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?

@Growlybear83 times have changed since your husband was little and all these types of names are incredibly current and have made a huge comeback. I can think of several alberts I know off the top of my head who are under 10. I used to teach supply and Albert, Wilfred, Edith, Maeve etc are very much 'the norm' now.

I opened the thread thinking the names were going to be something like Faerie-Rainwater or Sunfloria or Mugwump.

Edith and Arthur? Crack on. Both perfectly normal and lovely names, especially Edith, which you don't bear often these days.

I have a 9 year old Edith.

She’s never once got any stick for her name. It’s classic and lovely, I can’t see how anyone could be offended at it. Or Arthur. Lovely, classic boys name.

I know a 5yo Arthur and, while I don't particularly like the name, it's very popular. It's also better than the made-up names I see on social media, like Braxxlyn or Bentleigh-Maie.

Edith is okay but it's also the name of my granny's best friend, who is a nosy, judgemental windbag, so that unfairly colours my view

Very sweet names. Ignore the friends name your child as you wish.
(It's also sex not gender...huge bugbear of mine!)

They're both lovely names. Tell your so called friends to fuck off!

I love both names, especially Edith. I know a couple of very cute Arthurs.
Ignore your mean friends.

I know small children with both of those names, especially Arthur, it's really popular.
Your friends are arseholes.

Arthur is a nice name. Not a fan of Edith .

Arthur is super popular at the moment where I am. Edith less so. Both are good names. They won't be picked on at school.

Your friends are obviously not very good friends! They should keep their beaks shut.

Those are lovely names you've chosen! Its entirely up to you what you name your baby and the bonus is that your family love your choices too. Ignore the miserable friends.

Balls to your "friends". Your child your choice! Of course they are entitled to their opinion,everyone is but you also have the right to ignore their unwarrented suggestions. I like both your choices by the way!

Fantastic names - both. Also not particularly unusual. I’m a teacher and have taught a few Arthurs. Edith slightly less common but great, Edie is also a cute nn. It’s always best to tell people after the fact so they don’t feel free to comment.

🤣🤣

They are lovely names, I chose more traditional names for all of my children and have had no complaints so far. The only one in my family with a "trendy" name is me and I hate it, it has also become a "popular" name for a certain breed of dog which makes me jump every time someone calls their pooch in the park. So go with what you love. X

I like both names, if you are happy with them that’s all that matters. MIL said my husband and I picked dogs names for our dc!

Well, I´m ok with Arthur, boys names being more conservative than girls names. But if you call the first daughter Edith, witll the second be Gladys and the third Ethel? Sorry, they sound like names from an old people´s home. My cousin did the same and gave her daughters really old fashioned names, and I thought how awful they were but kept my mouth shut, so as to not hurt her feelings. That is where your friends have let you down a bit.

Your friends are idiots. There are loads of little Arthurs and Ediths.

They're both lovely names ignore them.

Both are very common (and lovely) so I’m surprised she is so shocked by them. DS goes to nursery with a handful of both.

Edith is very popular nowadays. Your idea of the names you will find in old people's homes nowadays is very out of date - they are more likely to be things like John, James, Peter, Susan, Caroline, Elizabeth, Margaret etc.

How on earth will you be finding out your babies gender at birth?

they are 2 of the most popular names ...
Arthur is no 4
Edith 492

I wouldnt chose Arthur because its soooooooooo popular - the new Jack or Alfie really.
Edith - I would have thought was way more popular?
But your friends are twats - what are their kids called?
Jayden and Ava?
(both also super popular)

Lovely names. I know primary aged siblings named Edith and Arthur. Take no notice of your friends.

Perfectly normal and lovely names! I’m guessing your friends don’t have DC yet otherwise they’d surely know that there are lots of Arthurs in particular and Edith isn’t especially uncommon either. I don’t know any kids at my sons school who get ridiculed for their name and there’s a huge variety of them. I just don’t think it happens as much as it did in the past.