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?

I love the names! Very sweet.

I think they’re gorgeous names and go well together for twins. I get where people are coming from when mentioning the connotations, but I feel that might be a generational thing and that it won’t be an issue for them growing up. I think you should stick with the names you’ve chosen and love. Don’t let others change your mind.

Same but maybe I am showing my age /out of date here. Like the way I was once upon a time told to never, never wear white heels. Or an anklet.

Your family/friends are rude. Don't name your kids to please others ffs. If you do that where does it end?

@Needmorelego Lola by Thr Kinks. Have a google

I love them! Lola is far from unusual and Gigi makes a refreshing change from the popular names. Your family surely understand the international vibe. I can imagine those names suiting all ages and occupations. I like. Congrats!

I’m sorry I thought prostitutes too.

“Well I’m not the worlds most masculine man, but I know what I am, and what I am is a man, and so is Lola…L O L A Lola…” - Lola, by The Kinks.

It’s a great song. Better than “her name was Lola, she was a showgirl”….

I know The Kinks song is more current but the only lola song I ever think of is the one who dances at the copacabana lol

I think it's a fine name

I have to say I do like Gigi as in short for Giselle

They do sound like can-can dancers, to be honest. Maybe christen them Georgina and Lauren and then let them use Gigi and Lola as fun nicknames?

I was fully coming on to see the crazy names you'd picked (sorry) but those are lovely! Congratulations and great name choices :)

I actually had people accusing my of kissing my GMs arse as my oldest name was almost identical to her name. I laughed and told people to fuck off. My child had the name I had picked out for her since I was a little girl.

My second child I had people laugh and ask if the name was made up.

Third I had actual family mock the name that was until I mocked their children’s names back and I had a damm site more ammo to use than them.

Fuck others, your children your names. I could understand if the names were bordering abusive but they are perfectly lovely names that mean something to you and your DH.

Saying that I do agree with @Findlebarr on longer/fuller names. My DH convinced me to use the fuller version of DD2s name even though I always had the intention of using the shortened version. I’m so glad he did as we use both as dose she. She will also have the choice to choose as an adult what she prefers.

She asked for opinions on the name though.

Sorry but I had the same impression - porn or strippers or drag queens. They're both very unserious names imo. Perhaps it's my age but I wouldn't want to be applying for eg Anglophone medical school or a law firm with either name. If they want to be artists or something then all fun.

Adore their names. Really beautiful.

When I posted about the connotations of the names I was trying to answer OP as to why some people might have reacted oddly to her babies’ names. Not saying that I think they’re bad names - I think they’re both sweet. It’s the combo which has got a strange feel about it. But if they like them just use them, people will get used to them.

also I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS! So lucky to have two gorgeous babies.

I live in France.

Gigi and Lola would both be considered pretty low class names here, whereas Apolline and Gabrielle are considered classy names.

Personally I would call them Apolline and Gabrielle and think of new middle names. You can always call them Apo and Gabi as nicknames.

I love your DDs' names.

You and your DH like the names and that is wht matters here.

Don't let other people gas light you with this, its not their choice and they are being extremly rude.

Your babies names are lovely.

Oh right.
I've heard of The Kinks.
Don't really know their music that well.
Google says the song Lola is from 55 years ago so I really don't think people would associate the name with that.
My first thought when hearing the name is Lola from the Charlie and Lola children's books/TV programme.

Please give them longer names that can be shortened to the names you love ( but instantly made me think of teenage seductresses and L.O.LA Lola, he was a she )
Grown adults need proper names, please respect your future adult daughters and give them the ability to choose

I know loads of Apollines born in the last five years.

I’ve accepted that there are generational differences when it comes to name preferences.

if you like them, that’s all that matters.

I think the names are cute!

Hit the nail on the head, my thoughts exactly - sorry, OP. It doesn't look like you've fully thought through the cultural context here.

Fab names. Sod off tell ‘em!

I'm suprised by the comments about Lola.
It's a fairly ordinary name like Evie, Ellie, Ava etc round my way.

Not Apo...Polly and Gabby would be lovely NNs, though, and both international names.