How to handle people who dont like your child's name?

Question

My son's name is Roscoe. My fiance and I wanted a uncommon name that was not strange. My M-I-L thought it was the worst name every and thought we would change our minds about it. She said things like "why not pick a stong males name" or "dont worry- you WILL change your minds" or now that he is here she says "It is growing on me". I just want to scream when she says that! Luckily, the majority of people like it but, what do I say to the people who dont? I want to politely tell them off.

Answer 1

i LOVE the name roscoe and it wasnt your MIL's choice so she can f*** off.

i agree, it is extremely annoying when people think they're right about everything, even someone else's child's name.

just tell anyone who does not like your sons name that you didnt name him to please their likeness.

Answer 2

The next time someone verbally bashes your kid's name, tell them that he's a product of genius, and to take their IQ, triple it, and they'll have your IQ.  Hah!

Answer 3

tell them to sod off and mind their own business. Or tell them if they haven't got anything nice to say then don't say anything at all!!!

Answer 4

I know just how you feel. My dad decided Catherine was not a good enough name for my little girl. Now he calls her Gracie. I mean thats not even a nickname. I just think of now he and her can share a little bond with his nick name for her. I can't swaet it forever as he is not going to budge.  

Answer 5

What you name your child is your business.  I named my daughter Mercedes.  Family and friends continually made jokes about it being a stripper name or they would make car references.  C'mon - who wants to be told their 16mo old will be a stripper because of her name?  Anytime they do that I just tell them I like the name, I think it's beautiful, and that it's insulting for them to talk about my daughter like that.  

Basically I just try to talk about the virtues of the name, and(sometimes rudely depending on the situation) tell them that they're being rude to insinuate anything negative about your child's name.

Answer 6

My daughter's name is Tristen. People always think that Tristen is a boys name, and my daughters father's parents hate the name. Everytime I call the doctors office and I say Tristen, they always asume she is a he, it does get upsetting so I know where you are coming from. People are wrong to tell you that they dont like the name, and I think kinda rude. I dont think it is something to tell someone even if it being nice, but you have to understand no matter what you name your baby, people will always pass judgement. Giving your child an uncommon names makes people remember the child, which is a good thing. I just laugh at them and say well I like it and move on, it doesnt matter what they think, its only you. A name doesnt make a person, the parents do.

Answer 7

Its none of their business what you name your child, so i say tell them to bugg off and enjoy the time you have with your son.

Answer 8

Make fun of their name.

Even if its something like normal.

Just be like "you shouldn't talk, look what your parents named you"

They probably wont do anything about it.

Answer 9

i kinda know how you feel. when my daughter was born my m-i-l hated her name jessica. well her middle name is gabrielle, but my m-i-l insisted on calling her "gabbo". like that made any sense at all. i hated it and repeatedly asked her to stop but she wouldnt. and now my daughter is 12 she hates it too but the woman still insists on calling her that. its not her child why does she do this. can't she have some respect if not for me at least for my daughter. i guess not.  i dont think it will matter if you tell her off or not. she is gonna do what she wants to despite you.

Answer 10

tell them that it is your baby and you should get to name it whatever you and your husband want. you are going to be raising it.

Answer 11

Oh just ignore them. If it don't bother you then let it go. I happen to like uncommon names too. I hate it when every other kid has the same name. Theres nothing more annoying-

Answer 12

Why be polite they are completely rude to you....I think uncommon names are so much better than common names like David or Jennifer...It gives your baby orginallity...good for you to not change your mind....

Answer 13

People don't have to like his name. Whether or not they like it, it is his name, it has been his name, and it always will be his name. People need to mind their business and stop being rude. If you gave him that name, its because it was always meant to be his name, and nothing else.

By the way, I like that name :)

Answer 14

Its really annoying isnt it! My boyfriends friend told me that he hated the name we are giving to our son. I told him to eff off! lol I was just not in the mood to hear it. It seems like people dont understand boundaries anymore. You dont tell someone that you hate their childs name! thats just rude! I would never even think about doing that to someone

Answer 15

My name is very wierd aswell, it is

"Ameerah"

Lots of people laugh at my name because wenever people mention "A mirror" i reply lol. But my name makes me unique.

