What? Now DH doesn't like our girl name

NJBrit · September 2010

We are team green, and I had thought that we were settled on our name choices. For a boy we are set on Liam Padrig Mc______ and for a girl we had discussed the names Fiona, Evangeline, and Lucy, but agreed that Fiona was our favorite. We made the mistake of telling the kids (because we wanted to include them) and they couldn't stop laughing and comparing the baby to Princess Fiona from Shrek!

I told DH last night that I was so excited to meet little Liam or Fiona, and he said, "Yeah...I've gotta tell you, I'm not liking Fiona anymore." I asked him why, and he said he's worried about the association with the movie. If anything, I think Fiona reminds more people of Fiona Apple... honestly, what adult is going to say, "Oh, like in Shrek?"

So now what the heck do I do? I'm committed to Fiona and I really feel that he's being ridiculous. Do you think our baby will be made fun of for having the same name as a green ogre, or do you think Evangeline is a better option. I'm so sad!

tfarabians · September 2010

Fiona is a pretty popular name so I really don't think people will associate it to the movie and it will be an old movie by the time your baby goes to school : ) Now if it was cinderella or sleeping beauty we might have to talk ; )

J05Boiler · September 2010

I personally am loving Evangeline. When I first thought of Fiona, for some reason I thought of Shrek; as opposed to Fiona Apple.

MsixelA · September 2010

I love the name Fiona. Lucy has always been a favorite of mine and Evangeline is gorgeous! But now that you have me thinking of movies, Evangeline is the name of the star that the lighteningbug falls in love with in the Princess and the Frog. A star is not a bad thing to think of, I just can't stop now, but I don't think I wouldn't have put them together had you not referenced Shrek beforehand. I would talk it over and think about it, but both names are absolutely beautiful names.

elizjane26 · September 2010

I do NOT feel like she would be made fun of. I think it is a beautiful name.

But you're DH sounds like me. I would ask him to think about it some more and not to make rash decisions based on what the kids have said.

CarolinaNiki · September 2010

Personaly, I say keep Fiona. I think it is a lovely name.

Honestly, there will be no shortage of things kids find to tease other kids about, and on the grand scheme of things, that's not too bad. I like Princess Fiona. Also, when I think of the name, my brain goes to Burn Notice not Shrek.

NoemiJ · September 2010

I think that Fiona is a nice name. I know who Fiona Apple is, but the most recent association for most adults will be Shrek.

HugginAngel · September 2010

I know two very sweet little girls named Fiona and it makes me just looooooooove the name. Hey the assciations could be worse. What little girl wouldn't want to be Princess Fiona??

girllennon · September 2010

I thought of Shrek when I saw the name Fiona Embarrassed

, but who gives a crap. It's a very pretty name and I don't think anyone will associate your girl's name with that movie.

starsmaycollide · September 2010

I'm sorry that happened! Unfortunately, it sounds like it has made an association he can't get out of his head. It happens. I loved Adam, and DH suggested it-but then he told me that he decided that even though it was originally his idea, he thought it is TOO Biblical.

So, even though I think that's a little silly (and have it mentally on the list if we have a baby #2) I let it go, and we found a new one we felt only positive about.

I don't think Fiona would be made fun of, but I think the really issue is that he doesn't feel the same way about it. Either he'll change his mind, or I think you guys should use another name. Evangeline is REALLY pretty too though! There are so many fabulous girl names out there, you guys will figure it out

mzclaire · September 2010

I LOVE the name Fiona. And I, like you, thought "Fiona Apple" (cause I really like her music.) I say keep it, and give your DH more time to think about it and encourage him not to be rash.

I have more than one friend named Ariel and I almost never think "Little Mermaid" as I talk to them. Kids might make the association more quickly, but by the time your LO goes to school, Shrek will be an old movie.

