MIL calling unborn baby a stereotypical name instead of chosen name, am I overreacting?

[JSmith1990]

Feeling really upset and not sure if I’m overreacting.

I’m currently pregnant and my husband and I have chosen a name for our son. His mum knows the name.

However, she’s started referring to the baby as “Baby Igor” instead. There’s already a difficult relationship there and we don’t really speak much, but this has really bothered me.

For context, I’m originally from a country that’s often grouped with Russia, so names like that carry a bit more sensitivity for me personally, even if it’s not intended that way.

It doesn’t feel like a harmless nickname to me, it feels quite dismissive of the name we’ve chosen for our child, and it’s left me feeling really disrespected and upset. My husband doesn’t really see the issue and thinks I’m reading too much into it.

Am I overreacting, or would this bother others too?

Hmm. Does your husband call her out on things?! She is so toxic you are no contact and she wasn't at your wedding, but he's still talking to her even when she refers to her grandchild with a racist nickname and he hasn't pulled her up on it?!

Do you understand that if he decides to soften and wants her to meet your child, that as the father you won't be able to stop him?

People who have an in-law like this..... please think very very careful about long term family plans unless they are adamant they want your child nowhere near their toxic parents I'd not be planning kids with them.

I'm certainly not saying Igor is a bad name!! Just that to choose it as a nickname feels more like the bad stereotype than the good one! It's quite a cool name in fact, probably due for a revival!

shock twist- OP decides Igor is a fresh hipster name and calls the baby that!

Hahah that would be quite funny if I did that and reclaimed the name in a way. It is a lovely name, but I am more than aware of the bad connotations it has in the UK sadly. She also apparently said that if our baby was a girl she would be Baby Olga! I wish I was making this up, it’s such a ridiculous situation.

It just seems weird that he'd come home and repeat something so nasty. Most normal people would keep their mouths shut. And I find it extremely hard to believe that he can't see the racist connotations. How many times has he repeated the name to you? He either doesn't give a shit or he deliberately wants to upset you. Or he is seriously lacking brain cells.