When someone tells you name of their baby & you find the name minging...

[alardi]

Is it only me who feels guilty for the nasty face I must pull? I don't mean to, but sometimes it's the surprise of their choice. I'm really not a snob, people should call their babies whatever they like and other people should shut up. But sometimes I have a visceral reaction, just can't believe someone in real life has chosen that name.

What do you say, how best to distract from such unexpected dislike?

(Whispers) Met a baby 'Gus' today.

I think it was just Gus, I was afraid to ask if it was short for anything (as if to imply I didn't, ahem, like Gus much on its own). Augustus would be cool, imo. Dennis, Vincent, Zeff even, I like too - just not "Gus".

I don't know if I did pull a nasty face, but am afraid I did looked shocked for a nanosec, so hard to conceal one's real reaction, sometimes.

hecate I realise that sorry - am still a tad ashamed of my jaw dropping speechlessness

pmls @ Califru and her 'public service'

I would NEVER pull a face in front of someone whos baby name I don't like! How rude!

A friend of miine spends her whole life judging otehr people's baby names. Mind you, in her world names like 'finn' and 'ruby' are considered weird.

Well I would agree that just Gus is a bit minimal. Otherwise I'm with Califrau

Gus is very cute - I love it!

I love Gus! V trendy and popular at mo - (know 2).

It was number 2 name on our list!

i am so used to the shocked silences when i announce my names!

ds3 has named ds5 'Fly' and you should see the looks that is getting

i am rather enjoying it tbh

My friend has called her dd Minnie and I'm finding it very difficult to know what face to pull when she asks whether or not I like it (no it what my mum calls a fanny!)

My baby is called Wilfie and I get either silence or "Oh.... Wilfie" accompanied by nodding. I assume that means they hate it but so what?
I like it and he grins like hell when I say it so that's good enough for me.

TBH most names i come across arent ones i would pick myself but their not completely terrible either - an example i came across lately was Mitchell.

If someone came out with a really off the wall name id asume they wanted the attention that came with the name so would make a comment on how unusal it was or ask how they came up with it

i've had a few - ahem - contemplative silences after telling people DS' name, as well as a few "Oh, like the (various slightly famous figures from european history)?" People who have heard the name before and know it IS a name like it, them'as don't either say nothing or ask where i got it from.
I've not had an overtly negative response yet - well, not now he's here, anyway.

i remember when i was preggers and i told people i wanted to call my son Rowan and they nearly all said 'no you cant he'll get called Mr Bean'! The more i heard that, the more i was put off. Inside i was annoyed with myself for taking onboard their opinions- but i did- and as a result he is not called Rowan! I still like the name though and sometimes wish....
Point is - people usually give you their opinion on names before baby is born but after the birth everyone just smiles and says how nice (or words of similar effect)
i learnt my lesson and did not tell anyone the name i chose for our latest.

Gus is a great name, I love it.

I think when somebody has already had their child and they tell you the name you have to be diplomatic. Personally, I can't tell an out and out lie and say it's a brilliant name if I hate it.
I met a mum who called her son 'Rockwell' and I just said: 'wow that's unusual. makes a change from Charlie and Joshua.' which gives a reaction but doesn't say that I like or dislike it.
I think if somebody asks you for an opinion before they've named the child then it's perfectly ok to say if you don't like it.

I once - and I still feel embarrassd - blurted out "why did you call him...?" It was a long time ago. Ages ago. Does that make it any better. The boy was called Scipio by the way. Skippy for short. Now, I am scrupulously polite and no name ever gets a rise out of me.

I always wonder what people think of my kids names, although they are quite normal. Euan and Lewis.

huxley!

Just say, "lovely eyes McKenzylyn"

I like names like Dennis, Howard, Vincent, Victor, Bruce.......... I know most people aren't ready for them yet. But they're just a bit further 'round the fashion corner than Gus and Arthur.

I love Gus! So cool.

As for the jaw-drop / grimace facial expression I get it every time I go to the supermarket and some little old lady asks my DD's name. It honestly doesn't bother me (although I do get rather irked when people say "oh - that IS an unusual name for a boy". Yes. Very. She's a girl. Hence the pink. And the girl's name. Aaargh)

Gus is lovely. It's on my shortlist, but not on dh's.

Have a family member called gus. Everyone calls him Fungus

I don't like Gus. In RL I always manage to hide my real feeling so it is quite nice to come on here and be honest! I probably looked a little surprised when I heard a child being called Hector in the supermarket the other day.

Oh Hector is increasingly in vogue! There are lots around. I think it can work but it really depends a lot on your surname.

Hatrick.......
do i dare reveal?
If I do, it will out me good and proper if there's any North Oxford types around here...........