My dad hates the name we picked :(

marybethoconnell@yahoo.com · February 2011

So my mom just asked us what named we picked for our baby boy. DH and I like and have decided together on the name Jensen Alexander. When she told my dad, he went balistic, yelling across the room (while I was on the phone with mom) "not to give our kid a dopey name" and "If we want our child to hate us, to name it Jensen".

I mentioned that not only do we both like the name, that we actually have been talking about it since before we even decided to get married. Also, DH's best friend passed away a couple of years back, and his name was 'J' so we also could/would shorten it to honor him. My dad's response was to "grow up, get a clue and give your kid a real name"

I'm kinda pissed off, irritated, and insulted to say the least. My Dad's always been controlling, and this is just one more thing in my life he is wanting to "take charge" of.

Soooo...my question is.....if it was you, would you change it? Would you keep it the same? I feel like he had his turn to name his kids and now it's our turn.

cofox14 · February 2011

It's your baby and your decision, keep the name, sorry he is being like that.

Sazhrah · February 2011

I would not change it. Tell your dad that if he doesn't like it that if fine that he call him "J" or Alex.

I am so sorry he made such hideous comments about your baby's name.

sunshine336 · February 2011

I would not change your mind b/c of his comments. You guys have agreed on a name that has meaning for you.

DowagerCountessofNJ · February 2011

Absolutely not. You need to control your own life and not make decisions based on other people's opinions. It's not like you're naming your son "Jack@ss".

MommaA117 · February 2011

none of our parents loved our name choice. They didn't say it but I could tell. I had about 3 friends that didn't. Quite a few people really liked it too. With different names opinions are going to be more to one extreme or the other. Most likely it will grow on him. One of my friends who hated it admitted to me the other day that it's really grown on him. I can tell my Mom and Dad are getting used to it now too. As long an you love it that is what matters. Once it fits your baby it will become 2nd nature to them all...

ETA: That was really rude of your Dad. You are an adult and this is YOUR child. I would not even consider changing it after that outburst....it's not like it's a crazy name or something...

colik23 · February 2011

I would keep what I want, cause no matter what it is your child, and your dad will come around, it is his grandchild!!

eaduvall · February 2011

I am going to be blunt: him! If you and DH love the name and it has meaning to you then who the hell cares what everyone else thinks? My sister hates the name that DH and I picked for our little girl. Plus she was bratty about the fact that her sorority sister named her daughter the same thing. do I care? No. do I even know this girl? No. I love the name and it has special meaning because it is derived from my grandma Mary's name and she is my favorite person in the whole world. So we are going to use the name that we like reguardless of what my bratty sister thinks.

ShangriLaRose · February 2011

Sgt M's Wife:
Absolutely not. You need to control your own life and not make decisions based on other people's opinions. It's not like you're naming your son "Jack@ss".

Yes Exactly this.

EMLYNNLERETTE · February 2011

This is the perfect time to use my latest favorite saying! It goes "Well, we can all just be thankful that you already had your children and you got to make these decisions for your own family!" Shuts my mom up on a constant basis! Big Smile

Good luck!

SNR930 · February 2011

Personally I say you should name your child whatever you and your DH want. My mom didn't care for DS's name but got over it and realized it was not her choice. Good luck!

And btw I like Jensen Alexander and the J is a nice way of honoring DH's friend.

Turtle143 · February 2011

This is why DH and I decided we won't be telling people what our potential names are. We don't want anyone hating on them. Plus it's our child. We aren't coming up with crazy, made up, difficult to pronounce names. We'll tell them the name of our baby when the baby is here for them to hold and see.

What your dad said wasn't nice at all. I'd probably keep the name just to spite him. haha especially since you said you and your H both love the name.

thegoods22 · February 2011

Keep the name, this is between yourself and your dh! The grandparents have had their chance(s) with their own kids, now it's your time. I'm sorry your father made those comments. >.<

MrsAtch · February 2011

Sgt M's Wife:
Absolutely not. You need to control your own life and not make decisions based on other people's opinions. It's not like you're naming your son "Jack@ss".

This. I wouldn't change it at all.

missisue · February 2011

EMLYNNLERETTE:
This is the perfect time to use my latest favorite saying! It goes "Well, we can all just be thankful that you already had your children and you got to make these decisions for your own family!" Shuts my mom up on a constant basis! Good luck!

Yes I am SO stealing this for future use!

To the original poster, I would NOT change the baby's name based on his rude reaction and would probably directly tell my dad that his comments were completely out of line. This is exactly why we will not be sharing the baby's name until the grand entrance into the world.

DuckDuckGoose123 · February 2011

Dude, I'd keep the name to spite him. It's one thing to not like a name, it's another to freak out like your dad did. That's totally out of line.

luckyluvr · February 2011

FWIW, I LOVE Jensen. I've tried to convince DH to like it, but since my name is Jenny, he thinks it's ridiculous. I get that, but it's such a cute, not-overused name. I cannot understand why people think it's their business to weigh-in on family members' or friends' baby names. A stranger on the internet is one thing, but in real life, shouldn't you just say "that's nice" and keep the thoughts to yourself?

taitai07 · February 2011

OMG, are you sure we don't have the same father? This sounds exactly like something my dad would say.

I agree with everyone else...name your baby what you want. I think maybe your dad is realizing that this child is going to open up a whole world of decisions in your life over which he will have no control and it's freaking him out. He's just going to have to deal with it. If you give in on this, he will think that you will give in on other stuff and he will continue to try to control your decisions about your baby. Don't give him that power. When your dad has shuffled off this mortal coil, you're still going to have to live with the decisions that you made in your life. Be true to yourself.

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