Having a crisis of doubt in our name choices… I made the mistake of telling my mil our names… Her response was rather negative something along the lines of [name]Alice[/name] is a fusty grouch of an old lady and the whole name sounds like anus loo and [name]Julian[/name] would be teased for having a girls name???
I’m now questioning the names. We had decided on [name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] and [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] to join [name]Sidney[/name] [name]Warren[/name] and [name]Cara[/name] [name]June[/name].
Am I being ridiculous? I don’t want my kid’s grandmother to hate their name but we were so sure before… Now I don’t know.
[name]Don[/name]'t listen to her! She’ll love the names when they’re on her grandchild. My parents hated the name my sister gave her son, now they love it because they associate it with their grandson. And [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] and [name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] are beautiful names! I love them!
If you were considering names such as Sparkle or [name]Rocket[/name], then yes, I would take our mil’s criticism into account. [name]Alice[/name] and [name]Julian[/name] are both very usable, classic names though, so I wouldn’t worry too much about what your mil says. There’s a difference between someone advising against a name because it’s ridiculous or just plain awful and them advising against a name because it’s not their personal style. Your mil’s criticism falls into the latter category, so I think it’s perfectly fine for you to ignore it and go ahead with [name]Alice[/name] and [name]Julian[/name].
I don’t see how anyone could get the word “anus” out of [name]Alice[/name] and I’ve never met a girl named [name]Julian[/name] so I think your [name]MIL[/name] is being a little ridiculous. That being said, if you’re worried you might take the names for a test drive on some other boards and get an idea of what other people think of them.
Over all I think you’ve picked out some great classic names and don’t think you can go wrong with them. [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] is simple and gorgeous, I’m happy to see [name]Louise[/name] in a combo!
That would make me angry. She may mean well, but it’s not her place to approve or veto YOUR baby’s name. My mother-in-law already criticizes my top boy name–[name]Lane[/name]–and we aren’t even pregnant with our first yet! The way I see it, she got to name her own babies, and I will name MY own baby. Most of us on this board have waited for our own children to name our entire lives; don’t let your mother-in-law influence your choice or ruin the momentous decision for you. Naming your baby is YOUR privilege and honor. As a previous poster pointed out anyway, your names are very classic and have been used successfully for centuries.
It’s unfortunate that she had a negative response, because they are great names. I would advise you to stick with the names you’ve already chosen - [name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] and [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name]. Once your [name]MIL[/name] is holding baby [name]Julian[/name] or baby [name]Alice[/name], she will “forget” that she ever disliked the names. Surely, she’ll come around. Since she will love the child, she will grow accustomed to his or her name.
Also, [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] is anything but a fusty grouch of an old lady. It’s chic and timeless! [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] is a beautiful name.
I love your picks! [name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] is fantastic and [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] is so sweet. [name]Don[/name]'t let her confuse you. She’ll love the name when she sees it on her cute little grandbaby.
I feel for you. I told my mother I liked the name [name]Hazel[/name] and she laughed at me… Laughed jard.
The important thing is to use names you love. [name]Alice[/name] and [name]Julian[/name] are great names by the way.
[name]Ah[/name] Sweety don’t let it hurt you. [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] and [name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] are both wonderful names! I love this. [name]Alice[/name] is a classic, beautiful name and [name]Julian[/name] is very handsome, not a girls name at all.
I’ve had this same problem with my grandmother “[name]Damien[/name] is evil, [name]Alexander[/name] is too fusty, [name]Asher[/name]! (yea that one didn’t even get a comment, just a face), [name]Raphael[/name]…like the turtle?” I didn’t even share the girls names with her.
But you know what? I don’t care what she says. I love them, they all have meaning for me, and she’ll grow to love them too. Soon after the babies are born, she’ll think of the names in association with them and she’ll grow to love them.
[name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] and [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] are both fantastic names! This is your baby, and do you know who has the ultimate say in naming your baby? You and your husband. That is all. Somehow I don’t think your mother-in-law will have much to say about her grandson or granddaughter’s name once she’s holding the sweet baby in her arms.
In my experience critical people will find something to criticize about any name you tell them. There’s nothing overtly negative about those names! [name]Alice[/name] has never made me think anus! [name]Julian[/name] will probably encounter a girl named [name]Julie[/name] or [name]Julianne[/name] someday, but should you rule out every boy name with a femme version? I don’t think so!
