Do you like your grandchild's name?

My DGS was given an unusual name. Not one I'd have thought of but he's grown into it and I can't imagine him being called anything else.

Not only daft but odd spellings , here in Ireland if you are not a native you could never guess how to pronounce some names . I was not keen on some of the GCs names , but they do grow on you

Yes, I like my DGC's names. They are all pretty traditional, good strong names and will undoubtedly get shortened as they grow up.
Perhaps your new GC's name can be shortened if it is that bad. Do you want to tell us?

It's a bit unusual so worried I might be found out . I do like solid traditional names. Would love to suggest some but as she's now told me what name she is thinking of I dare not or it'll be seen as a criticism.

I think the choice of a child's name should be the parents' sole perogative. Of course others can offer suggestions, but it's the one thing that is very special to the mother and father.
My GC have slightly foreign names, of European origin, but they seem to suit well.

Good point TinyTwo best not then. As Lillie says it is the parent's prerogative and hopefully familiarity will breed 'content' in this case. Your son should have some input anyway.

Back in the dim and distant dark ages DH's GM allowed his parents to choose his name and then decreed what he would be known by!

Nobody likes my great neices name, apart from, obviously her parents! I note we are all being tactful!!!!

When we announced our DD's name we were met with some silence, some overt criticism ...none of our parents actually liked it and they were tactless enough to communicate that. We really didn't care - we loved it! At the time - thirty years ago - it was relatively unheard in our generation, being seen as 'old fashioned'. These days it is a popular name!

We bring all sorts of associations to a name, but the child brings their own uniqueness and personality and makes it their own.

I have a friend who didn't much like her GD's name, but now all she sees is the delightful three year old.

It's probably best if you don't get to hear the name before the baby's born, then you can't worry about it No matter what it is, after a couple of weeks you'll not be able to imagine the little one being called anything else. I'm pretty certain my DS and DDIL were having us on when they let us into some of their shortlisted names - we just kept smiling brightly (and dying inside). As it happens, both their boys were given slightly unusual, but traditional names, that had never been mentioned at all....

I agree that they seem to grow into their names, most of my GC are grown ups now and without exception their name fits them very well, so no matter what it is the child will grow into it. The youngest GD is a name I suggested my daughter loved it and used it, its out of the ordinary but I have started to hear it occasionally now, it suits her very well, she was so happy when another little girl with the same name (different spelling) came to her school.

Baby names what a minefield. Yes I do like their names which is lucky as I really only like classical names and not the modern one which if I said made up someone on here would jump down my throat. MY GP was a traditional old fashioned Irish doctor who said when I was pregnant 'make sure you call that child something she can still be proud of at 80' when he came into the mat unit after she had been born he bawled at me before he reached the bed 'and what the hell have you called the poor thing'. When I told him he was very pleased - her first name is from Greek mythology and the second one is Saint's name. They also both just happened to be taken from some books I was reading at the time and I liked the characters.

I'm sure you will have your own little pet name for the baby when it comes- I hope you will like whatever he/she is called in the end and when you give the baby its first cuddle from you it wont matter.

My grandson's father is from Afghanistan so DGS has a traditional Afghan name and an English middle name. As soon as he was old enough to understand we always gave him the choice of being called an English sounding version of his first name, in case he felt self conscious in a mainly white primary school, but it turns out he is extremely proud of his Afghan name and I can't think of him as anything else now.

When my DD was expecting, she and her OH were discussing names and they had got it down to two - one of which we really loved and the other was sort of OK. We said nowt - but the one we loved finished up as his second name - grr!

I do feel for you Tinytwo , it is the thought of having to tell other people when they ask the name and watching the expression cross over their faces ! .
My GC all have fairly standard names but my last son`s partner likes unusual names , in fact they sound made up . I am a bit worried .
When I was pregnant my Mum was quite open if she didn`t like a name I suggested and I didn`t mind her having an imput . Hope it works out well for you and they don`t call the baby anything daft x

I feel for you TinyTwo my DH was very depressed when he heard the name of our eldest GS, but we just kept quiet. It's now 5 years later and we have got used to it. But as we love our boy so much, that is the only important thing. We like the name of our youngest GS, so that helped a bit.

My advice 'Don't say a word' !!

Two of my GSs have unusual names. Their controlling father insisted on choosing them. They are Muslim-sounding names, although they are practicing Christians. As much as I dislike it, there is prejudice in this country in light of the increase in extremism. I worry that their CVs will not even be considered when applying for positions in the future.
The names have grown on me, and I have never voiced my opinion. Fortunately their sister has a pretty one, and the other set of 3 GSs have very 'normal' ones!

Our fourth grandchild is due this month and we have been warned tge name may be an unusual one.....Beth.

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My GC have traditional names and the correct spelling, not an invented spelling of the name. Where I live there are a lot of children with surnames as forenames, reminds me of prep school where boys were referred to by surname only.

My former neighbours called their little boy Carter....

The Beckhams gave their daughter a surname as a first name - was it Harper or something similar? I'd have thought they would have chosen a more feminine name as they already have three boys.

Our four DGC have ordinary (but not boring) names and I'm glad as my first name is unusual and I was teased a lot at school. (Changed to using my second name when I was older.)

When I was a child I had a really boring first name, a very common surname and no middle name. I've always felt quite resentful that my parents were so unimaginative and I've still got quite a chip on my shoulder about 'boring' names. It must be lovely to have a name that stands out and for everyone to recognise you just by your first name because they don't know anyone else by that name!

I heard of a little girl called Isis - a really pretty, classical name which they are now trying get everyone to shorten to Issy.

I have a really unusual name (thank you Mother!) about which I used to be really embarrassed. I could get most people to call me the shortened version, which isn't so bad, but Mum insisted on the full version. My brothers have really 'normal' names. I have only known 3 other people with my name....oh and a TV puppet!!

I was insistent that we call our children sensible names but they have, naturally, gone the other way and we had to swallow hard to smile when we heard DGS1's name but, now, he couldn't be anything else.

After that, everything was fairly easy until we got to DGD3's name. GN helped me get through that one!! and now, she couldn't be anything else and the shortened version is lovely.

We did have a dicey moment when we were told what DGD2 was to be called had she been a boy and I think prayers of thanks were uttered that we didn't have the embarrassment of a grandson called Roman!!!!!

Their names become part of them and you will forget that you had an issue with it within a few days.

My middle name is Thistlewood !