OK. So a very close relative (I don’t know if she might read this so I am trying to be vague just in case). Has decided to name her son St0rm. Her main reason is “because that’s what we’ve been calling him”, because her other son nicknamed her bump that. I have suggested (nicely, I think) that she use it as a middle name and definitely keep it as a nickname, just not the legal first name, but so many other people in her life love it.
I am normally very liberal about names. If strangers were about to name their son St0rm, I’d say “Well if you love it go for it.” However, this is someone I will see a lot, who will be connected to me, and I’ll have to say to other people “My ___ St0rm did this…” and such like. It doesn’t match any of their other kids names (Which are Biblical and 90’s-ish) and it just seems so ridiculous for a grown man. And I do feel she will regret it as soon as one other mom she meets makes a I-dont-like-that face because she is a sensitive person.
Is it really just me? Am I the only one who doesn’t like it? If so please help talk me into liking it. (Selfishly I would love it if you all agreed with me)
Obviously once he’s born, if she really goes through with it, I won’t ever mention not liking the name again. I do love the little guy after all.
I don’t think it’s just you. I actually like the name for a girl though. That is because of [name_m]Wolverine[/name_m]. I think that you shouldn’t mention it again unless she asks. The name seems to have some sentimental significance to her and her hubby. I think once you meet the baby that will be all you need to fall in love with the name. People tend to like or dislike names from the people they meet with them. [name_m]Just[/name_m] start calling him by his name and picturing what you would do like the first time you hold him or how excited his parents are when he can sit up by himself.
Good luck!
I completely agree with pp – it does seem to have some strong significance to them and you will almost definitely not hate it after you meet him. That said, though, if she’s as close as you say, she might appreciate some honest feedback. Not about your feelings but just warning her that there might be people out there who would be judgmental of a name like that and sort of preparing her for that reaction and just giving her all the facts, so to speak. It would have to be extremely carefully worded, I’d think, possibly involving a bit of white lies about how great you think the name is, and it would depend on your relationship with her. But I’ve heard so many people say “I wish someone would have told me that before I named him/her!” [name_m]Just[/name_m] a thought. It really depends on your relationship with her – if you think it would put tension between you, I’d leave it alone, but if you think she’d be open to it, I’d talk to her – just to make sure she knows. If after that, she still loves it, great – at least she’s educated about it.
I personally don’t like that name and would never even think to name my child that, however, it’s super cute that it came from the older sibling (that is so important in my book) and it’s so sweet that it seems to really have stuck on their hearts so strongly – and ultimately it really just doesn’t matter what other people think. To each his own. 
That is good advice. Especially about visualizing happy thoughts of him with this name. And no I probably should not say anything else. She knows how I feel. We are close enough that even if there is tension we will have to forgive one another.
What kills me is that she has such a nice middle name picked out that actually honors someone she loves and is so much more her style. I wish she would just switch the two but still call him St0rm if she wants.