Eden, two Evies and an Ava.

This is why you should never discuss names with anyone. You’ll get opinions.

The names are fine, popular, although I really don’t like Edith. Edie yes, but not Edith.

I’d rather have classic ‘old fashioned’ names than those made up ones when people are trying to be ‘unique’.

Your friends are clearly not up with the times. Those are lovely names and in keeping with current naming trends.