Is it really that bad to say I don't like prospective baby names?

chosen

When DS and DIL told me the name for first GC, my heart sank a little. But I said how lovely; a classical name that not many other children would have and really quite unusual. GC is now 8 and, of course her name is perfect for her and suits her exactly. As it does for other 3 children in her class with the same classical and unusual name!

You probably should say nothing unless you are asked.
They may be winding you up a bit - don't you think?
My MiL loves names and always had a string of outrageous suggestions but when I honestly hoped our most recent DGD might be named after her, she looked horrified and said she had always hated her own name.
The baby was named for her paternal gt Grandma instead but as a middle name..

Her DS (my DH) was given a name they never use. They and I and everyone who knows him use his middle name but on passport, driving licence, all official records he is known by his proper name and I have never got used to it especially at the doctor's when they call him in!

Congratulations NanAng

Oopsminty - I once went to a cabaret where a very funny group sang the song Myfanwy that began: Touch me heart before you touch Myfanwy."

Agree that parents get to choose the name. I have however worked in a place where I had to constantly call out people´s names and my pet hate is where the given/christian name ends in the same letter as the surname begins, ie. Phillip Parsons, Peter Rabbit, Ruth Thornton. You either have to pronounce them joined up, or do a little stutter in between. I have (successfully) argued my daughter out of those for the GCs.

We all decided on my grandsons names.
My mum had some outlandish suggestions.

You have to say nothing unless directly asked for an opinion and even then, you’ll have to use the tact of a diplomat.

Mind you, I know someone who now thinks she made a poor choice of names for her two girls and she rhetorically asks ‘Why did no one stop me?’ because she says she was young and foolish when she had them! Of course, she wouldn’t have listened to anyone, being young and foolish, and actually, I think there are far worse names.

Congratulations on becoming a Granny soon. Something Grandparents have to learn very early on is not to offer an opinion unless it is asked for. As for baby names you will have to grin and bear it, whatever it is.

Say nothing, you will get used to the names.

Say nothing it’s their child not yours. I have four grandkids so I know from experience to say nothing.

I do think a lot depends on where they live / are going to live. In London, for example, lots of babies are given “unusual” names and everyone copes fine. In a little rural village they might stick out like a sore thumb. So I suppose context is everything!

Only give your opinion if asked, and be as tactful as poss ....

Morning NanAng
I’m new here too! If your family are just generally saying about names then it’s not wrong to mention what names you like but once they’ve finally decided then it’s, of course, their choice. I’ve got 4 grandchildren and although luckily like all their names you soon realise what is important in that they arrive healthily (sadly on another occasion we experienced that) and also the personality of the growing child is most important. Whatever name it won’t matter then! Best wishes for the arrival !

I loathe my the name they gave my youngest GD but I adore my GD. The names they have chosen have nothing to do with you. Keep quiet and preserve your relationship with them. A friend of mine has never been forgiven for laughing when she was told the name of her GS. My mother didn’t like our choice of names and said so but she’s lucky, we didn’t care.

If it's early in the pregnancy they might well change their minds anyway about names before the time comes. You could try saying "it's a lovely name with the usual pronunciation though". But in the end it's upto them, so don't say too much. By the time the child is 30 or 40 there will probably be a good proportion of people with weird and wonderful names going around. The unusual will be usual, so don't worry and look forward to your grandchild!

I always think babies grow into their names . My first grandson has a name that I was not keen on when they said he would be called it . Now it suits him.

2 of my nieces have given their children awful names but I said nothing. Their mothers, my sisters, did say something but it's all good now. Just hope they change the name when they are older. My DIL works for a firm of solicitors and they don't recruit any staff with weird names who will be representing the company in court. Sad but true.

I became a granny 2 weeks ago and was somewhat surprised by the name choice, but it has grown on me. My daughter said she saw it as a positive as they hadn't chosen a name she'd want if she later has a son!

Whatever the name they choose once you hold that new baby grandchild in your arms there name will mean the world to you

Get it off your chest on here instead and say nothing to her.
Out for coffee pre-lockdown, a friend told me about her new grandson, Dyson.
“I don’t like it,” she said, “but I’ll just have to suck it up. They could have called him Hoover!”
I spluttered my coffee everywhere!

Yep, just keep quiet & keep smiling.
It's not your call.
Try & start off on the right foot.
Ive had loads of things that have happened with my grandson & I used to say I was disappointed (not to the parents, only close friends & family.)
I now say, I'm surprised by what they do, Ive found, changing my mindset has made it easier to bear.

Children have a magical way of making their names special

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ýou had your chance to chose your children's names. Now it's your daughter's turn. Let her enjoy the moment.

I was unsure about the name chosen for my little grandaughter, but now I can't imagine her being called anything else!