Also, I really like the name Evangeline, too, so you have great backup names to choose from!

pmanolides · September 2010

Adults might think fiona apple, but kids will definitely think Shrek. That said, Fiona is a beautiful name, and its gaining in popularity so its not like Shrek invented the name or anything. I'm sure she'll be safe!

broccolitree · September 2010

Fiona is such a popular name now that although the association will be there, it's not going to be how it was when Shrek first came out.

When I hear Evangeline I think of Evangeline Harcourt, the boozy mother in Anything Goes, but I'm sure I'm in the extreme minority there. lol.

wmramsel · September 2010

I love all your girl names! I love Fiona! My hubby did the same thing with Marley. "But people will make fun of her because of the dog!" Umm, by the time she gets old enough to go to school and older, no one will remember the dog movie anymore and people definitely associate it with Bob Marley more. Yes, there will be the occasional Shrek comment, but honestly, the hype about the movie will die down and no one will remember.

nikkieuphoria · September 2010

I LOVE fiona!!

MsixelA · September 2010

starsmaycollide:
I'm sorry that happened! Unfortunately, it sounds like it has made an association he can't get out of his head. It happens. I loved Adam, and DH suggested it-but then he told me that he decided that even though it was originally his idea, he thought it is TOO Biblical.

My husband literally did the exact same thing to me. He suggested it, I loved it, now it's too Biblical. I could kill him. I think he's worse than me when it comes to narrowing down names!

kknapp25 · September 2010

Being able to agree on names is so hard. I think the name Fiona is beautiful and I'm sure if you're that sold on it, he'll understand. But if you end up having to compromise, would you consider a simalar sounding name? I have an Irish friend named Fionnoula (pronounced Fin-uu-la). Whenever I read your posts & I see the name Fiona I always think of Fionnoula. And seeing that if your LO is a boy his middle name would Padrig, it looks like you're stikcing with Irish names?

NJBrit · September 2010

kknapp25:
And seeing that if your LO is a boy his middle name would Padrig, it looks like you're stikcing with Irish names?

Yes, definitely trying to stick with Irish names. Padrig would really be a tribute to DH's aunt who passed away from breast cancer last year, and if we have a girl her middle name will be Patricia. Kieran was also another idea for a boy's name, but we like Liam better.

sandylou · September 2010

I think Fiona is such a beautiful name!! See if you can convince him! Shrek never entered my head once and I see your name badge all the time. By the time our kids are old enough to watch movies Shrek will be pretty outdated.

sweetmej · September 2010

Isn't the point of that movie for us to recognize the beauty within ourselves as opposed to what people see on the surface?

Fiona is a lovely name.

pawcall · September 2010

I didn't read the whole thread yet, so this has probably been said already (sorry!)

I'd just ride it out for a bit. Let your husband mull it over and talk about it again in a couple of weeks. Remind him that by the time your potential daughter is in school, the movies will be pretty darn old.

Telling the kids isn't a mistake - they're just being kids. Right now, the whole baby thing is really intangible for them. All they have to go on is the name, which is in a movie that they probably recently saw (didn't the last shrek come out fairly recently? I'm pretty sure I was pregnant when we saw it - or am I on crack?). When they meet your daughter, if her name is Fiona, they will begin to associate that name with HER and it won't be an issue.

TBH - i'm way more likely to make the shrek connection than the fiona apple connection. I might not be a very good example of a normal adult though ;-)

FWIW, I love all three of your names. I wanted to use Lucy, but I babysit a Lucy and thought it'd be a little odd to name my own kid that.

My last (and least popular) point is this (and take it for whatever it's worth to you): I fully believe that both you and your husband should have 100% no-questions-asked veto power on first names. If he thinks it over and decides he really doesn't like it, you should find a name that you can both be happy with.

Of course, it may totally blow over (a la the Aidan/Connor incident in our house) and if I were you, I'd just keep on referring to the baby as Liam/Fiona.

trinity0906 · September 2010

It makes me think of Fiona from Burn Notice, one of my favorite shows on USA. She's super smart, beautiful, and can kick some ass. Shrek is not the first thing that comes to mind...