River Evangeline - our family hates our top pick

MrsJIsbell · March 2015

I've mentioned in a previous post that hubby and I have committed to River Evangeline as our girl name pick. We absolutely love the name! I'm starting to struggle with our decision because we are getting nothing but negative remarks from our family. They hate the idea of River as a name and they hate Evangeline too

nurse714 · March 2015

Sorry, but I don't like River either. Evangeline is a fine name, just nms. If you and YH are committed to the name, then how your family feels doesn't matter. They will love River Evangeline when she arrives.

BlessedMomma07 · March 2015

This is exactly why we are not announcing the name this time around. Someone will always have something to say about it. If you and your husband like it then that's all that matters. The name isn't my style but there isn't anything wrong with it. It's not like you're naming her something totally off the wall.
Since you've already announced the name just politely tell them you don't care to hear their opinions.

HeavenBlessedMom · March 2015

I don't like it either, but do what you think is best. Remember you're naming a human.

bbiutmcph · March 2015

I would always assume River was a male.

mommabird77 · March 2015

River is NMS. I do love Evangeline though!

dancingmatilda · March 2015

Your child means your opinion is the only one that counts! Your family will get over it. Tell them to keep their negative opinions to themselves.

wassuphoes · March 2015

It isn't my style, but it's not a terrible name either.

River is one of the few names that is considered masculine that I don't side eye girls being named it, largely cause, well, it's a nature name and rivers are neither masculine nor feminine, it's also a modern usage name, so there's a crapton more leeway with it then something that has been around forever like John or Mary.

In the end, you have to decide if you love the name enough to outweigh your families reaction to it. And as another poster commented, you're are naming a human, try to keep in mine how well a name will age and how others will percieve them.

magsugar13 · March 2015

Well your family is correct.

River is a male name. If you name your daughter River she will go through life with everyone thinking she is a male. You may not think that is a problem, but i bet she won't feel the same. why not use it if a boy or switch it around with evangeline??

ldmw · March 2015

I don't care for the name either, but it's not my baby's name. This is why we are keeping our name a secret.

MrsJIsbell · March 2015

Thanks for your input everyone. I've never received any negative comments from anyone other than family. Hearing it from strangers kinda helps to put things in perspective. It might be that co workers and friends are just too nice or worried about hurting our feelings to say anything. Ugh, well hope the gender reveal Saturday turns out with this baby being a boy then I won't have to worry about this at all. I really do love the name and I think at this point it would be difficult for me to choose another girl name.

4N6s · March 2015

You won't please everyone

I'm not a fan of river, but Evangeline is nice.

apriljoy32 · March 2015

I love the name!!!

macchiatto · March 2015

I love Evangeline; not a fan of River.

macchiatto · March 2015

Also, one great thing about Evangeline is that it has plenty of great nickname options. If she feels like the name is too much for her or not her style as she gets older, she can always go by Eve, Eva, Evie, Angie, etc.

magsugar13 · March 2015

MrsJIsbell said:
Thanks for your input everyone. I've never received any negative comments from anyone other than family. Hearing it from strangers kinda helps to put things in perspective. It might be that co workers and friends are just too nice or worried about hurting our feelings to say anything. Ugh, well hope the gender reveal Saturday turns out with this baby being a boy then I won't have to worry about this at all. I really do love the name and I think at this point it would be difficult for me to choose another girl name.

You can use it as a boys name if you are having a boy. It is a boys name. If you love it so much use it on a boy.

LuvLoveXo · March 2015

Evangeline is amazing. River not so much. It's primarily a masculine name but honestly it sounds silly to me when I say it aloud.

theglitteredpterodactyl · March 2015

It's nms but it's pretty and I don't see anything wrong with it. I doubt anyone would really side eye the name once it's attached to a person, people just get super opinionated during the naming process. Are their doubts feeding into your doubts, or do you still love the name? If you love it, I say absolutely go for it.

MrsJIsbell · March 2015

theglitteredpterodactyl said:
It's nms but it's pretty and I don't see anything wrong with it. I doubt anyone would really side eye the name once it's attached to a person, people just get super opinionated during the naming process. Are their doubts feeding into your doubts, or do you still love the name? If you love it, I say absolutely go for it.

I love the name, we both do. It's just that I'm starting to feel apprehensive about it because of them. I've been told it's not a name, it's a boys name, and that it's absolutely ridiculous. I've also been told I'm setting my child up to feel uncomfortable with their name and to look unprofessional when stepping out into their chosen career path. I wouldn't want her to hate her name or hinder her in any way.

