IRL: Do you give opinions on baby names?

Happy2beMrsT

In real life do you give your opinion on baby names? I mean, if someone tells you a name they are considering, do you tell them if you think it's awful?

Just wondering because people are quick to give opinions on here....wondering how much that carries over in real life. 

Florak8

Only here, and it's like I can't stop. The freedom to share and hopefully help people make a good decision . . . it's exhilarating!!!!

I can't even believe I am up this late!!!

DH is just shaking his head. ?

wheelenl

LOL, no, unless it was a very close friend and they really wanted to know. Who cares about my opinion?

2-Step

no, i dont give true opinions. i think everyone has very personal reasons for choosing names. even some of my best friends who i think i am most like choose names i would never choose. unless it is something absolutely awful and they ask my honest opinion, i smile and say "thats lovely"

starsmaycollide

No. When a friend was getting crap for her chosen baby name, I told her, "the truth is, it doesn't matter, as ?long as it's a name, and not an inanimate object or fruit, no one should say anything-it's your choice" and I do believe that. I wouldn't want as friend naming their kid something really ridiculous (like Audio Science or Apple) but if it's just NMS, I don't say anything. I don't want people being rude to me about my choices, so I am not rude to them. It's not my kid.

Taunya98

No, because I've found that even with names that I don't love when I first hear them...  once the baby is born, that just becomes their name and it grows on you.  Not to mention, it's not my baby so who cares what I really think.  I am floored at how many people (family being the worst offenders) feel the need to tell me that they dislike our fav's and then suggest something THEY think is better.  Ugh.

NikiT

Normally, I do not.  But I kind of did with my bff the other day (she's practically like my sister).  She's expecting and thinking of naming the baby Angelo if it's a boy.  Angelo isn't a bad name, but she and her hubby are as white as they come and it just doesn't seem to fit well with their personalities or their DD's name (which is Valerie).  I think I was pretty tactful about it.  I responded with "eh it's not bad...." and threw out some other suggestions.  I think she got the hint I didn't like the name. 

houndbaby

No, I usually avoid making a comment about the name if I don't like it. But if they are really asking for an honest opinion I'll tell them how I feel.

tct1219

oh yes. i can't help myself from giving my opinion on anything but especially not on baby names. i've been studying name popularity and trends for so many years that i feel almost obligated to at least give people a heads up when they consider naming an actual human being something like jaxsin or destiny.

EmmaRain

Nope - I don't say anything about names people IRL have chosen. If someone asked me which name I liked better out of several choices, I might give my opinion, but that's about it.

I do love this board, though, because you can finally hear what people REALLY think. Most people are too polite to tell someone the truth in person.

soon-to-beamrs

Not unless they ask me

NikiT

tct1219:

oh yes. i can't help myself from giving my opinion on anything but especially not on baby names. i've been studying name popularity and trends for so many years that i feel almost obligated to at least give people a heads up when they consider naming an actual human being something like jaxsin or destiny.

Is it because you're anti-popular names or anti-trendy names?  Some parents might think their kids can fit in better with a popular or trendy name.  Besides, the world would be pretty boring if we were all named John and Mary.

Becky262

soon-to-beamrs:

Not unless they ask me

Ditto.

 

mrs_tacos

Becky262:

soon-to-beamrs:

Not unless they ask me

Ditto.

 

Me too. If they ask though, I will be honest.

squeakerabudhbabi

I don't often give my opinion on here or in real life unless I like the name.  On here, I usually only respond to someone's post when they really want honest opinions, and I'm already interested in the name(s) anyway.

For me and my DH, we personally hate names that everyone else seems to enjoy.  Names like Elizabeth, Kathleen, Emma, Isabella, Charles, Thomas, Benjamin, etc. are totally NOT our style!  We would never, ever consider them! 

At the same time, I know that a lot of people probably would feel the same about the names we love and have picked out.  So, I always try to remember when someone tells me a name they've picked out (whether in RL or online) that to them, it is beautiful and will possibly be the name of their soon-to-be most beloved child.

I'm not bothered by variety, though; I realize that not everybody can or will always share my opinion; and I try to carry that over to this board.

LMS05

No, I don't with people who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant. One of my good friends loves to talk about what she would name her baby (she's not married and isn't even dating anyone). I do tell her my opinions because it's hypothetical with her. She hates my classic names and I hate her trendy names. We don't argue about it because we just have different styles. When she tells me a name she likes, I usually just look at her with a side eye and we both laugh. We've already come to the conclusion that I will not like her kids' names and she won't like mine and we are fine with that

calex33

Only if I'm asked. ?Because I'm a teacher, I've had my SILs and other family members ask me for opinions on names and spellings because they know that I've been around hundreds of names over the years. ?But, if I'm not asked, I keep my mouth shut.

littlepony

I think people are "quick to give opinions on here" because they are being asked to.  However, some posts are pretty harsh, more than necessary and I don't think they would be or should be that candid face-to-face with someone.  This board is "IRL" because we are talking (in most cases) about real live humans that are waiting to be born (or conceived), and I think it is too easy to forget that as we type in relative anonymity.

mrsc720

It depends. If a friend asks my honest opinion I give it. If they tell me, "Its a boy, his name will be _____," I hold my tongue or point out good points to the name.

Florak8

littlepony:

I think people are "quick to give opinions on here" because they are being asked to.? However, some posts are pretty harsh, more than necessary and I don't think they would be or should be that candid face-to-face with someone.? This board is "IRL" because we are talking (in most cases) about real live humans that are waiting to be born (or conceived), and I think it is too easy to forget that as we type in relative anonymity.

Well said, Littlepony.?

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mimikat22:

It depends. If a friend asks my honest opinion I give it. If they tell me, "Its a boy, his name will be _____," I hold my tongue or point out good points to the name.

Me too.

I disagree with the pp who said this board is "real life" and so should be more puppies and rainbows.  This board exists so people can get honest feedback on names and so we can be entertained by people who want their kids to be the next Pilot Inspektor.  If you want uncritical validation of your choices, go to someone face-to-face who has a reason to avoid hurting your feewings.  That's not what we're here for.

J+R

No, I usually just muster up a nice smile... My friend just named her baby Harry - awful... but I smiled and said "how cute"

DarcyLongfellow

Absolutely not.  Usually because IRL people are more apt to just tell you the name they've decided on rather than names they are considering.  But even if someone told me they were deciding between three names, I would never tell that person that one of them was a stripper name.

I DO, however, talk about name a lot with several of my friends.  But that's just because we're all very into names.  We don't sit around and discuss what to name our children, we discuss names in general.

Ali-B

Only behind their backs.

Rocknmama

I give my opinion if I am asked(in real life or here). I assume that whoever posts something here on the name board is looking for an opinion or they wouldn't be posting. If someone posts "we are naming our child _____" I just don't reply if I don't like it.

p.s. If my best friend or sister tried to name their kid something crazy I would say something but I would not say something to some random person

Califlorida

i usually only comment when i like a name.   but the same goes for here.  if i see a name poll with names i don't like then i just skip it.

Smtih&co

I've been known to lie.  I always use the "Oh, how pretty!" and move on.

lovesazzie

I try to be as polite as possible -- same as on here. I would NEVER give my opinion unless someone asked, and I would definitely sugarcoat my feelings. If the baby was already named or they said "this is our name, what do you think?" I wouldn't be negative, but if they gave several choices, I would focus on the one I like best. The only thing I do differently here is feel comfortable saying "NMS."