Getting push back on name choice from my mom and older friend

knottie11252351df93c423 · June 2023

Hi!

We are due with our first baby girl in Nov. We have 3 boys ages 24, 19 and 6 and she is a total surprise! We have chosen the name Nelly Victoria for baby girl. One of my older friends (71) asked me the other day “So are you still sticking with Nelly? I think of ‘whoa Nelly’ when I hear that name”. Tonight my mom asked the same thing and said it’s a horses name. All of my friends my age like it (at least they say so) and we’ve already been calling her by that name, as well as my 6 year old talking about her daily and calling her Nelly so I feel like it is already stuck. I now understand why people don’t announce names until after birth! I didn’t think it was “too crazy”. Now I’m second guessing myself. Hubby had no comment when I brought it up lol.

harpseal135 · June 2023

Anyway you can use Nelly as a nick name? Honestly it's not good.

Helen, Ellen, Eleanor, Janelle, Chanelle, Penelope or Noella??

betsbirdy · June 2023

We have a name everyone but my dear Grandma hates. And I could not care less. Others opinions mean very little when it comes to a name.
Personally I love Nelly. I grew up with a Nelly. She was a sweet girl. It's a unique and easy name.
Just like we prefer. Short and sweet. Our name has been turned down by everyone and it's going to be so great to see them have to use it after being so rude about it. If you love it and it's not an awful one that people will turn into a mockery then go for it. I have a feeling societal norms are about to be interrupted in our children's lives because of the insanity that is our world. So out with them. Make your own.

mb0112 · June 2023

I don't think Nelly is "out there" but I do think it does better as a nickname. Even if you call her Nelly 99% of the time I'd like to have a more formal name she can put on official documents, but that's just me. Plenty of people these days have nickname versions of names as their official names so it's not wild.

merrytadeath · July 2023

Don't let them yuck your yum! If you like the name Nelly, go for it. I personally think it's great. As for th
haters, it's not their baby, their decision, or frankly, any of their business. Do you, girl!

allmyhart · July 2023

Just remind yourself that it doesn't matter what other people think of your name choice!! It's your decision to make! Everyone has their own preferences, so pick what YOU like!

Also - I grew up with a girl named Nell! I thought it was a really beautiful name, and you could name her Nell and call her Nelly!

dmcg17 · July 2023

I say as long as you and your husband are happy with it, there's no reason to change it. It sounds like you've been pretty set on the name if you're already using it and your other children are already calling her Nelly. I have plenty of friends who have kids with names I'd never use and I'm sure when we share our daughter's name in December, we'll have some people who dislike it. You'll never please everyone, so choose something that you like and feels like the right choice for your family.

mb0112 · July 2023

Still think you can stick with Nelly but Natalie Victoria would be a really pretty name if you are looking for a more formal full name option. I know Nelly isn't a traditional nickname for Natalie but I think it works and you can use Nelly all the time if you want!

knottieadf63681201db145 · March 2024

My name is Nelly and people love it ! I get ask from time to time if it’s a nickname but everyone tends to like it.

mymidg · March 2024

My mother-in-law really disliked the name we picked for our oldest when we told her while we were still pregnant. We went ahead with the name and she adjusted by the time we had her. I think Nelly is sweet and it sounds like you've found a name you love ignore the naysayers

knottie9f2a3e9863904682 · April 2024

We’ve gotten a few comments with the few people we have told our little girls name to. Here’s the thing that helped me get over it- they had their chance to name their child/ren. This is yours. So as long as you and husband are with it- forget the other crap

suchamomthing · April 2024

I'm late to this but I like Nelly. I'd just spell it "Nellie" like Nellie Bly, the first female undercover reporter.

mamaishman · June 2024

my husband and I were set on Penelope with Nelly as a nick name were originally from St. Louis so it’s a nod to our home. We were talking to a neighbor about how long it was and they suggested just using Nelly or a similar spelling Nelli, Nellie etc.

quinn333 · July 2024

Sorry to hear you have gotten push back with your name. I am totally biased but figured I would comment since my name is Nellie! Haha. I have always really liked my name and have gotten lots of positive comments on it because it’s old fashioned and not as common. A few people do say whoa Nellie but it’s not that much. I’m very happy I was named Nellie and I hope you go with whatever you think suits your baby. Nobody knows her as well as you do. Go with your gut 💕

flikyerbik · July 2024

I've heard that names take awhile to come around, so the names that we are choosing now are often names that were popular in our great-grandparent's generation. Thus, people too far outside of the Millenial/Gen-Z realm may not like our name choices. Meanwhile, we aren't seeing a lot of the Jennifer/Jessica/Ashley/Brittany/Courtney naming trend that was popular in the 90s and 2000s. We also aren't seeing the Pattie/Karen/Lisa/Susan naming trend of the 60s and 70s. So basically, they aren't going to understand Nellie because they are the wrong generation.

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