IS it REALLY that bad?

palmtreemandy

Best buddy is due less than a month after me with baby number two. When she had dd she and dh wanted a son, so they're thrilled to get a boy this time. 

They've had the name picked out since like 2009. It'd be Gunnar Raymond.

I will admit Gunnar had to grow on me, but it has. I think it's original, creative and unique now. But her family is threatening to disinherit and I'm not sure they're entirely joking.

#1, is it REALLY that bad?

#2- Since when do grandparents get that kind of pull? They got a chance to name their kids, shouldn't they just love a grandchild regardless of name? And if their child loves the name, shouldn't they just shut up and accept it?

mommybrynn

I personally would never use it, and would probably raise a brow if a friend did, but eh, I have also heard a lot worse.  Sounds like the grandparents need to take a pill.  Regardless of how awful the name, it is her decision and her right to name the kids what she wants.  They got their shot, it's her turn now!  So I think that yes, they should shut up and accept it.

newenglandmomm

Its not my first pick in names but its really not as bad as it could be I have heard worse.

mamahawk12

It's a pretty silly name IMO - and sounds more like a Dog's name.... but with that said, I can't imagine grandparents turning away a grandchild regardless of the name. They definitely need to chill. 

FirstBabyMomma

 Are they Swedish, by any chance? It's actually a fairly common Scandinavian name. The majority of my family is in Winnipeg or Gimli, Manitoba (Canada) and there are a lot of 50+ gentlemen named Gunnar, Nils, Axl, and the like.

Also, sorry that your friend's parents suck! I think Gunnar Raymond sounds good (although I may not use it myself). 

 

ETA: For a recent cultural reference, there is a Gunnar in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Maybe showing the grandparents that it isn't a made-up name might sway them?

anna7602

Gunnar is the name of my niece's Norwegian ex-boyfriend and I wasn't too impressed with him, so this is my association. But you're right, their kid, their choice.

pacsunqtaz

It's pretty horrendous- especially if you pronounce it they way it's supposed to be pronounced. The standard European pronunciation is Goo-nar, ew.

The grandparents will definitely get over it though- it's hard to look at a cute little baby and be that angry about it's name.

sweetpea2003

I don't care for a name, but to "disinherit" a child because of their name is ridiculous. 

Families that are that petty might just not be worth it.  Good riddance.

palmtreemandy

they are Greek and German mostly. I will pass along the movie reference though. maybe that will smooth things over a bit.

 

FirstBabyMomma:

 Are they Swedish, by any chance? It's actually a fairly common Scandinavian name. The majority of my family is in Winnipeg or Gimli, Manitoba (Canada) and there are a lot of 50+ gentlemen named Gunnar, Nils, Axl, and the like.

Also, sorry that your friend's parents suck! I think Gunnar Raymond sounds good (although I may not use it myself). 

 

ETA: For a recent cultural reference, there is a Gunnar in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Maybe showing the grandparents that it isn't a made-up name might sway them?

starrkitten89

IMO,It could be WAY worse.It's a legitimate name.I wouldn't personally use it,but I don't understand being all up in arms over it.I have a friend with a son named Gunnar,and he's adorable.

salt78

I can only associate it 80's hair bands (Gunnar Nelson). I dislike it, but I think the family is being way over the top.

magsugar13

#1 yes, it really is that bad.

dairygirl19

I don't think it's bad at all.

But I also come from a very Scandinavian family and there's 3 Gunnars in the family tree.

I wouldn't name my kid that, but I secretly like it.

It's also a but uncommon but it's normal and spelled right, so nothing worth disowning family over.

scorch

dairygirl19:

I don't think it's bad at all.

But I also come from a very Scandinavian family and there's 3 Gunnars in the family tree.

I wouldn't name my kid that, but I secretly like it.

It's also a but uncommon but it's normal and spelled right, so nothing worth disowning family over.

Dominique1219

I think that name is horrid, I'd be disgusted too if I was family, but not to the point of disinheriting them.

SEWF

My husband's family has a dog named Gunnar, so that's my association. Not a horrible name, but I'd never use it.

guilletskichuk

salt78:

I can only associate it 80's hair bands (Gunnar Nelson). I dislike it, but I think the family is being way over the top.

That's where I first heard it...but I liked the Nelson Brothers when I was a kid...so I've always liked the name. I would never use it...but it is a legitimate name that is spelled correctly. There are a lot worse names out there.

