What negative reactions have you gotten on your name choice(s)?

newlywed26

Ok so on our list is Evelyn, Aubrey and Leah.  When we tell people our choices, we get a mixture (they love, hate, or think it's just ok).  Anyway, it annoys me when someone asks us what the names are, and then when we tell him/her, that person reacts negatively.  The other day for example, when we told someone, after they asked US what the name choices were, her exact words: "there are such beautiful names out there.  have you looked online?"  Rude, but whatever.  It just comes along with the territory of being pregnant and getting a ton of other left field comments.  How about your experiences?

swilker

I have not had that experience because I haven't talked about names we are thinking of to anyone.  If anyone asks we just tell them we don't know yet.  I have told my mom some of the possibilities but that's it.  Everyone will find out when the baby is born.

swilker

P.S. I like all of those.  Don't let people get to you. 

SuperCuteBenz

Most people hate our DS name. Actually, a lot of people hate DD's name as well. Especially on this board.

We love DS's name. It is not as common as DD's name but it is not made up either. People automatically call him Ryan. I am prepared to correct people. I figure it it is someone I won't see again, then I will just let it be. 

EastCoastBride

We went w/ an uncommon name in the US and I told people fully expecting weird/ negative reactions.  And the worst one was from MIL.

You simply have to have a thick skin on this. 

sweet1600s

Wow. That's SO rude. Evelyn, Aubrey and Leah are all beautiful names, and even if they weren't, I can't imagine saying that to someone!

I'm naming my daughter Aoibh?n, pronounced EE-veen. It's a very traditional Irish name, pretty well used in Ireland. Well, my mother's family is American, and I'm living in America during the pregnancy and for a couple months after I give birth (healthcare is so much better here). However, she'll most likely be raised partially in the States, partially in Ireland, and partially all over the rest of the world. I can't tell you how many people have told me I should just name her Evelyn, so I can call her Evie "which sounds a lot like that name you like, just more normal." Or, my favourite, people who think it's "a beautiful name, but you should just spell it phonetically, so people won't get confused."

I've gotten all sorts of comments about how she would wish I gave her a "normal" name, or that I spelled it so people would know how to pronounce it. Well, I have a very traditional Irish name that no one in America can spell or pronounce the first time, I was raised partially in the States, and I would hate if my name were spelled phonetically. Also the fact that in Ireland, everyone is familiar with the name. And my favourite "She'll never learn how to spell with a name like that!" Apparently, she will be phonetically confused. Luckily, I'm raising her bilingual (Irish/English) so she won't have to much trouble figuring out that in English, bh doesn't make a v sound, just like I didn't have trouble figuring out that in English, s doesn't make a sh sound when it's next to an i.

Haha, wow, sorry, this turned into a ridiculous rant. I guess the point is yes, I have gotten some negative reactions. 

krissyh21

The only negative I got was from a man who was 70 or 80 and he asked me what happened to the good old days when men were named Frank and Bob, but ehh. 

Everyone else has said they liked it, although some people like Dylan better then Dillon, but oh well. They can name their kids what ever they want - I love the name of my son!

I really don't take comments from people very hard, I know my name does not suit everyone and I am not into top 10 names either, so know you will get some people not liking it and that is okay.  

gjkhjr01

A) I like your names

it doesn't matter what I, or anyone else, thinks.

C) Everyone goes through this with family and friends

D) It's your choice to share the names or not 

braveangel2

Most people like it, but anyone over 60 doesn't like it at all. They wrinkle their noses and say, well you can always call her Emme for short. Must make them think of little old ladies.

MassageMomma2010

"Have you looked online?" HAHAHAHAHAHAH I would have laughed in their face if someone said that to me followed by "B!tch, that's ALL I do!"

That's super rude what you have experienced. My mom has given me a look with a "Really? You like that name?" for some of my ideas.. but they were a bit out there and I was glad to get an honest opinion from her.

When you know, you know and it won't matter what people say. Go with the name you love.

msmerymac

swilker:

I have not had that experience because I haven't talked about names we are thinking of to anyone.  If anyone asks we just tell them we don't know yet.  I have told my mom some of the possibilities but that's it.  Everyone will find out when the baby is born.

 

This. Why are you telling people? Especially strangers?

 

FWIW, I think your choices are pretty.

staycee

we didn't tell prior.   We didnt' want others' opinions.   Once the baby is here and named - then they really can't say anything negative without it being totally rude.

You'd never tell an actual person you just met, that you hate their name.   Why is it okay to tell pregnant people that about their choice.   It's not.

