Do you like your grandchild's name?

My GC have traditional names and the correct spelling, not an invented spelling of the name. Where I live there are a lot of children with surnames as forenames, reminds me of prep school where boys were referred to by surname only.

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Our fourth grandchild is due this month and we have been warned tge name may be an unusual one.....Beth.

Two of my GSs have unusual names. Their controlling father insisted on choosing them. They are Muslim-sounding names, although they are practicing Christians. As much as I dislike it, there is prejudice in this country in light of the increase in extremism. I worry that their CVs will not even be considered when applying for positions in the future.
The names have grown on me, and I have never voiced my opinion. Fortunately their sister has a pretty one, and the other set of 3 GSs have very 'normal' ones!

I feel for you TinyTwo my DH was very depressed when he heard the name of our eldest GS, but we just kept quiet. It's now 5 years later and we have got used to it. But as we love our boy so much, that is the only important thing. We like the name of our youngest GS, so that helped a bit.

My advice 'Don't say a word' !!

I do feel for you Tinytwo , it is the thought of having to tell other people when they ask the name and watching the expression cross over their faces ! .
My GC all have fairly standard names but my last son`s partner likes unusual names , in fact they sound made up . I am a bit worried .
When I was pregnant my Mum was quite open if she didn`t like a name I suggested and I didn`t mind her having an imput . Hope it works out well for you and they don`t call the baby anything daft x

When my DD was expecting, she and her OH were discussing names and they had got it down to two - one of which we really loved and the other was sort of OK. We said nowt - but the one we loved finished up as his second name - grr!

My grandson's father is from Afghanistan so DGS has a traditional Afghan name and an English middle name. As soon as he was old enough to understand we always gave him the choice of being called an English sounding version of his first name, in case he felt self conscious in a mainly white primary school, but it turns out he is extremely proud of his Afghan name and I can't think of him as anything else now.

Baby names what a minefield. Yes I do like their names which is lucky as I really only like classical names and not the modern one which if I said made up someone on here would jump down my throat. MY GP was a traditional old fashioned Irish doctor who said when I was pregnant 'make sure you call that child something she can still be proud of at 80' when he came into the mat unit after she had been born he bawled at me before he reached the bed 'and what the hell have you called the poor thing'. When I told him he was very pleased - her first name is from Greek mythology and the second one is Saint's name. They also both just happened to be taken from some books I was reading at the time and I liked the characters.

I'm sure you will have your own little pet name for the baby when it comes- I hope you will like whatever he/she is called in the end and when you give the baby its first cuddle from you it wont matter.

I agree that they seem to grow into their names, most of my GC are grown ups now and without exception their name fits them very well, so no matter what it is the child will grow into it. The youngest GD is a name I suggested my daughter loved it and used it, its out of the ordinary but I have started to hear it occasionally now, it suits her very well, she was so happy when another little girl with the same name (different spelling) came to her school.

It's probably best if you don't get to hear the name before the baby's born, then you can't worry about it No matter what it is, after a couple of weeks you'll not be able to imagine the little one being called anything else. I'm pretty certain my DS and DDIL were having us on when they let us into some of their shortlisted names - we just kept smiling brightly (and dying inside). As it happens, both their boys were given slightly unusual, but traditional names, that had never been mentioned at all....

When we announced our DD's name we were met with some silence, some overt criticism ...none of our parents actually liked it and they were tactless enough to communicate that. We really didn't care - we loved it! At the time - thirty years ago - it was relatively unheard in our generation, being seen as 'old fashioned'. These days it is a popular name!

We bring all sorts of associations to a name, but the child brings their own uniqueness and personality and makes it their own.

I have a friend who didn't much like her GD's name, but now all she sees is the delightful three year old.

Nobody likes my great neices name, apart from, obviously her parents! I note we are all being tactful!!!!

Good point TinyTwo best not then. As Lillie says it is the parent's prerogative and hopefully familiarity will breed 'content' in this case. Your son should have some input anyway.

Back in the dim and distant dark ages DH's GM allowed his parents to choose his name and then decreed what he would be known by!

I think the choice of a child's name should be the parents' sole perogative. Of course others can offer suggestions, but it's the one thing that is very special to the mother and father.
My GC have slightly foreign names, of European origin, but they seem to suit well.

It's a bit unusual so worried I might be found out . I do like solid traditional names. Would love to suggest some but as she's now told me what name she is thinking of I dare not or it'll be seen as a criticism.

Yes, I like my DGC's names. They are all pretty traditional, good strong names and will undoubtedly get shortened as they grow up.
Perhaps your new GC's name can be shortened if it is that bad. Do you want to tell us?

Not only daft but odd spellings , here in Ireland if you are not a native you could never guess how to pronounce some names . I was not keen on some of the GCs names , but they do grow on you

My DGS was given an unusual name. Not one I'd have thought of but he's grown into it and I can't imagine him being called anything else.