Baby’s name could break up my family

When we chose names for our children, we ensured that each one had a different Initial (with the idea that future post would never go to the wrong individual), and that their initials did not spell out something unpleasant.

Apart from that it was just our choice.

In English Jewish families it used to be the custom that the first baby born into family after someone died took that name. My maternal g.mother was Amelia and when my niece was born back in 1956, that was a very old-fashioned name. However, my brother and his wife used the name Merril as a second name for their baby - keeping everyone happy.

Cannot think of anything less important to fall out with anyone about than a name.

If a name greaks up a family then they aren`t as close as they may have thought.
Also i have a Grandaughter who`s name is Mabelle Willow and it suits her down to the ground.

Oh dear, I think Anchovy Banana is a slightly unwise choice.
I foresee them being called Fishface at school.

OP, it could be much worse, you see.
I hope we have been helpful.

Hey MawB!
My youngest grandson was possibly to be called Gladys or Mabel if he had been a girl. No comment!
One was those names was my Mum’s name!
I’m totally offended!

Marmite When my second son was born he had a ginger cast to his hair and when eldest son looked at him in the crib he said he looked like a fishfinger as we had called him Ross,everytime I looked at him I saw a fishfinger looking back at me so his named was changed to Benn,I got my Ross in the end when my DD had her 4th son as she had always liked the name.
Keep your thoughts to yourself OP or you could loose contact with your DGCs altogether.

glamma

When our youngest son was born (36 years ago) we were going to call him Levi, after my great-grandfather. In the delivery room the (older) midwife asked what we were going to call him and when we told her she said, 'You can't call a baby that. I'm leaving the room and when I come back I hope you've thought of a better name.' !!! Do you know, we didn't call him that and I'm so glad because in those days he would have been nicknamed Jean I expect. But I still can't believe we took notice of a bossy midwife! Imagine that happening now!!!

I quite like Anchovy Banana . At least there won't be too many others in its class at school.
I was one of 5 in my class so we were all called by our surnames!
spelling is another annoyance. Any name which has to be spelled out every time is a bore.

I found the Scottish naming system very useful when doing family history especially before the days of statuary registration. You know you are in the right family when the same names come up each generation.
(1st son after paternal GF, 1st daughter after maternal GM and so on) you only began to name the child after the minister or friend after about 6 kids.

On my facebook feed today an American baby named Trae Cutter, beautiful DGC of my dear friend. Not sure whether boy or girl.

I think the whole thing is a bit ridiculous. What the baby (or any of your son's children) are named is up to your son and his wife. They are under no obligation to choose the names of their siblings.

If your daughter wants to have a child named after her, why doesn't she have kids of her own and do that?

It was more important in my generation (born in the 40s) to have family names. It was customary in Scotland to use surnames as middle names and mine is my maternal GM's maiden name; my next sister had a my father's middle name, largely because it was difficult to get silver christening cups in 1943 so she was given his initials so that she could have his cup. When my next sister was born, my paternal granny was quite peeved as by that time she had four GDs and no GSs, so my parents used her forename (Margaret) as her middle name. When my two sons came along, we avoided middle names and used forenames that belonged to no-one else in the family. And I had to be very firm with my mother about that decision!
My advice to the OP is that a child's name is his or her own and nobody should be childish enough to be offended.

Well you obviously Can’t keep both your values And continue to be a Grandma can you?

Select one of the above.

Let’s hope its a sensible and grown up choice.

janeainsworth

Hey MawB!
My youngest grandson was possibly to be called Gladys or Mabel if he had been a girl. No comment!
One was those names was my Mum’s name!
I’m totally offended!

When in a hole MawB .......???

Good thinking MawB

Jane10

Time to break out of these ridiculous conventions. In my family the baby could be called Anchovy Banana as long as its OK and I can can be part of its life.

I've been trying to work out what a diminutive could be of either.

MawB yes, both those names in our family !!

I haven't heard of any little girls bring named Gladys but there are some little Mabels around

So, the DIL and her choice of name for their baby conflicts with your family values....... surely you DS and DIL are creating and nurturing a family of their own.........why would they need to conform to your values?

When I named ny DSs I thought I 'd chosen unusual names. Turns out they are all family names that hadn't been used for a bit.
My oldest DGS has my dad's name as a middle name. The youngest has his mums dad's name. My DGD has her own names-no one elses. Should I be annoyed about that?

I did the same, trisher and was astonished to find years later my older DC's names were old family names of my GGGPs from the 1800s.
Genetic memory?

I always try to be polite when posting on Gransnet, but I really do have to say that I have never ever heard anything as absolutely ridiculous as this. It truly does sound completely mad. You have a lovely granddaughter on the way - what else matters?

Your poor son, having to sort out this nonsense.

I hate the phrase Get a Life, but can think of nothing more suitable to this ludicrous situation.

Friends of mine named their son Tristan.
Now adult, he goes by Stan.

If you look at some celebrity children’s names, you will be quite grateful your grandchild sounds like she’s been named after a human being and not a piece of fruit, an ice lolly brand or a cat walking across the computer keyboard...
Though of course your DIL’s relatives may sound as though they’ve been named after all of these..

FarNorth

Friends of mine named their son Tristan.
Now adult, he goes by Stan.

Stan is so much more fashionable. Tristan is very 70s

Yes Maw keep digging ?
My MiL had one of those names and I often think, how could anyone look at a sweet newborn and call her .........(& it didn’t begin with M!)
I suppose in those days some names held a certain attraction ?

Luckygirl,you have written exactly what I was thinking.

Marmight My Mum did have the G-name, but she was always called Glad which really suited her.
My Dad died a few months after he took this photo of her. She was only 53 & never got over it, although she soldiered on & never complained.

My mum threatened us with dire consequences if we named a baby Ethel, after her. Not a chance, and they were boys anyway.