As is your son. So just say that your boy is a very unique person which is why you gave him a unique name x

=] ♥ Good Luck

Answer 16

Tell them that when the push something the size of a watermelon through a hole the size of an apple... they can choose whatever name they prefer.

Answer 17

I have the same problem.

People do not like the way I spell my daughter's name - Aydyn.

As in Aiden.

YOU DO NOT have to ANSWER or EXPLAIN your choice to ANYONE.

It is your child.

As long as you like the name and it will not harm or cause the child to get made fun of then what does it matter?

These people are not paying your bills or taking care of your child.

They should BUZZ OFF!

Answer 18

That sounds like a perfect name for your son. And it's really your choice and your fiances choice on what you name your child. A way that you can nicely/politely tell people off is say something like this, " My fiance and I think its a fine name and it suits are son best, it's really are choice what we name are son and were sorry if you don't like them name at all, but we do." Good luck with raising your son, and hope your mother in law learns that its not her choice to name your son.

Answer 19

Don't worry about it.

It's YOUR son, not theirs?

If they aren't happy about it, they can go somewhere.

They'll have to deal with it. :)

Answer 20

just tell them very politely "Your ideas are very helpful, I'll keep them in mind if I have another child. In the meantime, I like this name, and you can name your child whatever the heck you want!!!"

Or something along those lines, improvise if you like =]

Answer 21

Try telling them "it isn't your child so it doesn't matter if you like the name or not.So you can keep your comments to yourself,I am not interested.I like it & that's all that matters"  That should work :)..

Answer 22

People are so rude. my sister refuses to call my son by his name, anthony scott, because she hates my husband whom hes named after, she makes it a point to call him "the baby". Then she sighs real loud everytime I say my sons name. what these people don't realize is that they make themselves look like rude petty fools. There is nothing wrong with your sons name. I know its hurtful when people behave like that but you either can say something to them or just know to yourself that they are unhappy people who have small lives so they try and but into yours.  

Answer 23

i love your son's name...

when i was pregnant, my boss told me that my son's name was a sissy name...i just blew it off...he's my son and i don't care what anyone thinks...it's kind of the same when someone tells you you're doing something wrong with your baby...someone told me that i was burping my baby wrong...whatever...i would just blow it off and keep on being roscoe's awesome mommy! : )

Answer 24

I think you should start questioning her name. See how she likes it LOL

Seriously, the best idea is to ignore her. Bullies like attention and tend to back off when they don't get it.

Just make sure she doesn't start calling him Worthington behind your back!

Answer 25

Tell her as much as you love her son you hate his name but that was her decision and you respect that.Now can you be as polite!?!

Answer 26

Tell them that you carried that baby for 9 months and have had plenty of time to think about a name and that if they want a baby with a "strong male name" they can go ahead and get pregnant themselves.

Answer 27

I think you are doing the rest thing by keeping quiet. Don't get me wrong, I don't think you should take any kind of disrespect from most people... but it's your mother in law. You know family won't always agree, you have to decide if it's worth fighting with her to say somethign about it. If you reach your peak, you might casually and light-heartedly explain your reasons behind the name... for example, you might say you don't want your son to have too common of a name (like Michael) and then everyone just calls him by short forms, or nicknames, or your last name.  Just try to be polite with her, and if its someone else, I say speak your mind. Everyone is entitely to their own opinion.

Good luck.

Answer 28

tell them to fk off

its not their child

its yours

you can do what u please

besides child abuse

its wrong

Answer 29

Wow...those are some pretty helpful answers, huh?  I think you should do what your instinct is telling you!  Politely tell them off.  :)  Tell them you normally value their opinions, but in this case, you're feeling insulted and you don't appreciate it.  In the long run, don't let it bother you.  Really, no matter what your choice, you'll always find someone who has an issue with your name choice.  That's why so many wait until baby is born to reveal the name!  Good luck.  :)

Answer 30

It is your son not hers. Unless it is a degrading name, you can name your son as you like.

Answer 31

Actually, I really like that name!  I went with my dads name and my bf middle name.  Grant Ray. I don't care if people like it, he isn't going to be their child.