Our name choices don’t seem very liked

[Fritesky]

DH and I have just had our twin baby girls, they are 3 weeks old and we have named them Gigi and Lola. We love their names and put a lot of time into picking them. We are a Anglo-Franco-Italian family so tried really hard to pick names that everyone would be a fan of.
Since then we’ve told family, friends etc. our babies names and got lots of “oh are the nicknames” and “oh that’s interesting”, which I guess just makes me feel really crappy. We haven’t registered the girls yet so we could change the names, but I’m not sure if I want to. Their full names are Gigi Apolline and Lola Gabrielle.

What are your thoughts?

Would you not consider giving them longer names and using Gigi and Lola as nicknames?

There are lots of lovely longer names that could easily be shortened to Gigi and Lola but would give your daughters more options for the future.

You are naming two future adults, not just two adorable little babies.

None that we like no, we really don’t like longer names, both have short names ourselves and don’t really see the point in giving our babies names we don’t actually like for the sake of “options”, my sister has a perfectly normal name and hates it so goes by her middle name, you run the risk of your child not liking their name regardless of what you name them. We could call them Charlotte and Giulia but they could just as easily not like those names and any of the diminutives and want to go by Apolline and Gabrielle anyway.

They are very nicknamey names I guess, a bit twee, and a wee bit what people tend to call stripper names - ie they are sexy-cute on a teen or adult.

Given all that, use them if you like them but I would give them full names - Gigi is often short for Georgina in the UK but something like Gianna would work fine. Lola is traditionally short for Delores, but if you don't like that I know a Lola who is Eloise (actually she did switch to Eloise as a teen too).

Also I’m fully aware we are naming two future adults but as I’ve already said, name trends have changed I really don’t think Gigi or Lola will sound that out of place in any environment in 30 years as when matched with the Evie’s, Poppy’s, Millie’s, Nellie’s, Elsie’s, Ella’s of today they will all share similar sounds.

Thing is OP, you've said that you've had bad reactions in real life, and you are getting mainly bad reactions on here, so you do have to conclude from that that you won't be doing your daughters a favour by sticking with these as full names.

Cute names like Poppy etc are definitely in, and not everyone likes them, but with your choices you have the added strippery element, especially with Gigi, which is why you are getting quite strong reactions.

You can do what you want, obviously, but there's no point arguing with everyone when you know you are in a minority.

Frankly compared to on here real life is feeling very tame now.
The real life comments made no association to being inappropriate for adults, “prostitute names” or anything along those lines.
My MIL said it reminded her of Gigi Hadid and asked for a more “Italian” name. My sister said she hadn’t heard of a baby Gigi and would need a minute to get used to it. But no one being down right cruel!

That was exactly my first thought too.

The names are fine. Babies grow into their names and in the end people don’t notice them because the person belongs to it.

We’ve had children start with us with very unusual names which we’ve thought seem odd on paper. The child leaves three years later and you’d never imagine them called anything else.

Again, 'prostitute names' and 'stripper names' are being brought out by those who want to insult you into agreeing with them. Ignore that shit. It's basic, misogynistic and simply there to rattle you for daring to stick to your guns.

No one would say something like that to you in real life...they wouldn't dare.
It seems rude because it is. Dismiss.

I think what we might do is change Lola to Lila, we weren’t supper set on Lola anyway, and hopefully without the Lolita reference the association won’t be as strong to Gigi either.
Though I’m sure I’m about to be told it’s too associated with models now (Gigi Hadid and Lila Moss).

Lovely names.

Gigi and Lila is the perfect solution!

I don’t like the names and agree with the lady of the night connotations. I prefer longer names that can be shortened though.

There are lovely names. STOP asking for peoples opinions and STOP letting people give you their opinion. If anyone starts to tell you they don’t like the names tell them that you aren’t interested and that they are being rude.

I love Apolline though.

Even for Gigi Hadid it’s a nickname, not her real name. She’s called Jelena.

I’m aware of this, we aren’t naming our baby after her though! And like I said 67 babies were named just “Gigi” last year.

What of it though?

What's tangibly wrong with nicknames as names? Loads have become stand-alone names over the years. What's the issue?

They are both pretty names - I know quite a few of each. I think it’s both of them together that is a bit ‘showgirl’ (I’m afraid that’s what came to my mind too) - Gigi and Lila doesn’t have the same feel at all so a good idea imo. I have a daughter who only uses a shortened version of her name but she does occasionally use the longer version when she wants to sound a bit more serious and is glad she has the option, I do think a longer version of Gigi )Georgia?) might be useful for your dd.

The reason your relatives have been kinder to you irl is because it would incredibly rude to say to your ‘DIL’ that you do t like the names and think they sound like prostitutes!

I would def go with Lila.

I think in the UK the connotations of those names, especially in combination together, will make a lot of people think of strippers or prostitutes. It’s a real shame and evidences some entrenched misogyny in our culture probably. But it is the association many people’s minds will make.

The middle names you have chosen would make beautiful first names and are free of this association.

They sound like the names of exotic dancers.

And like I said 67 babies were named just “Gigi” last year.
It doesn't matter how many times you say it, it's still awful.

No one would say something like that to you in real life...they wouldn't dare.
But they would think it.

The upcoming generation won't associate Lola with the 1978 Barry Manilow hit.
It's just people my age who can't get past the line in Copacabana.
Not something for OP to worry about.

I don't like Lila. Always want to say Lilo.

I don't think many mumsnetters would remember that now!