I was bullied out of a top pick so I stopped talking names. The name I did pick I had mentioned early in my pregnancy & the very family members that hated it [name]LOVE[/name] it now!
Thankyou all! Feeling a little better. Am going to keep them secret from now on and not tell anyone else. Thankyou for the positive comments on our choices. Rach x
I’m personally not a fan of [name]Julian[/name] either but it’s not terrible!
[name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] is quite lovely and won’t date. Ignore them,they’ll get used to the name you choose for your baby.
To clarify…[name]Julian[/name] is simply not my style,it is most certainly not a girls name!
I’m glad you are feeling better! Your name choices are awesome and you should trust yourself. EVERYBODY has different taste in names. It’s like food: not everybody is going to like your favorite dish. [name]Will[/name] that stop you from enjoying it? I hope not! [name]Alice[/name] [name]Louise[/name] is beautiful. [name]Julian[/name] [name]Harvey[/name] is dreamy. I can imagine having a crush on a guy named [name]Julian[/name]. I would use either of your name combos [name]IRL[/name] & I think they sound fab with your other children’s names. I think she was way rude when you were polite enough to share a really personal decision with her early. You didn’t HAVE to tell her but you did and her reaction was terribly insensitive. [name]Don[/name]'t worry too much about her feelings on the names because she didn’t really make any effort to respect yours. You’re the pregnant woman! [name]Aren[/name]'t people supposed to be being nice to you?? I love the point that she already got to name her own babies; this is your turn! You are the one who is going to be doing all the hard work, right? You know what’s best for your children. Good luck!
Hugs, those are beautiful names. Everyone hated [name]Sebastian[/name]'s name when we told them after finding out I was having a boy via ultrasound so after that, we just didn’t tell anyone. It’s hurtful, I know. Hugs.
My mom always tells us: She had her turn, now it’s ours. Ignore your mil. She’ll get over it. [name]Shame[/name] on her for being rude. [name]Alice[/name] is just fine. I’ve never met a [name]Julian[/name] but I have met a man named [name]Julius[/name] and I don’t think it’s girly.
…
Your [name]MIL[/name] is so out of line, it’s kind of funny really.
[name]Alice[/name] is such a trendy name due to Twilight now, no one would share her opinions except for older people who aren’t intune with that. [name]Julian[/name] is a sturdy name, it reminds me of [name]Julius[/name] [name]Ceasar[/name] and the characterin [name]Remember[/name] The Titans.
I think her response is silly considering she knows your name taste since you have two other kids with names that fit your new ideas. I have a feeling it’s because she’s your [name]MIL[/name] that she’s being so negative, you’re not her blood family but you’re giving birth to her blood family so if she doesn’t like the names she’ll be completely honest and say what she can to get you to change.
That’s just my observation, you know her miles better than I do, so I could be TOTALLY off. [name]Feel[/name] free to correct me!
Stick to your options! I personally think they’re great name ideas, and will fit in so well with your other two. I can’t see anything they’d hate about being named [name]Alice[/name] or [name]Julian[/name].
[name]Alice[/name] is youthful + playful like [name]Alice[/name] in wonderland. Plus “old lady” names are making a huge comeback and i think it’s a wonderful alternative to all the [name]Alyson[/name]'s et al out there. it also lends itself to [name]Ally[/name] as a nn. I’m loving [name]Ally[/name]-[name]Lou[/name] as a nn too. [name]Julian[/name] is refined without being stuffy and creative enough if he grows up to do something artistic. your [name]MIL[/name] is clearly thinking of [name]Julia[/name]/Julies which have been very popular in recent years. Calling it a girls name is the equivalent of [name]Jordanna[/name] or [name]Willa[/name] being a boys name.
Thank her for her opinion but remember this is your child, and you have the bottom line in naming them. I would put my foot down, say that you will consider her thoughts (even if you dont!) but that even if she doesnt like the name you choose to zip it and never mention it again once the child arrives- especially to or infront of the kids. I would allow her to be more than welcome to call the child by a nn she prefers. Maybe offer her the meaning of the names + famous people with them to warm her up to the idea?
