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AIBU

My daughter has excluded me because I did not like the name she chose for her new baby.

(256 Posts)
AmberGreen Sat 15-Mar-25 13:17:52

In the run up to the birth of our grandchild a couple of names were suggested which we liked, but at the last minute my daughter, at a family lunch out, announced a new name "Troy"as her final choice.
In surprise I said that it wasn't a family name on either side and a bit out there, she flew into a rage saying she loved it and I was ruining her pleasure in the name. To avoid upset we said the we hoped the baby would be ok and that was everything never mind the name.
She got her phone out and showed us pictures of a couple who had called their son the same name. Obviously she admired their car, clothes, and seemingly endless plastic surgery and terrible eyebrows. Although she's 40 she's always been a bit superficial.
When he was born we suggested maybe a family name as a middle name? This was rejected by text. We tried for a nickname and received anger. Now 6 months on relations are strained with cancelled visits and not wanting us around.
It has also emerged that other relatives knew her choice of name long before she announced it so publicly to us. "But it always was going to be...." This is very hurtful for us. We have an older grandchild and were much more involved in her upbringing. She had my mother's middle name and a more mainstream first name. I feel we have been played and an understandable surprised reaction used to take offence because we are simply surplus to requirements.

DsNanny Mon 02-Jun-25 18:17:57

I wound do exactly the same or was your daughter. You actually sound similar to my own mother, very opinionated and says it out loud instead of keeping it to yourself, then wonder why people take offence.

Even later in the thread you don’t seem to be accepting and responsibility

Fidelity2 Sat 31-May-25 23:20:47

Not your child . Not your business. Make an apology and butt out!

Doodledog Tue 27-May-25 10:13:23

Who are you addressing in that post, AmberGreeen?

AmberGreen Tue 27-May-25 09:26:51

What an unkind person you are and what seriously flawed assumptions you make about others

AmberGreen Tue 27-May-25 09:11:59

Thank you. One of the very few sensible replies. Why do people think the party line of condemnation will help anyone deeply upset under these circumstances? The worst sort of virtue signalling.

Doodledog Fri 02-May-25 10:29:30

I liked the Olaf bits grin

Smileless2012 Fri 02-May-25 08:56:47

Thanks Doodledog that made me laugh especially *No, the point is: stay in your lane, Grandad. And also: are you still OK to babysit Tuesday?* You mean Tuesday this week? Or is the kid called Tuesday? grin.

Norah Thu 01-May-25 14:41:58

Doodledog, Thank you. Quite a giggle.

The best bits, imo.

Do say: “Your bespoke grandchild names are Wheatberry, Dusty, Mushroom and Candle. That will be £800 please.”

Don’t say: “Sorry, I sent you the wrong list. I also do names for white paint.”

My husband and I never asked, but were mildly curious, knew it was not our business. However, we do have GGC named paint colours!

Who knew?!?

Doodledog Thu 01-May-25 13:33:06

This is in yesterday's Guardian. It reminded me of this thread, and made me laugh - enjoy.

Ugly, old-fashioned, weird’: the baby names that set grandparents’ teeth on edge

One in five grandparents has struggled to come to terms with a grandchild’s name, according to a survey from Gransnet. Poor old Aurora, Tabitha, Elijah and Finn

Wed 30 Apr 2025 17.22 BST

Name: The baby name generation gap.

Age: Hopefully it wears off by three or four.

Appearance: Thin-lipped disapproval.

Is this about changing tastes in baby names? It’s about differences of opinion.

Between whom? Parents and grandparents. One in five grandparents say they’ve hated one of their grandkids’ names.

That sounds a lot. Luckily, only 4% say they still hate the name – 15% have got used to it over time.

It’s certainly a fraught topic – ask my son, Olaf. You called your son Olaf? Why?

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Not to my parents, though. What about your in-laws?*

Grandpa Olaf was OK with it. According to a new Gransnet survey, that’s a common complaint: grandparents objecting to names honouring other grandparents.

What are their other complaints? Names they think are ugly (28%), or old-fashioned (11%), or weird (17%). Six percent were OK with the name but didn’t like the spelling.

I understand their misgivings, but frankly it’s none of their business. Well, 31% of grandparents agree with you; 69%, however, think it’s fine to give an opinion if asked.

So the smart advice is: don’t ask. Always.

Is this a bigger problem than it used to be? It could be, now that our cultural obsession with individuality has given rise to the position of baby name consultant.

You mean people pay someone to tell them what to call their baby? It’s not exactly universal. Grandparents’ objections aside, naming a baby does seem like something parents ought to be able to manage by themselves.

Try telling that to Olaf. He may grow into it.

How old is little Olaf now? He’s 34.

Did the surveyed grandparents list any specific names they disliked? They did. Their top hated names were Aurora, Charlotte, Elijah, Finn, Jack, Lindsay, Noah, Sally and Tabitha.

Are you kidding? That’s about the most inoffensive list I’ve ever heard. No one is saying the grandparents are right.

You could walk into any reception class and find two each of that lot. I guess that’s the point: fashions change.

No, the point is: stay in your lane, Grandad. And also: are you still OK to babysit Tuesday? You mean Tuesday this week? Or is the kid called Tuesday?

Do say: “Your bespoke grandchild names are Wheatberry, Dusty, Mushroom and Candle. That will be £800 please.”

Don’t say: “Sorry, I sent you the wrong list. I also do names for white paint.”

Wait4it Sun 06-Apr-25 16:57:08

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Norah Sun 06-Apr-25 15:48:45

Redblueandgreen

There seems to have been a few posts here recently from people who are disappointed at the level of involvement they have regarding grandchildren.