Sassenach1743 · March 2015

MrsJIsbell said:

theglitteredpterodactyl said:
It's nms but it's pretty and I don't see anything wrong with it. I doubt anyone would really side eye the name once it's attached to a person, people just get super opinionated during the naming process. Are their doubts feeding into your doubts, or do you still love the name? If you love it, I say absolutely go for it.
I love the name, we both do. It's just that I'm starting to feel apprehensive about it because of them. I've been told it's not a name, it's a boys name, and that it's absolutely ridiculous. I've also been told I'm setting my child up to feel uncomfortable with their name and to look unprofessional when stepping out into their chosen career path. I wouldn't want her to hate her name or hinder her in any way.

There are some valid points to consider in what you just said, as far as future career plans and comfort. Although most kids hate their name as they're growing up no matter what it is, so there's that. What I'm getting at is, would you consider Evangeline River instead? This way she has a legitimate, feminine, and more formal first name and the more relaxed and creative River can be her middle name. As her mother, you can always call her River as an endearment. Yet she can choose to use her first name or a nickname, such as Evie at school and work, etc.

magsugar13 · March 2015

MrsJIsbell said:
It's nms but it's pretty and I don't see anything wrong with it. I doubt anyone would really side eye the name once it's attached to a person, people just get super opinionated during the naming process. Are their doubts feeding into your doubts, or do you still love the name? If you love it, I say absolutely go for it.

I love the name, we both do. It's just that I'm starting to feel apprehensive about it because of them. I've been told it's not a name, it's a boys name, and that it's absolutely ridiculous. I've also been told I'm setting my child up to feel uncomfortable with their name and to look unprofessional when stepping out into their chosen career path. I wouldn't want her to hate her name or hinder her in any way.

It is not ridiculous it is a boy's name.

GENDER: Masculine

USAGE: English (Modern)

PRONOUNCED: RIV-ər [key]

Ffrom behind the name the most reliable source of name history

court476 · March 2015

I'm team green and actually thought about naming my baby girl (if I had one) both of those names. And if I have a girl decided on River.
I chose not to go with Evangeline because it just wasn't popular with the people I told.

HaruhiChan · March 2015

I like the flow of the name. Personally, I like it.

Perhaps find another name in place of river that has a similar sound.

theglitteredpterodactyl · March 2015

MrsJIsbell said:

theglitteredpterodactyl said:
It's nms but it's pretty and I don't see anything wrong with it. I doubt anyone would really side eye the name once it's attached to a person, people just get super opinionated during the naming process. Are their doubts feeding into your doubts, or do you still love the name? If you love it, I say absolutely go for it.
I love the name, we both do. It's just that I'm starting to feel apprehensive about it because of them. I've been told it's not a name, it's a boys name, and that it's absolutely ridiculous. I've also been told I'm setting my child up to feel uncomfortable with their name and to look unprofessional when stepping out into their chosen career path. I wouldn't want her to hate her name or hinder her in any way.

The last thing I want to come across as is judgey but I just think it'd be really sad not to go with a name that both of you loved just because of the opinions of other people. I guess it'd be one thing if you were choosing something like Eiterrnal Sunny or something, but you're not. It's a legitimate, pretty name and River might originate as a boy's name but it's not like Frank or Albert or something heavily engrained in culture as masculine. And you can never predict how a kid is going to feel about their name, so it doesn't make sense to try.Give them a name you love and that represents in however way your love and excitement for them and either they like it or they don't. I think I've alternated between liking, hating, and loving my name my whole life (Corinna Marcia) and kids used to make fun of my name because autocorrect turned my first/last into "corn starch"

This seems a bit like the beginning of funding those lines between you & your partner's parenting choices and the input of others. No wrong answer, really, as long as you're comfortable with your reasons.

saham07 · March 2015

I really don't like River on a boy or a girl. Evangeline is nice with a lot of nn options. For what it is worth, ....family are more apt to speak their minds and co-workers and friends are more apt to say they like it to your face and not like it behind your back. Personally, I would rather have an honest opinion from family then a feel good comment from friends that really mean nothing. I think if you name your baby River, you are time-stamping your child into this trend of nameing your baby a "Noun" we know children named, River, Ocean, Storm, Rooster, Canyon.........I have heard of a kid named Atlas, Poet, .....you get the idea.

oneblessedmess · March 2015

I kind of agree with your family, at least on the first name. Evangeline is beautiful, River is boyish. If it really bothers you, maybe flip it to Evangeline River? Eva is a cute nickname.

jessnjuan07 · March 2015

Does your family not like River or both first and middle names? Maybe if they like Evangeline they can call her that.

BlessedMomma07 · March 2015

I'm not understanding how River is strictly masculine. Other than the fact that behind-the-name says it is, how was it decided that this is a boy name?

wlrtimes2 · March 2015

I love River for a girl and Evangeline is beautiful! People have opinions but once that baby comes everyone will fall in love and be over it. If you love that name go for it!