The grandparents need to chill out. They had their turn.

bwralc

So is the baby's nickname going to be Gun?  I think it is REALLY awful.  I would have a REALLY hard time if a close friend or family member used it too.  If they lived outside of the US it would be different but to me some names just don't work well over here and most will mispronounce it as Gun-ner and I think that's a horrible reference for a child. 

WashingtonQueen

 I dont like it but, there are far worse names out there. If my family wanted to disinherit me because of what I wanted to name my child, I wouldnt want to be part of their family anyways.

Kissimi21

It's NMS, but it's a legit name with a legit spelling.  The gandpartent need to STFU.  It's one thing to not like the name, offer other suggestions or even say they don't like the name, but to say they will disinherit the baby because of it is too much. 

My mother and MIL didn't like my DS's name.  They were both told that it wa snot their decision and to get over it.  Now they both say that they love his name.  My cousin's mother threatened to disown my cousin's youngest unless they changed his name.  Eight years later, he's still Cody and she's a lonely old bag who has to live with her choice.

brookelynpaisley

There are way worse names than Gunnar, though it's NMS

Grandparents shouldn't ever have that kind of pull, and if my parents were to threaten to disown me over something as lame as my kid's name, I'd take that as a sign they need to be told to go eff themselves.

ablou

Well, as long as they're cool with this association, whatevs:

kmpls

How disgusting. The grandparents not the name.

Why do others care so much what someone names their child?

As a parent you can name your child whatever you want. I don't think it's abusive, etc unless you name the kid Adolph Hitler or the like.

 

Jazzyashes84

Joy2611:

The grandparents will get over it.

But Gunnar *is* awful.

I agree. I know a dog named this. 

MsNessa

#1---I know two Gunnars---one is a toddler and the other is in his late 20s, so it seems okay to me.  Definitely not a name I would choose, but better than many out there.

#2---That's crazy.  They gave their opinion, now they should get over it.

Fancy3Face

My nephew's name is Gunnar, I guess I don't see how this name is dis-inheritable?  Its different, but not bad.    

Notwifezilla7

salt78:

I can only associate it 80's hair bands (Gunnar Nelson). I dislike it, but I think the family is being way over the top.

That's what I was thinking- hair band! It it was good enough for the Nelsons, then those grandparents should get over it!! Perhaps bring up the Ozzie & Harriet reference to them, since that should be of their time period.

queenbone

This falls in the violent name category to me and I would be really upset and disappointed if my grandchild had a weaponry name.  Honestly, I'd prefer a misspelled Nevaeh. BUT I wouldn't threaten disinheriting them.

brandywine2010

I wouldn't use it but I would be super pissed if my family acted that ignorant over a name. They (grandparents) already got to name their children, so why not let their children do the same. This is one reason why I'm glad we haven't shared our name choices. I don't really care about our families opinions of our names. 

melody921

I think it's a terrible name. But it's the parents' choice to name their child whatever they want. The family's threat to disinherit is absurd.

MySallyGirl

Gunnar always sounds redneck or white trashy to me.  I really dislike it.  The only Gunnar child I know has a mom who definitely is a bad parent and is always in some sort of trouble.  But whatever - the grandparents disowning a kid over their name is ridiculous!  The parents make that decision and everyone else should just get over it and love the kid. 

MamaWen

Honestly, I don't understand when ANYONE has an issue with what a parent plans on naming their child. My mom is having a really hard time with the name I've chosen for my soon-to-be son... but honestly, I don't care what she (or anyone else) thinks about it. My partner and I have had his name planned since we first started trying to conceive, and I have absolutely no intention of changing it just because she objects. I've told my mom that if she is so strongly against his name, she can call him by his middle name (which she loves), but that his name will still remain the chosen one we've decided on. She already calls him by name as much as possible to get used to the idea.

(Sorry, but because this has been such an issue with family, I am choosing not to tell the internet world about my son's name choice... as I really don't think it's anyone else's business to tell me whether or not they like the name) 

I happen to think Gunnar is a great name for a boy, and I hope that once he arrives, the grandparents will feel differently. 

tartaruga

If they're not Scandinavian, I think the name is kind of awful. But not nearly as awful as those grandparents. Wow.

LillyGrrl

Gunnar is a wonderful German name, if they have German heritage I think it's a great choice.  If they don't it would seem a little odd but still it has a nice feel too it.  Are they pronoucing it GUN-ar or Goon-ar (the German pronounciation). Personally I think the German pronounciation makes it sound better.