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Baby Name has caused a rift

(202 Posts)
MummyJoJo62 Wed 19-Aug-20 13:19:35

I feel I should almost whisper this as I have surprised myself with how upset I became as I have always held the mantra of "A rose would still smell as sweet were it a rose not called' and all that ,sorry if I have misquoted Its been a while since O level and I only got an E! Anyway has anybody really really really hated a name that has been given to your grandchild and did you manage to keep your mouth shut about it? I didn't! OOPs!

Aepgirl Thu 20-Aug-20 10:32:00

Nobody’s business but the parents. Eat humble pie, and apologise.

MissAdventure Thu 20-Aug-20 10:37:16

I'm not sure I could go through life never having an opinion.

pollyperkins Thu 20-Aug-20 10:39:59

Fashions in names come and go. When I was a child people were called Christine, Susan, Gwen, Mary, Pat, Trevor, Gordon, Norman but they are considered very old fashioned now and names like Milly, Violet, Freddie, Alfie, Archie, Edith, Ada , Lily , Stanley are back in vogue (but they sound like old peoples names to me. ). Most of my grandchildren have names I like but one I didn't care for ((and friends my age agreed) but we’ve got used to it.
Incidentally as to teasing, bullying etc, fashions change too. No- one would called their son Dick now (!) but it used to be quite common. Whereas names we would have laughed at like Rupert (Bear) Are now ok. There are lots of weird and wonderful names at my GCs schools and Im getting used to it.

Callistemon Thu 20-Aug-20 10:48:41

The dog name has got to be Max.
It was a popular boys' name many years ago.

Could be Fido
Or Spot
Or Rover.

We're all itching to know.

inishowen Thu 20-Aug-20 10:50:12

My husband blurted out "you can't call a baby that". I was mortified, even more so when they changed to another name.

IslandGranny Thu 20-Aug-20 11:01:59

Like many midwives I’ve been asked for suggested spellings for names made up by the parents or the result of two names melded together! It’s the vogue to be original but who is to say that Journey is a more adventurous name than Patience ( pun intended) .

cassandra264 Thu 20-Aug-20 11:04:20

Once upon a time, long long ago (before the Sex Discrimination Act) in the course of my paid employment I came across the records the organisation held for a young girl whose parents had clearly wanted or expected a son. She had been named after the entire Manchester United football team of the time. An extra page had had to be inserted on the form.

Fortunately for her (?) the last name was Mary.

Be thankful for small mercies.

Bluegrass Thu 20-Aug-20 11:06:37

I wasn't keen on the name chosen for my GC but I grew to love it as much as I love him. The child gives their personality to the name.

Molli Thu 20-Aug-20 11:09:25

My DD struggled with names for her two. She and I are both in education and so some names conjour up children taught in the past. She also waited for about 2 weeks to find out what sort of personality they might have!!! We like our Gch names and they suit them. I don't know if they like their names or not as they are a little young. My DD though doesn't like her second name and has made that quite clear over the years! I have always hated my name and still do! It's a tricky one. But as a grandparent just enjoy your Gch whatever their name. We have ended up with nick names anyway!!

Toadinthehole Thu 20-Aug-20 11:12:01

Is it more about association OP? I dislike some names....but it’s really the people I dislike, so if I hear the name used in a different context, I immediately think of the person I don’t like. I would just say it took you by surprise, sorry you reacted that way...and then grow to love it. You will because it belongs to your grandchild. Congratulations by the way.

marpau Thu 20-Aug-20 11:14:26

My DS and DIL very cleverly referred to unborn DGS as Tiberius all through pregnancy it was such a relief when DGS was born and they announced a different name. I think whole family would have accepted anything!

Lexisgranny Thu 20-Aug-20 11:16:34

I was born during the war in spring, my mother had me at home and was apparently inundated with garden flowers from friends and family. My father was apparently greatly relieved when he arrived home on leave that she had decided against the name she first suggested to him- Daffodlil! P

Cabbie21 Thu 20-Aug-20 11:22:41

My grandson has been given two names. The initials when you add his surname make a most unfortunate word. I rather wish I had said something but of course I kept quiet.

Grandmabeach Thu 20-Aug-20 11:22:53

As others have said their baby, their choice. Fortunately I love all my grandchildren's names and can not imaging them with a different name. My DM was disappointed that we did not name our DS after DF who sadly died before he was born. We did not because it was in the top five of most common names and we went for a more unusual name from DH's family. Just as well as SIL has the same name as DF. It would have caused confusion.

Annaram1 Thu 20-Aug-20 11:23:00

My dad wanted me to be called Annette, but my mum objected as she had been at school with a girl called Annette who was obnoxious and also had buck teeth. She wanted me to be called Rosemary, which I would have preferred, but Dad got his way. I am still not sure if I like my name but use variants of it. I wonder whether I would have been different had I been Rosemary?

flixukay Thu 20-Aug-20 11:43:22

I know how you feel in disliking the name. Our 1st grandchild is half Australian and was born and will live over there. The name they gave her is considered pretty and popular in her own country but it jars with me.
However it's not my call and certainly never worth mentioning my dislike of and risking falling out with a beloved son and his lovely partner over their chosen name. I'm sure it will grow on me in time, and if it doesn't - well that's just my problem!

Jillybird Thu 20-Aug-20 11:44:54

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jillybird Thu 20-Aug-20 11:47:33

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissAdventure Thu 20-Aug-20 11:50:21

Is it the Beckhams whose son is named because he was conceived in Brooklyn?

FarNorth Thu 20-Aug-20 11:50:41

A teacher (!) said to my son "Do you know your initials spell {slightly rude word}?"

The word hadn't been heard of at the time he was born.

Daddima Thu 20-Aug-20 12:09:36

Sorry, but I’d say a large helping of humble pie is on the menu here! As said before, children do ‘grow into’ their names, but I think that, as well as saying you’re getting used to the name, you’d be advised to apologise for putting your tuppenceworth in, as that’s what could lead to ill feeling.

And Janeainsworth I temember an almighty row in the ward when I had son 1, when visiting husband told his wife that he had gone with her mother to register the birth and called the baby Agnes, after his mother, instead of the name they had chosen!
And, Bargar , I worked with Zimbabwean families who had wonderful names for children. Godliness, Precious, and Heaven were three lovely wee boys.

MissAdventure Thu 20-Aug-20 12:11:48

We used to have a chap called BigBoy who worked at my last place, who was from Zimbabwe.

Daddima Thu 20-Aug-20 12:13:54

Jillybird, I’ve just seen your remark about using the same names. My auntie had two cousins ( brothers) both called Thomas, because their father forgot they already had a Thomas when he was registering the birth! Mind you, they did have eleven children.

janeainsworth Thu 20-Aug-20 12:16:51

Is it the Beckhams whose son is named because he was conceived in Brooklyn?
Yes but it was Mr & Mrs Nightingale who started that one!

Daddima grin I’ve always been thankful for small mercies!

MummyJoJo62 Thu 20-Aug-20 12:49:06

Applegran I love you!! How on earth did you guess the names???