VTGal · March 2015

I have a friend whose little girl was born this year... and named River. Her whole family gave her a hard time about it... and what made it "worse" was that River's last name is nautical, 2 water names in a row, wow. But a year later, the entire family adores her.....and the name. Do what makes you happy. You like it for a reason!

Kate0034 · March 2015

BlessedMomma07 said:
I'm not understanding how River is strictly masculine. Other than the fact that behind-the-name says it is, how was it decided that this is a boy name?

I don't understand either. River has zero history as a name (even BTN has it listed as modern) so it can't be historically masculine. A river is a noun, and English nouns have no gender. BTN is calling it masculine because it's commonly given to boys... Otherwise there's no real reason to call it masculine or feminine.

I agree we shouldn't name a girl Remy or Elliott... But I think people are way over analyzing this one. I totally understand having concerns over an untraditional name like River (how will people view it? Is it serious enough? Is it too hippie-vibe?) but concerns over the gender? That wouldn't be my reservation at all.

LoveLee85 · March 2015

BlessedMomma07 said:
This is exactly why we are not announcing the name this time around. Someone will always have something to say about it. If you and your husband like it then that's all that matters. The name isn't my style but there isn't anything wrong with it. It's not like you're naming her something totally off the wall.
Since you've already announced the name just politely tell them you don't care to hear their opinions.

SAME!!! We are keeping our names secret for this reason. I'm all for suggestions, but when asked about names I say: 'We are not sure, any suggestions??'

Plus, we are the type of people who want to see our baby first and make sure the name is fitting!

So no name will be 100% until our baby is born.

To the OP, stick to your guns and your family will get over it. I love nature names.

MrsJIsbell · March 2015

Thanks for your input everyone! Our gender reveal party was this Saturday and we discovered we're expecting a baby boy. I thought that would be the best thing as I wouldn't have to deal with thIs whole name conflict. WRONG! Now hubby isn't on board with the name Judah (which I love) and my crazy controlling mother is pretty upset with that as she also loved the name and has been telling everyone (even before we knew the sex of the baby) baby's name is Judah...... The name search continues.

saham07 · March 2015

Congrats on the boy! Now you and DH (no mom involved) need to pick a name that you both agree on. KEEP THE NAME A SECRET until he is born............introduce him and that is it! If you let your mother to be "over baring and controlling"......then she will be. You have all the power here.

miracle4x · March 2015

Your baby, your name choice! I think it's pretty.

MrsJIsbell · March 2015

saham07 said:
Congrats on the boy! Now you and DH (no mom involved) need to pick a name that you both agree on. KEEP THE NAME A SECRET until he is born............introduce him and that is it! If you let your mother to be "over baring and controlling"......then she will be. You have all the power here.

Thank you! I have put my foot down and explained to her that I am trying to win hubby back on the name Judah but that ultimately I want a name that he and I both love. I told her it's just not her place to decide. That didn't go over too well but at least it's been said. Now I just have to do as you're suggesting and keep the name possibilities and final decision to ourselves until baby is here.

Sassenach1743 · March 2015

We have chosen Judah if we have a boy as well!

Hope your hubby comes back around. But, now that you know you're having a boy, why not stick with River after all?

saham07 · March 2015

MrsJIsbell said:

saham07 said:
Congrats on the boy! Now you and DH (no mom involved) need to pick a name that you both agree on. KEEP THE NAME A SECRET until he is born............introduce him and that is it! If you let your mother to be "over baring and controlling"......then she will be. You have all the power here.
Thank you! I have put my foot down and explained to her that I am trying to win hubby back on the name Judah but that ultimately I want a name that he and I both love. I told her it's just not her place to decide. That didn't go over too well but at least it's been said. Now I just have to do as you're suggesting and keep the name possibilities and final decision to ourselves until baby is here.

wyou can do it! Be strong. If you don't, she will never stop running your life

kimikimi · March 2015

I like River or Evangeline but not together. They are two very different types of names and don't match together. I'd pair River with something floral or natural or unisex and a shorter name. I'd pair Evangeline with something feminine or French. Good luck.

BBeninate · March 2015

i like Evangeline River for the reasons that Brita722 mentioned.

IrisApricity · March 2015

It's not my style but I don't hate it. River always felt like a boy to me, but Evangeline adds a lot of femininity.

If you love it, use it. A year from now your sweet girl will be associated with the name and everyone won't be able to imagine her as anything else.

We have old fashioned taste. DD is Iris Faye. We haven't heard anything right out negative (mostly very positive) but we know its not the preferred style of many people in our families. And that's okay! It's not their daughter and naming is about choosing the best name you can for that child who can't choose. If you feel you're doing that, then go with it!

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