Expecting considerably too much, no self reflection.

welbeck Sun 06-Apr-25 15:44:44

The self importance of the OP is stunning.
Or else just a ploy ie click bait.
If genuine no wonder parents keep grampies at arms length.

Retroladywriting Sun 06-Apr-25 11:40:14

Redblueandgreen

There seems to have been a few posts here recently from people who are disappointed at the level of involvement they have regarding grandchildren.

Mmmm. I'm waiting to read a report in the printed media about whether grandparents should be involved with their grandchildren.

Redblueandgreen Sun 06-Apr-25 00:17:08

There seems to have been a few posts here recently from people who are disappointed at the level of involvement they have regarding grandchildren.

Deedaa Sat 05-Apr-25 23:31:37

My son and his partner chose a name for their baby. My husband wasn't impressed because he thought it was a name you'd give a dog. However he did have the sense not to say anything to the parents and the baby is 11 now and his name has become part of him. One of his middle names is a family one that all the children have.

When my neighbour told me they were calling their daughter Megan I almost asked her why they were using a sheepdog's name, but I managed to stop myself! I think she would have laughed but her husband probably wouldn't have been amused.

Norah Sat 05-Apr-25 18:24:37

Smileless2012

Well we know that neither the OP or her daughter want this to damage their relationship because she told us a week ago that it has now been sorted.

Agreed.

OP told us this tiny non-problem is sorted, do not like but love each other, and you have been no help in healing this, but healed it is.

Sorted. Give no further opinions, done and dusted.

Smileless2012 Sat 05-Apr-25 17:56:43

Well we know that neither the OP or her daughter want this to damage their relationship because she told us a week ago that it has now been sorted.

BlessedArt Sat 05-Apr-25 15:30:04

Wait4it

I’m kind of surprised by how many people responded by telling the OP to shut her mouth! She is entitled to have an opinion. Sure the parents have the final say, however there’s nothing wrong with wanting to participate in helping choose a baby name. Good grief! My grandma had wishes and suggestions for my kids. My mother-in-law did too. Ladies at church suggested names😄 My daughter and son in law chose their kids names, with all the same helpful participation including from every member of my son-in-law’s massive family. The daughter’s response seems rather thin skinned to me.

There is everything wrong on insisting on participation against the parent’s wishes. This isn’t a hard concept to grasp. What a grandparents wants for their grandchildren is not equal to what the parents want, so if/when told to stop the suggestions it shouldn’t be difficult unless gran has impulse control issues, or a controlling personality. Your experiences have nothing to do with what the OP’s daughter wants.

pascal30 Sat 05-Apr-25 10:32:02

Athrawes

Goodness me! It's up to the child's parents isn't it? What a tiz

Indeed it is up the child's parents and that's the way they chose to do it.. there are many different ways to live..

Athrawes Sat 05-Apr-25 10:06:15

Goodness me! It's up to the child's parents isn't it? What a tiz

pascal30 Sat 05-Apr-25 09:47:31

Wait4it

I’m kind of surprised by how many people responded by telling the OP to shut her mouth! She is entitled to have an opinion. Sure the parents have the final say, however there’s nothing wrong with wanting to participate in helping choose a baby name. Good grief! My grandma had wishes and suggestions for my kids. My mother-in-law did too. Ladies at church suggested names😄 My daughter and son in law chose their kids names, with all the same helpful participation including from every member of my son-in-law’s massive family. The daughter’s response seems rather thin skinned to me.

When a friend of mine had her son she sent a letter to loads of her friends with a list of boys names for us to choose from.. The most popular one was used.. He is a lovely young man and we all followed his progress through life with interest.. She was very keen on community..

Wait4it Sat 05-Apr-25 03:46:28

I’m kind of surprised by how many people responded by telling the OP to shut her mouth! She is entitled to have an opinion. Sure the parents have the final say, however there’s nothing wrong with wanting to participate in helping choose a baby name. Good grief! My grandma had wishes and suggestions for my kids. My mother-in-law did too. Ladies at church suggested names😄 My daughter and son in law chose their kids names, with all the same helpful participation including from every member of my son-in-law’s massive family. The daughter’s response seems rather thin skinned to me.

BlessedArt Sun 30-Mar-25 17:00:01

“Do not like but love each other”.

Can’t always be helped can it? It happens. But a good way to avoid these little tiffs is to not be so openly judgmental. Only you can heal rifts you create. Our job was to answer honestly about whether or not you were being unreasonable. You were. Today on this Mothering Sunday you have your daughter back to a place where she can overlook your judgements and simply embrace her mum as a new mum herself. It’s a great blessing. One to be thankful for. Lessons can be learned from mistakes. If I were you I’d forward now having learned how judgement and trying to control their choices pushes our children away. I would keep my daughter and grandchild close by keeping my mouth closed on matters that remain up to the parents. Believe me, life is easier that way flowers

Norah Sun 30-Mar-25 15:23:40

V3ra

We have a new grandchild due in June. Recently I asked my son if they'd discussed/chosen names.
"Oh yes, that's been decided for a while now."
We're happy to wait 🥰

As it should be. Asked and answered!

AmberGreen Sun 30-Mar-25 15:20:29

What horrible assumptions you make about others. Have you thought about becoming a counsellor? don'/t.
This was a sudden change of heart on D's part, she had formerly asked what we thought, a combination of hormones and surprise caused this incident, and yes we all understand each others faults in our family, do not like but love each other, and you have been no help in healing this, but healed it is.