Hate DD’s planned baby name. Is it ever ok to say that?

[Giggsie]

I expect the answer is to keep quiet but I fear by future grandchild will be teased mercilessly.

I love Io! It’s a really lovely name - the myths around her and Zeus are manifold and differ depending on the author. As someone whose name wasn’t very well known at all in the Eighties, I promise you it’s not a death sentence! I would have hated to be one of the gazillion Lauras or Rachels in my class (nothing against any who might be on this thread and they’re both lovely names!) Honestly, the kid will be fine, especially as it sounds like she’ll be going to an EIS. If it had been a ‘creatively spelled’ name, I’d have understood. But Io is both pretty and a little different ♥️

Most of those legends have equally or more unfortunate aspects, especially Pandora (and you know that Pandora's Box is more likely to be something teenagers catch onto than any of the reasons to tease a girl called Io).

The biggest bummer having Io as a name is one that I shouldered as a child (and my name isn’t weird or oddly spelled): nothing in the gift shop will EVER have her name on.

I’m over it now. Just.

I mean Zeus raped pretty much everyone so I wouldn't worry about that association.

I love the name - I think it's genuinely unique without being weird. She can avoid the Lo thing by using a serif font (including for handwriting).

I would start humming “hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go…”

what a difficult place to find yourself in. Hope your sd sees sense

I think you’re completely out of touch if you think a name like Io will lead to ‘merciless’ bullying, OP. There is massive diversity in first names now compared to when I was a child, other kids won’t bat an eyelid.

As for all the ‘rape victim’ commenters, wtf?! Is that how we’re defining women now? @MolkosTeenageAngst has it exactly right.

I agree with @TabbyCatInAPoolofSunshine ina way the fact that is her rape we are focusing on in the story downplays the fact she had a sea and a moon named after her. She was actually a fairly strong female character yes she was a cow for awhile but then she became human again

@IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle the names on your list have just as dark stories (Ariadne/Jocasta killed themselves!)

I like it! I thought of Jupiter’s moon right away. I think it’ll be one of those names where initially you are unsure but very quickly you won’t be able to imagine her being named anything else. Do not say anything. You have had your turn at naming a baby, this her her turn.

Is that sarcasm? I'd put nothing in the gift shop having her name on it as a plus.

It's horrid. Obviously you can't say anything.

Pandora
I adore ya!
I implore ye
Don't ignore me

It’s neither sarcasm nor not sarcasm. Just light-hearted joke?

I imagine she might encounter some chuckles if she visits Italy!

Ariadne married Dionysus, which sounds kind of fun.

Just sing Old MacDonald at them and hope they get the point.

I actually love it but think you need a Greek connection for it to work.

As someone who also has a fairly unused name - not being able to get merchandise with my name on was very disappointing as a child 😂

As someone who grew up with an utterly stupid name (with siblings who had entirely normal 70s names to add insult to injury) that was the least of my worries!

If you are saying this is the actual name it is absolutely hideous. I'm not surprised you are questioning it. The child will end up being called Hi or worse.I would have no hesitation in diplomatically conveying my concerns.

Yes, this exactly. Your DD as a classicist knows full well the stories and is going to be entirely aware that the story of Io is so much more than “was raped by Zeus” (like that narrows it down). She actually had a pretty good rest of life after that bit, and was the ancestor of many many others from mythology. I really wouldn’t worry - it’s an unusual name but a great one too.

HNRTFT but I wasn’t sure about my grandchild name. I now cannot imagine the child having a different name! The name is now a Marmite name on MN but old enough that child’s peer group will not have a problem with the name.

she’ll also have a blinder up her sleeve to play in Scrabble should she be down to a hodge podge of vowels!

I like it.

I’ve met several Cain’s- I reckon that’s worse, association wise.

I'm surprised people like it. It's a terrible name imo lol. Also will endlessly be made into 'oh haha I owe you xyz' if it's pronounced eye-oh.

However your opinion doesn't matter, and nor does mine. There are all kind of weird names out there now. Unless it's something outright offensive, you shouldn't be commenting.

DS had a classmate called Yeeha, pronounced Yee Ha. She didn't get teased about it.

my daughter is named a unisex name that we love and my husband picked. MIL and SIL called her ‘the baby’ for the first 10 months. Honestly if you want to be called granny/nana etc, hold your tongue and have the basic level of respect to call her by her name