FemmeNat01

We didn't tell anyone what we were naming the twins until they were born. It's harder to get negative reactions once they are already named! We loved the names and that was all that matters. So far, we have only gotten good reactions but people could be censoring themselves.

BTW, I love Evelyn and Leah!

CourtneyRDH

I like "normal" names so I've never got any horrible reactions, but I've gotten a number of comments like "That's boring" or "Why don't you pick something more unique or fun?" I don't care. DH and I like our classic names. They aren't boring..they are timeless and sophisticated.

Your names are nice! I especially love Leah. Very pretty. 

*Scuzzlebutt*

My mom didn't like the name we chose for our daughter (Clara) when we first told her at the beginning of my pregnancy.  She loves it now and says that she can't imagine her being named anything else.

MIL never said she didn't like it, but when DD was born, she told all of DH's family that her name was Claire Elizabeth (which is NOT even close to her middle name)  DH says she just didn't listen very well when he said the name (over the phone, we were in ON and she was in TX when DD was born) but who knows?  I kind of thought that was annoying either way.

The only other reaction we got was "that's an old lady name", but I didn't care.  We liked it and that's all that mattered.

mr&mrswelch

We haven't gotten any reactions (positive or negative) because we haven't shared our name with anyone.

NaHoku

We didn't get any negative feedback IRL b/c we didn't share our top choices with anyone. 

On this board though, I hear a lot of people who hate the name Ellie or who are sick of it.  Oh well.  I still like it

MrsBNDO

We don't really share our name choices with anyone, but I do know that my dad HATES the choice we've made for a boy.  Early on in the pregnancy we threw the name out as a mere possibility and he STILL harps on how much he dislikes it; little does he know, it's the name we chose.  Eh, eff 'em.  Like my dad, people had/d their chance to name their kid(s) whatever they want - now it's my turn to name my child. 

AprilJT

When we decided to name our son Rowen we got a lot of comments.  ("Like rowin' the boat?")  People didn't understand why we wanted something different.  Now I get comments all the time from perfect strangers telling me how much they love the name. 

We let DS choose this ones name and he choose to name her Phoebe.  I personally love the name but I know that most people are going to give us a hard time about it.  I've already heard all the Friends comments and DH's Aunt told us it made her think of an amoeba.  

I personally don't care what they think so I don't let it bother me.  I just don't understand why people feel that its ok to be so rude about a pregnant women's choice to name HER child!  

NewFamily09

I like all 3 of your choices.  They are pretty, familiar in that people will recognize them, and yet not overly popular.  Our son's name is Jameson and DH's mom right away said it was too long.  It's the same length as her name.  And I could name 50 names that are longer- Christopher, Elizabeth, Alexander.....

NewFamily09

SuperCuteBenz:

Most people hate our DS name. Actually, a lot of people hate DD's name as well. Especially on this board.

We love DS's name. It is not as common as DD's name but it is not made up either. People automatically call him Ryan. I am prepared to correct people. I figure it it is someone I won't see again, then I will just let it be. 

I am a teacher and I had a student last year named 'Rhyne."  It was pronounced like Rine.  All the kids kept calling him Ryan.  I had to correct them.  I thought it was a cute name.

Dawson56

swilker:

P.S. I like all of those.  Don't let people get to you. 

I agree....  If you like it go for it.  The names are all cute!

Camok87

This is the reason we are not telling anyone what names we are considering!  My MIL is very opinionated so I just know she will have something nasty to say.  I think your names are fine - go with what you love!

Lesley0228

I got a lot of negative responses to Matilda when I was pregnant, but since DD has been born not one person has said anything bad about her name. Even my family, who hated her name initially, have come around. Usually people just say how cute her nickname (Tillie) is. Its a lot harder to say something nasty about a name when looking at an adorable little baby face.

Lizzen

When we said one of our choices is Evan: A wife in our circle of friends whom we really can't stand (sorry, it's true) said, "We're going to name our son Bevan! They can have rhymey names!!"

UGH. Thankfully she's not pregnant and they're holding off for a few years. And hopefully by then we will have drifted apart...

jenidenney

Reading all these comments has made me feel so much better about naming our son. We have decided on the name "Asher" and have had a few close family members and friends strongly say they do not like it.  We even had my DH sister say "she will not let us name our child that". It has really made me mad and so now I'm prepared...I tell people in confidence and when they say something rude I point out that everyone prefers different styles of names and because of that, I probably wouldn't like their name choice either.... 

JDO

No negative feedback whatsoever IRL. The only negative feedback I've gotten is from people on the bump who feel Riley should stay a boys name. It's been more popular for a girl name for almost a decade now. We're using it for a girl name, and I don't see anything wrong with that.